How to Remove PDF Metadata — Protect Your Privacy

PDF files embed hidden metadata — Author name, email patterns in Creator fields, software fingerprints in Producer, creation timestamps, and XMP packets — that can identify you when you share a document. This tool strips all of it in your browser using pdf-lib, with zero upload. Journalists, legal professionals, and privacy-conscious users use it before sharing sensitive documents.

Zero UploadLocal CPUOffline-CapableAuto Cleanup

  1. Open the Metadata Cleaner

    Go to the Metadata tool. All fields are pre-selected for removal by default.

  2. Review or adjust which fields to remove

    Fields include: Author, Title, Subject, Keywords, Producer, Creator, CreationDate, ModificationDate, and XMP. You can uncheck any field you want to keep.

  3. Clean & Download

    Click 'Clean & Download'. The output PDF has all selected properties removed. Verify in Acrobat (File → Properties) or any PDF viewer that the fields are empty.

Open Metadata Cleaner

FAQ

What metadata does a PDF typically contain?
Standard PDFs include Author, Title, Subject, Keywords, Creator (which software created it), Producer (which PDF library rendered it), creation and modification dates, and XMP packets which can contain even more granular data.
Can the recipient recover the removed metadata?
No. This tool uses pdf-lib to rewrite the document without the metadata fields. Unlike redacting text, deleted metadata cannot be recovered from the file.
Is this useful for journalists and legal professionals?
Yes. Reporters can strip author and Producer fields that link back to their newsroom systems. Lawyers can share documents without revealing which software or templates were used.
Does removing metadata change the visible content?
No. The visible pages, text, images, and layout are completely unchanged. Only the hidden metadata fields are removed.
Is the metadata removal done locally?
Yes — entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded to any server.

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