The Windows Snipping Tool has a nifty little redaction shortcut that’s an undocumented secret.
The Snipping Tool is available in Windows 11 and 10, the redaction feature (Microsoft calls it “Text Actions” is in Snipping Tool v11.2308.33.0 and later. Use Microsoft Store | Library | Updates to get the latest version.
Text Actions aka redaction
Take a screen shot with Snipping Tool and look for the discreet ‘Text Actions’ button on the toolbar.
Click on Text Actions then wait a moment while the text is identified in the screenshot. ‘Copy all text’ will copy all the text found to be pasted into a document, slide, email or anywhere.
Quick Redact will try to identify email addresses and phone numbers but there’s also a way to select and redact ANY selected text.
Select the text with your mouse then Ctrl + R
– that will change the text to a black box. (strictly speaking the black box is over the text to allow Undo Ctrl + Z
if you change your mind).
That’s how you can redact any text in a screen shot.
All about redaction, tricks and traps
You have to be careful with redaction because it’s easy to miss things and what might appear to be hidden is still available in layers or meta-data.
Beating Bots, Spies and Cockups has a chapter devoted to the essential details of redaction – keeping your private info, private.
Copying redacted text
Snipping Tool has another little trick up its virtual sleeve. ‘Copy All Text’ will INclude any redactions.
Any black bar redactions are copied with “[REDACTED]” in its place. Pasted text looks like this:
Sometimes Outlook for [REDACTED] will start grouping Inbox messages, [REDACTED] commonly by date. “Today”, “Yesterday” etc which might suit some people but is a right nuisance to others.