Offline PDF Redaction (Beta)

Runs entirely in your browser using PDFium (the same engine Chrome uses to view PDFs), compiled to WebAssembly. Your file is never uploaded, not even after the page finishes loading. Try it: load this page, then disconnect your network, then redact a file.

Beta -- verify your output before relying on it.

For most PDFs, this removes content exactly like the main tool, for real, not just a black box on top. It just hasn't been tested on as many real-world files yet. Three specific situations it can't handle:

Also worth knowing: this only redacts what you actually draw a box around. If text is invisible for some reason (same color as the background, sized to nothing, or on a hidden layer you didn't box), it won't be caught, but anything you do box is genuinely removed. Always double-check your result (try copy-pasting from the redacted area, or use a public unredaction checker) before sending a redacted file anywhere sensitive.

Redact a PDF, fully offline

Upload a PDF, mark the regions to remove, download the result. Nothing leaves your device.

Checking connection...

We built this so a sensitive file never has to touch the internet, connected or not. That's not a claim we need you to trust, it's one you can check yourself: disconnect, then hit Recheck.

or drag and drop a PDF

FAQ

Is my file ever uploaded anywhere?

No, never, not even briefly. The redaction runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. You can verify this yourself: load this page, disconnect your network, and redact a file -- it still works.

How is this different from the main PDF Redactor?

Same real content removal, not just a black box on top, but this version runs entirely on your device instead of on a server, so your file never touches the network at all. It's newer and hasn't been tested on as many real-world files yet, so a few specific cases (PDFs built for screen readers, sideways pages, some form field types) still need the main tool.

What can't this tool handle yet?

PDFs built for screen readers can carry a hidden duplicate copy of the page text that this tool doesn't check. Pages rotated 90 or 270 degrees aren't supported. Radio buttons, dropdown menus, and signature fields in fillable forms aren't fully cleared (checkboxes and text fields are). The main PDF Redactor handles the first two; the third isn't solved by either tool yet.

Is this really free?

Yes, completely, no limit -- there's no server cost to limit, since nothing is uploaded.

Do I need to create an account, and will it add a watermark?

No and no. No account, no email, no sign-up, and no watermark on your output.