Delete objects

The Delete objects (click or sweep) tool (X) is on the Edit, Comment, Fill & Sign and Prepare Form tabs. It erases both the items you added in the editor and content that was already in the PDF.

How to use it

1. Choose Delete objects. Content under the pointer that can be erased is highlighted.
2. Click something to erase it, or press and drag to sweep across several things at once. One sweep is one undo step.
3. Text is erased letter by letter. Hold Shift to erase a whole line of text.

What it can erase from the original PDF:

• text, letter by letter, with the rest of the text staying where it was
• lines, shapes and fills
• images
• content nested inside reusable page parts (form XObjects)

Erased content is removed from the saved file, not just hidden. Undo brings it back.

Limits

• Gradient fills (shadings) can’t be deleted yet.
• Content in encrypted (password-protected) files can’t be deleted.
• If a reusable page part is drawn several times on the same page, deleting text inside it removes it from every copy on that page.
• Existing images and graphics can be deleted but not moved or edited.

To remove sensitive content from an area, including content hidden under other content, use Redaction instead.