I Built a Browser-Local PDF Redaction Tool Because a Black Rectangle Isn't Redaction

Description and use

RedactGo is a browser‑local PDF redaction tool that permanently removes sensitive content, generates a new PDF for review, and runs entirely client‑side.

Problem

A black rectangle can hide text on screen without removing the text stored inside a PDF, allowing the hidden content to be selected, copied, searched, or recovered.

Outcome

RedactGo removes sensitive text from PDFs locally in the browser, produces a new PDF that can be reviewed before download, and cleans basic metadata and embedded files.

Workflow

• Open a PDF up to 10 MB in the browser
• Draw multiple redaction areas across multiple pages
• Undo marks or redact an entire page
• Generate a new PDF
• Review the actual generated output before downloading
• Download the redacted PDF

Evidence

A black rectangle can hide text on screen without removing the text stored inside a PDF. Someone may still be able to select, copy, search, or recover what appears to be covered.

Source

RedactGo is a free PDF redaction tool that runs locally in the browser.

Source

PDF.js handles viewing, while MuPDF.js runs the redaction work in a background worker.

Source

RedactGo therefore refuses some PDFs with unsupported features, including encrypted files and certain interactive, tagged, layered, or scripted documents.

Source