How to Redact
an Email
Learn how to redact an email — permanently remove names, addresses and sensitive data from single emails and whole archives (MBOX, PST, EML, MSG) for GDPR, SAR and FOI compliance.
How to redact an email
To redact an email, export it from your email platform, upload it to a redaction tool, remove the sensitive text so it is permanently deleted (not just hidden), and export a clean PDF. Here are the steps:
- Export the email from Outlook, Gmail or another platform as an MBOX, PST, EML or MSG file.
- Upload it to RedactBox — no software to install.
- Search and redact names, email addresses and other sensitive details, in bulk across every email at once.
- Check the redaction log to confirm every match is covered for your audit trail.
- Export a clean PDF where the redacted content is permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
Doing this for a specific platform? See our step-by-step guides for Outlook and Gmail, or redaction software for schools.
What is Email Redaction?
Email redaction is the process of permanently removing or obscuring sensitive information from existing email files and archives that have been exported from email platforms. This is essential when processing MBOX, PST, EML, and MSG files for legal discovery, FOI requests, or compliance purposes where sensitive data needs to be protected before sharing or archiving.
Important to Know
Email redaction works on email files exported from platforms like Gmail, Outlook, or other email systems as MBOX, PST, EML, and MSG files. RedactBox processes these files to identify and redact sensitive information before generating shareable PDFs.
Manual vs Automated Email Redaction
Choose the right approach for your email redaction needs
Manual Redaction
Time-consuming and error-prone
Each email file must be reviewed individually
Limited to basic tools
Export to PDF, then manually black out text
No specialized email archive support
Most tools can't process email archives efficiently
Automated Redaction
Process email files and archives quickly
Bulk processing of MBOX/PST archives and individual EML/MSG files
Multi-format file support
Supports MBOX, PST, EML, and MSG formats from all major platforms
Professional PDF exports
Generate shareable documents from redacted email archives
How RedactBox Simplifies Email Redaction
Our streamlined three-step process makes email redaction efficient and compliant
Upload
Upload your MBOX, PST, EML, or MSG email files directly to our secure platform
Review & Redact
Use Search & Redact for bulk redaction or Highlight to Redact for precision control
Export
Download professional PDFs with all redactions permanently applied
Common Email Redaction Use Cases
RedactBox serves organizations across various sectors with specialized redaction needs
Legal & Compliance
Subject Access Requests (SAR)
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
Legal discovery and litigation
GDPR compliance documentation
Education & Public Sector
Student record protection
Staff email archives
Public information requests
Regulatory compliance reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about email redaction and how RedactBox works
How do I get emails from Gmail or Outlook for redaction?
You need to export your emails from Gmail, Outlook, or other email platforms as MBOX, PST, EML, or MSG files. These exported files can then be uploaded to RedactBox for processing, redaction, and conversion to shareable PDFs.
What file formats does RedactBox support?
RedactBox supports MBOX (multi-email archives from Gmail, Google Vault), PST (Outlook archives), EML (standard single email format), and MSG (Outlook single email format). This comprehensive support covers both email archives and individual email files from all major platforms.
Is RedactBox reliable for compliance and legal use?
RedactBox provides professional-grade redaction tools designed for compliance with GDPR, FOI requests, and legal discovery. The platform allows precise manual redaction control while streamlining the workflow for processing large email archives.
Is highlighting an email black the same as redacting it?
No. Drawing a black box over text in a document, or changing the highlight colour to black, only hides the text visually — it can be copied, moved or deleted to reveal what is underneath. True redaction permanently removes the underlying content. RedactBox deletes the redacted text from the file so it cannot be recovered in the exported PDF.
Can I redact an email for free?
Yes. RedactBox has a free tier so you can redact an email and export a clean PDF at no cost. For higher volumes — bulk search-and-redact across large archives, unlimited documents and projects — the Professional plan is £25/month.
Free: the SAR redaction checklist
The step-by-step checklist for redacting a Subject Access Request correctly — third-party data, audit trail and all. Straight to your inbox.
Need Help Getting Started?
Our support team is here to help you with your email redaction needs. Get in touch for personalised guidance.