Search the case study for all personal identifiers and contextual clues, apply permanent redactions, add redaction not…
Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Select Tools in the upper left and choose Protect from the tools center.
In the Protect toolbar, click Sanitize Document.
In the Sanitize Document dialog, review the list of items that will be removed, then click OK to confirm.
CautionSanitizing is irreversible—ensure you have a backup if you may need the original data.
Save the sanitized PDF with a new file name to preserve the original.
Best practiceAccording to e-discovery best practices, always keep an unaltered original for chain-of-custody purposes.
You can preview which types of hidden data will be removed before confirming the sanitize action.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
| Feature | What it removes |
|---|---|
| Sanitize Document | Hidden data (metadata, comments, scripts, attachments, AI content) |
| Redaction | Visible text and images |
It is important to Sanitize Document even after redaction because redaction only deals with what you can see. Many PDFs contain hidden information like metadata, comments, or embedded files that are not visible on the page. This hidden data can still reveal sensitive information or violate privacy rules. Sanitizing removes this invisible layer, providing a deeper level of security and compliance, ensuring no hidden details are accidentally shared.
When preparing a legal document for public release, you should first go through the document carefully and redact any visible sensitive information, such as names, addresses, or financial details. After you have redacted all visible parts, use the Sanitize Document feature. This will remove all hidden data like metadata, comments from colleagues, or any embedded content that might still be in the file. This two-step process ensures both visible and invisible sensitive information is removed, making the document safe for public sharing and ensuring privacy compliance.