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Runs in your browser - the file is never uploaded
Remove PDF metadata
Remove metadata from a PDF for free: the author name, title, the app that created it, creation and modification dates, and the XMP edit history. You see exactly what the file was carrying, then download a clean copy. The pages themselves stay the same.
How to remove metadata from a PDF
- 01
Choose your PDF
Drop in the file you want to clean. Files up to 50MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded - it all happens on your device.
- 02
See what it was hiding
The tool lists the title, author, creator app, producer, dates, custom fields, and whether XMP metadata was present - next to the cleaned result.
- 03
Download the clean PDF
Download the scrubbed copy. Every page looks exactly as before; only the hidden document information is gone.
What metadata a PDF hides
Every PDF carries a small block of document information that you never see on the page. It usually holds the author - often the full name from your computer or Office account - a title, the app that created the file, the PDF library that saved it, and the exact date and time it was created and last modified.
Many PDFs also contain an XMP metadata stream. It can repeat all of the above and add more: document IDs, the editing tools used along the way, and sometimes a history of saves. Apps can also leave private data behind, such as Illustrator or Photoshop editing information.
Why remove metadata before sharing a PDF
Privacy is the obvious reason. A CV, a contract, or a report can reveal your full name, your employer's software, or the fact that the file was last edited at 2 a.m. Job applicants often send a CV whose author field still names a template site or a previous employer.
Tool traces are the other reason. Files exported from Canva, Word, Google Docs, or an AI writing tool commonly record that app as the creator or producer. Clearing the metadata of PDFs you publish, submit, or send to opposing counsel means the document speaks for itself and nothing else.
What this tool removes - and what it doesn't
It removes the whole document information dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, creation and modification dates, Trapped, and any custom fields), every XMP metadata stream in the file, private application data, the author names and dates on comments and highlights, and leftover objects from earlier saves. The document ID is replaced with a new random one. Fields are deleted, not just blanked, and no new producer or date is written in their place.
It does not change what is on the pages: names or details in the visible text stay where they are - use the redaction tool for that. Values typed into form fields, the contents of attached files, and EXIF data inside embedded photos are also left as they are. Because the file is rewritten, any digital signature becomes invalid, and a PDF/A conformance claim (which lives in the XMP metadata) is removed.
Your file stays on your device
Uploading a document to a server to scrub its private details would defeat the purpose. This tool reads and cleans the PDF entirely in your browser: nothing is uploaded, stored, or logged.
It is free, with no watermark, no sign up, and no limit on how many files you clean.
Frequently asked questions
Does it remove the author name from a PDF?
Yes. The author field is deleted from the document information, and the XMP metadata, which often repeats the author as the document creator, is removed as well. If the name also appears in the visible text, for example in a footer, it stays there.
How do I check a PDF's metadata?
Drop the file into this tool: it lists the title, author, creator app, producer, dates, custom fields, and whether XMP metadata is present before anything is removed. To view or change individual fields instead of removing them all, use the free PDF metadata editor tool.
Can I remove PDF metadata on a Mac without Preview or Acrobat?
Yes. This tool runs in any browser, including Safari and Chrome on macOS, with nothing to install. Preview shows some of this information but has no option to clear it all; this tool removes the whole document information and the XMP metadata in one step.
Does it remove traces of Canva, Word, or AI tools?
It removes the creator and producer fields and the XMP metadata, which is where apps like Canva, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or AI writing tools record themselves. It cannot change the content, so wording or layout typical of a particular tool is not affected.
What happens to digital signatures and PDF/A files?
Removing metadata rewrites the file, so an existing digital signature no longer validates - remove metadata before signing, not after. PDF/A files declare their conformance in the XMP metadata, so the cleaned copy is no longer marked as PDF/A, even though the pages look the same.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is processed with JavaScript in your browser and never leaves your device.
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