Remove metadata from PDF files
Author names, the software that produced the file, creation and edit timestamps, and hidden XMP records — inspected and removed in your browser.
Drop PDF files here or click to choose
Processed locally — nothing is sent anywhere
What a PDF quietly records about you
A PDF carries a document information dictionary and, in most modern files, an XMP metadata packet. Between them they commonly store:
- Author — usually pulled from the operating system account or the Office installation, so it is often a real full name
- Title, subject and keywords, which frequently retain values from whatever template the document started life as
- Creator — the application the content was authored in, such as Microsoft Word or LaTeX
- Producer — the library or driver that generated the PDF, often including a precise version number
- Creation and modification timestamps, typically with a timezone offset that narrows down your location
- Document identifiers that persist across revisions and link separate files to one another
None of this is visible when you read the document, which is precisely why it gets overlooked. It surfaces the moment somebody opens the properties dialog — or runs a one-line command.
Where this causes real problems
Anonymous submissions are the classic case. A tip sent to a journalist, a whistleblower document, a complaint filed without a name attached — all of them routinely arrive with the sender's full name sitting in the Author field. The same pattern shows up in competitive settings: a proposal sent to a client reveals it was produced from a template made for a different client, or that it was edited four minutes before the deadline.
There is a subtler version too. The Producer string identifies your exact software and version. Across several documents this becomes a fingerprint that links files you never intended to associate, in the same way a camera serial number links photos.
Metadata removal is not redaction. This tool cleans document properties. It does not touch the page content. If a name, address or account number appears in the visible text — or under a black rectangle drawn on top of it — it is still in the file. See the guide on redacting documents properly.
How it works here
The PDF is parsed in your browser. The tool reads the information dictionary so you can see what was actually stored, then removes those entries, deletes the XMP metadata stream attached to the document catalog, and writes a new file. Nothing is transmitted — you can verify this in your browser's Network tab, or by going offline after the page has loaded.
Page content, fonts, images and layout are preserved. Signed PDFs are the exception worth flagging: any change to the file invalidates a digital signature, which is by design. If a document must remain signed, do not strip it — regenerate it cleanly and sign it again.
Frequently asked
Does this work on scanned PDFs?
Yes, but only on the document properties. A scan is a picture of a page, so anything visible in the scan stays visible.
Can it open password-protected files?
Files with an owner password (restricting printing or copying) can usually be processed. Files encrypted with a user password that blocks opening cannot — remove the password first in a reader you trust.
How do I check the result?
Re-drop the cleaned file here, or open the file properties in your PDF reader. On the command line, exiftool file.pdf gives the full picture.
Why is my file size slightly different?
The document is rewritten when saved, which reorganises the internal structure. Size can go up or down a little. The visible content is unchanged.