How to check and remove PDF metadata
A PDF usually carries your name, your software, and when it was made. Often none of that is meant for the recipient.
PDFs carry a metadata block that most people never see. It typically holds the author's name, the producing application, creation and modification timestamps, and often the original filename and title.
This has embarrassed a lot of organisations. A document sent as anonymous carrying an author's name, or a tender response revealing it was created after the deadline, are both routine occurrences.
Step-by-step
- Add your PDF.
- Read what it contains.
- Strip the fields you do not want to share.
- Download the cleaned copy.
What is usually in there
- Author — often your account name, not what you would have chosen.
- Producer and Creator — which software, and which version.
- Creation and modification dates.
- Title — sometimes the original filename, including a draft name or a client's name.
What removing metadata does not do
It cleans the document's properties. It does not touch the content, and it is not a way of hiding information written into the page.
Before sending anything sensitive
Check the metadata, check for tracked changes if it came from a word processor, and check that anything obscured was actually removed rather than covered. Those three account for the overwhelming majority of accidental disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. It is read and rewritten in your browser.
Does this remove text I covered with a rectangle?
No. That text is still in the file underneath the rectangle. Use the redaction tool, which removes the content itself.
Will removing metadata change how the document looks?
No. Metadata is separate from page content, so the document renders identically.
Open the PDF tools →