PDkefBlur & Redact PDFOn-device

Blur PDF Online Free: Blackout & Redact Text

Blur part of a PDF, black out private details, or delete selectable text and images. Choose a solid blackout for sensitive information. Marked pages flatten automatically when you download. Free, open source, and your file stays on your device.

Turn on airplane mode and give it a try. It still works.

Select or drop a PDF to redact

Private. Files never leave your device.

Open a different file?

This closes the current PDF. It stays in your recent files with everything you've done, so you can come back to it from the home page.

Clear all files?

This empties the list and the order you put it in. Nothing is removed from your device.

How it works

How to blur, black out, white out or delete PDF content

Choose the result you want. Blur softens visual detail, Blackout creates a solid cover, and Whiteout clears an area visually. Blur, Blackout and Whiteout work on typed PDFs and scans, and because the marked page is flattened into one image on download, the redaction is permanent: there's no text layer left underneath to recover. Delete removes a selected text or image element from the PDF page.

  1. Open your PDF. Choose a PDF from your device or drag it into the tool. It opens in your browser without being uploaded.
  2. Choose the result. Use Blur, Blackout or Whiteout to drag over an area. Use Delete to click a highlighted text or image element. You can mix the tools in the same PDF.
  3. Download your changed PDF. Pages with Blur, Blackout or Whiteout flatten automatically into one image, making that export a one-way change with no selectable or searchable text on the marked page. Delete removes the selected element from the page.

Free for everyone

Blur or black out PDFs for free, with no signup, watermark, or daily cap. Your file and saved draft stay on your device. For examples and the trade-offs, see Blur, Blackout or Delete: the visual guide. Want to work offline? Install PDkef and let its required assets load before disconnecting.

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

How can I blur text in a PDF for free?

Choose your PDF, select Blur, and click and drag across the area. Adjust the box, then choose Download. There is no signup, upload, or watermark. The marked page is flattened automatically. Blur is a visual mask; use Blackout for confidential text.

How do I black out text in a PDF for free?

Open your PDF, select Blackout, and draw a box over the full text or image. Repeat on every page that needs it, then choose Download. PDkef bakes the boxes into images of the marked pages, without copying their original text layers underneath. It also works on scans.

Can someone remove the blur or black box after download?

No. Blackout and Whiteout permanently redact the page: PDkef flattens it into one image, so there is no separate box to lift off and no text layer left underneath to recover. You can check this yourself - open the downloaded PDF and search for the word you covered; it will not be found, because it is no longer there as text. Blur still leaves altered pixels that may reveal clues, so it is not a substitute for a solid blackout. Check repeated details and hidden information elsewhere in the PDF too.

Can I delete text or images from a PDF instead of covering them?

Yes. Choose Delete and click or tap a highlighted text block or image. Download creates a new PDF with that selected element removed from the page while the surrounding page content stays in place and remains selectable. This is useful for deleting a prefilled form value before entering replacement text with Sign & Fill PDF.

Can I remove the "Scanned with CamScanner" footer from my scan?

Yes. Choose Delete and tap the footer. It lights up on its own, and one tap removes it together with the hidden link under it. If the whole page lights up instead, drag a Whiteout box over the line. Then Download.

Do I need to flatten the PDF separately?

No. Download and preparing a file with Share automatically flatten pages with Blur, Blackout or Whiteout. The marked page becomes one image, its text is no longer selectable or searchable, and the export cannot be reversed back into the original page elements. Pages with Delete edits only are not flattened, so their remaining text stays selectable. The word has a gentler meaning in Sign, where a filled-in form is flattened on download: the answers become part of the page and the text stays selectable.

Can I blur a PDF on my phone or work offline?

Yes. Open the tool in your phone browser, choose the PDF, and zoom before drawing a box. For offline use, install PDkef and let its required assets load while connected. Try opening and exporting a sample with the connection off before relying on it offline.

Are my files uploaded, and is the tool open source?

Your PDF is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to a server. PDkef is free and open source under the MIT license, with no account or watermark. Saved drafts stay in this browser on your device.

What happens to my original PDF and saved draft?

Download creates a new PDF; it does not overwrite your original or clear your draft. When browser storage is available, your source PDF and edits auto-save locally so you can resume. Drafts expire after 28 days without a save and are checked when loaded. On a shared device, clear site data when finished; that also removes saved drafts and preferences.

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