Why are the original bytes still there?

pdf-lib does not have a clean API to remove orphaned objects. A garbage-collection pass after re-saving via qpdf or similar would clean them up. For privacy use cases, prefer Permanent Redaction or re-export.

Will this work on PDFs with inline images?

No — only XObject-based images (the common case). Inline images embedded in content streams are not affected.

Replace Images with Placeholder

Swap every embedded image in a PDF for a gray placeholder — share a layout-only version of a document without the proprietary or confidential imagery.

Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens on your device — nothing is uploaded.

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How does the Replace Images with Placeholder work?

Replace every embedded image in a PDF with a gray placeholder rectangle — useful for sharing a layout-only copy of a document with stakeholders who shouldn't see proprietary photography, redacting brand imagery before passing a layout to a vendor, or just shrinking the file dramatically when images are large. Each unique image XObject is re-referenced to point at a single tiny gray PNG; reading clients render gray rectangles where images used to be. Honest about scope: the original image bytes still exist in the PDF's object store (they are just orphan-referenced now). For privacy-grade removal, run through Permanent Redaction afterwards or re-export through a sanitising tool.

🔒 Security & Privacy

All processing happens on your device. Your files never leave your browser, never touch our servers, and are not stored anywhere. Close the tab and the file is gone.

📱 Use it on any device

Works in any modern browser — Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android, and tablets. No installation, no app to download. Just open the page and start.

⚡ Quick & easy

Drag, drop, click. Most files process in seconds, not minutes. No watermarks added to your output, no per-day limits, and the tool always shows the result before asking you to download.

🎁 Always free, no signup

Free to use, every time. No account creation, no email required, no “trial” that converts to a paid plan. We make money from ads so you don’t have to pay.

Frequently asked

Yes — each image's POSITION and SIZE on the page is unchanged because we only swap the underlying XObject reference. The placeholder is rendered into the same rectangle.

For heavier PDF workflows

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