Remove PDF metadata
Best-effort metadata cleanup (title/author/creator/keywords).
Remove PDF metadata (complete guide)
PDF metadata is the information stored in the document properties: title, author, creator app, producer, keywords, and sometimes custom fields. Cleaning metadata is useful when you share a file externally and want to reduce accidental leakage of internal details (names, software, workflow hints). This tool does a best-effort cleanup of common document info fields.
What this tool can and can’t do
- Can: remove common document info fields (Title/Author/Creator/Keywords) when possible.
- Cannot guarantee: removing hidden identifiers inside content streams, attachments, embedded files, or watermarks.
- Not anonymization: always review visible content (headers, footers, signatures) before sending.
Suggested workflow (safe sharing)
- Remove pages you don’t want to share (Remove pages or Extract pages).
- Remove metadata (this tool).
- If needed, reduce size with Compress PDF (especially for scans).
- Protect the final file with a password using Protect PDF.
How to verify
After processing, open the PDF in your viewer and check “Document properties”. If you still see sensitive fields, the PDF may contain metadata in non-standard places.
Privacy & retention
Files are stored temporarily for processing and deleted on scheduled cleanup (typically within 12 hours).
Troubleshooting
- Some fields remain: not all PDFs store info the same way; try running the tool again or consider re-exporting from a trusted editor.
- Output file changes size: metadata cleanup may rewrite the PDF structure (normal).
- Encrypted PDF: unlock first with Unlock PDF.
How it works
- Upload a PDF.
- Process.
- Download the cleaned PDF.
FAQ
What metadata is removed?
We remove common document info fields like title, author, creator, producer, and keywords (best-effort).
Does this remove everything?
Not guaranteed. Some PDFs may still contain embedded identifiers or content-level metadata.
Is this lossless?
Not always. The PDF may be rewritten during cleanup.
Does this remove visible headers/footers?
No. It only targets document properties, not visible content.
Will this remove watermarks?
No. Use Remove pages or edit the PDF content in an editor.
Can I remove metadata from scanned PDFs?
Yes. Scanned PDFs still have document properties.
Should I protect the PDF after cleaning?
If you share externally, Protect PDF is a good final step.
Can I clean metadata on an encrypted PDF?
Only after unlocking it (requires the password).
How do I check if metadata is gone?
Open the PDF in your viewer and check Document Properties.
How long are my files stored?
Files are stored temporarily for processing and deleted on scheduled cleanup (typically within 12 hours).
Related tools
Privacy note: files are stored temporarily for processing and deleted on scheduled cleanup (typically within 12 hours).