PDkefRedact PDFOn-device

Redact PDF Free: No Sign-Up, Runs Locally

Black out or blur sensitive text like SSNs and addresses, then flatten the file so it can't be copied or extracted. Your redaction boxes are auto-saved on your device as you work, so a crash or accidental refresh never loses your progress.

Star us on GitHubMIT licensedRuns in your browser

Select or drop a PDF to redact

Private. Files never leave your device.

How it works

How to blackout or blur a PDF securely

Permanently hide, blackout, blur, and flatten sensitive information in your PDFs, right in your browser. No uploads, absolute privacy.

  1. Open your PDF. Click Choose file or drag and drop any PDF into the tool. Your file stays on your device, nothing is uploaded.
  2. Draw boxes. Choose your style (solid blackout or blurred out), then click and drag over the text you want to hide.
  3. Apply and download. Click Redact PDF. The tool flattens those pages, destroying the underlying text so it can never be extracted, and downloads the secure PDF.

Free for everyone

Black out or blur sensitive text in as many PDFs as you like, with no watermark or usage caps. Because redaction runs on your device, nothing is uploaded, and your boxes auto-save locally so a crash never loses your progress.

It's open source under the MIT license, so anyone can read the code, fork it on GitHub, or share it. Simple PDF tools should be free for everyone.

Got questions?

Frequently asked questions

Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?

No. PDkef runs entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded, never sent over the network, and never stored anywhere outside your own device.

How is this different from just drawing a black box?

Many free tools just draw a layer over the text, meaning anyone can still copy-paste the text hidden underneath. We perform "True Redaction": the page is converted into a flattened image, permanently destroying the underlying text data so it is impossible to recover.

How do I blackout or blur text in a PDF?

Load your PDF, choose "Blackout" or "Blur" from the toolbar, then click and drag on any page to draw a box over the sensitive information. Once you have covered all sensitive areas, click Redact PDF. The tool will flatten the edited pages and generate your secure PDF.

Is there a file size limit?

There are no artificial limits. However, because redacted pages are converted to high-quality images, your final file size may be larger than the original document.

If my browser crashes mid-redaction, do I lose my boxes?

No. As you draw blackout and blur boxes, the tool auto-saves your progress to local storage in your own browser, and restores your boxes automatically the next time you open the tool on the same device. This happens on your device, so your file is still never uploaded, and your saved draft is only cleared when you click Start over.