Redact [client]-supplied confidential notes from the sample pack [pdf] and send the sanitized previews to external rev…
Open the PDF file you want to sanitize in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to the Tools pane and select Protect.
In the Protect toolbar, click Sanitize.
When prompted, confirm that you want to remove hidden information by clicking OK or Sanitize.
Save the sanitized PDF to preserve the changes.
Best practiceBlog sources recommend saving a backup copy of your original PDF before sanitizing, as this process is irreversible.
After sanitizing, review your document to ensure all sensitive hidden data has been removed as intended.
This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.
| Feature | What it removes | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitize Hidden Data | Invisible data (metadata, scripts, comments, attachments) | Handles the invisible layer of a PDF |
| Redaction | Visible text and images | Handles the visible layer of a PDF |
It is important to use Sanitize Hidden Data because PDFs often contain invisible information like author names, creation dates, or even hidden comments. If you share a document without sanitizing it, this sensitive data could be seen by others. Sanitizing helps protect your privacy and ensures you only share what you intend to.
Yes, even if you have redacted visible text, you still need to use Sanitize Hidden Data for complete security. Redaction only hides or removes what you can see on the page. Sanitize Hidden Data removes the invisible layers, such as metadata, embedded files, or comments. Both are crucial because sensitive information can exist in either visible or hidden forms, and you need to address both for real data protection.