Remove metadata from a PDF
Clean author names, software, dates and hidden application data out of a PDF before it leaves your hands.
Formats & limits
Formats & limits
- Accepted formats
- Result
| On a computer | On a phone or tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 200 MB | 60 MB |
Limits on your device depend on its memory. Larger files may still work; the tool warns you first.
How it works
- 01 Choose or drop the PDF you want to clean.
- 02 Leave the Remove all action selected.
- 03 Press Save PDF.
- 04 Download the clean copy and check its properties: the fields are empty.
About this tool
The tool removes supported document properties, XMP and application metadata, then rewrites the PDF. Information may remain in page content, comments, attachments, embedded images or unsupported structures. Check the result before sharing. Keep the original separately and inspect the exported copy with a suitable PDF reader before sharing. Check that it opens as expected and that all required pages and details are present.
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Metadata and document properties
Document properties, the XMP packet with its edit history, page-level XMP, and private application data (PieceInfo) on pages, images and fonts.
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Rebuild the PDF
The file is rewritten to remove selected supported metadata. This is not certified sanitization or a guarantee that no identifying data remains.
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Content untouched
Text stays searchable and selectable, bookmarks, links and forms keep working, and images are not re-encoded.
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Offline by design
The cleaning engine runs in a frame that your browser keeps away from the network, so there is no upload to worry about.
Questions and answers
What metadata does a PDF usually contain?
Typically the title, author, subject, keywords, the app that created it, the PDF producer and dates, plus an XMP packet that may add document IDs and edit history. Design apps also store private data on pages.
What does the metadata remover leave in place?
Everything that is part of the content: visible text, hidden layers, comments with their author names, attachments, and camera data inside embedded photos. Flatten the PDF to turn comments into plain page content, and remove EXIF data from photos before you place them.
Does a PDF/A file stay PDF/A after cleaning?
No. PDF/A requires metadata, so the cleaned file no longer declares PDF/A conformance, and the result tells you so. If you need the archive format, edit the metadata instead of removing it.
How can I check that the metadata is gone?
Open the file in Acrobat or Reader and look at File → Properties, or open the Details tab of the file’s properties in Windows. Title, author, application and dates are empty.
Is removing metadata enough to anonymise a document?
The tool removes supported document properties, XMP and application metadata, then rewrites the PDF. Information may remain in page content, comments, attachments, embedded images or unsupported structures. Check the result before sharing.