Redact PDF
Permanently remove sensitive text, not just cover it.
This removes the text, not just the view of it. Drawing a black box in most PDF editors leaves the words underneath, where anyone can select or extract them — a mistake that has leaked real documents. DO101 flattens each page to an image with your areas painted out, so the original text objects are genuinely gone. The trade-off is that the output is an image: text elsewhere on the page is no longer selectable or searchable.
Drop the PDF you need to redact
Never uploaded — redaction happens entirely on your device
No PDF yet
Add a PDF, drag over the parts that must disappear, and download a version where they genuinely have.
Private by design. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your file is processed on your own device and is not uploaded by DO101.
About the Redact PDF
Drag over anything that must disappear and DO101 flattens each page to an image with those areas painted out. The original text objects are genuinely gone — unlike a black rectangle drawn on top, which leaves the words underneath for anyone to select.
How to use it
- 1Add the PDF and wait for the page previews.
- 2Drag a box over everything that must be removed.
- 3Apply the redaction and download the flattened PDF.
What you get
- Drag to mark any area on any page
- Click a mark to remove it
- Genuine removal by flattening, not an overlay
- Works on mouse and touch
- Never uploaded — redaction runs on your device
Frequently asked questions
Why is drawing a black box not enough?
Because a PDF stores text separately from graphics. A rectangle drawn on top hides the words visually, but they are still in the file and can be selected, copied or extracted. Several organisations have leaked documents exactly this way.
What is the trade-off here?
The redacted pages become images. The redacted content is genuinely gone, but text elsewhere on those pages is no longer selectable or searchable. That is the price of certainty.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Rendering, painting and rebuilding all happen on your device — which matters a great deal for the kind of document you would want to redact.
How many pages can I redact at once?
Up to 40 per run, so the previews stay responsive. Extract the pages you need first for longer documents.
Keep going
People who use this tool usually reach for these next.
Trim margins or scan borders from every page.
Make a PDF smaller, with an honest choice about the trade-off.
Turn every page of a PDF into a JPG image.
Stamp text like DRAFT or CONFIDENTIAL across every page.