PDF Metadata Editor
Change a PDF's title, author, subject, keywords and dates, add custom fields, and remove hidden data you don't want to keep. Edited in your browser.
Drop PDFs here
See everything a PDF reveals about you, then save a clean copy or edit its properties.
Up to 20 PDFs at once · 100 MB each
100% in your browser
What can you change with a PDF metadata editor?
A PDF metadata editor changes the document properties stored inside the file. The title appears in browser tabs and search results instead of the file name. Author, subject and keywords help document management systems and search. Creation and modification dates matter for records. Editing them doesn't touch the pages. This editor also removes the XMP copy of the old values, so other apps don't show the previous title or author.
How to edit PDF metadata
- Choose Open File and select the PDF whose properties you want to change.
- Edit is already selected. Change the title, author, subject, keywords, creating app, producer or dates. Leave a field empty to remove it.
- Add custom fields such as Department or Case number if your system uses them.
- Choose whether to remove hidden data too: XMP history, document ID, photo data and more.
- Choose Save and download, then check the before-and-after summary.
Hidden data a PDF can contain
| Hidden data | Example | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Document properties | Author: Jordan Avery · Title: Q3 Proposal – DRAFT v7 | Yes, or edit them |
| Software and dates | Created with Microsoft Word · Modified 30 Sep 2026 | Yes |
| XMP metadata | Edit history, document and instance IDs, original file details | Yes |
| Earlier versions | Text deleted in a later save, still stored in the file | Yes, the file is rebuilt |
| Document ID | A unique code that links copies of the same file | Yes |
| Photo metadata | Camera model, editing app, GPS coordinates in embedded JPEGs | Yes |
| Comments | Reviewer names and comment dates | Author names removed by default |
| Attachments and scripts | Embedded spreadsheets, JavaScript that runs on opening | Yes |
| Thumbnails and app data | Page previews, private data saved by Illustrator or Word | Yes |
Why use this PDF metadata remover
- See before you remove
- Every finding is listed in plain language and ranked by risk, so you know what your file was revealing.
- Goes beyond author and title
- It also removes XMP history, document IDs, earlier versions, photo GPS, comment authors, attachments and scripts.
- Verified result
- The cleaned file is read back and compared with the original, so you can see exactly what changed.
- Private by design
- Your PDF is processed on your device. There is no upload, account or file retention period.
- Batch cleaning
- Open up to 20 PDFs, review each one, and download them all as a ZIP file.
- Edit when you need to
- Switch to Edit to set a proper title, author or custom fields instead of removing everything.
When to remove PDF metadata
- Before sending documents outside
- Proposals, quotes and contracts often name their author, client codes and internal software.
- Job applications
- Remove old titles, previous employers' software and earlier drafts from your CV.
- Legal and regulatory filings
- Remove author names, edit history and hidden earlier versions before disclosure.
- Anonymous submissions
- Peer review, whistleblowing and blind applications depend on removing names from the file.
- Publishing on the web
- Set a clear title for search results and remove internal paths and draft names.
- Photos inside reports
- Site reports and listings often embed phone photos that still carry GPS coordinates.
How this tool compares with other PDF metadata removers
Based on what each tool states on its own page, reviewed in October 2026. Check each site for current details.
| Tool | Where the PDF is processed | What it covers | Free use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital ToolPad | In your browser | Properties, XMP, history, earlier versions, document ID, photo EXIF/GPS, comments, attachments, scripts | Free, 20 files at once |
| PDF24 Remove metadata | PDF24 servers in Germany | Author, creator, dates, software, keywords, title | Free |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | Desktop app | Document properties and Remove Hidden Information | Paid subscription |
| Sejda | Online service | Remove all, or edit standard and custom fields | 3 tasks per hour, 200 pages |
| GroupDocs Metadata | Online service | Metadata and properties | 3 files per day, 40 MB |
| EmbedPDF | In your browser | View and edit properties, XMP and custom fields | Free |
| Pics.io | Online service | Shows and removes PDF metadata | Free |
How the cleaning works
The PDF is parsed with pdf-lib in your browser. The document properties, XMP streams, document ID and the other items you select are deleted. Every object that can no longer be reached from the document is then discarded, including leftovers of earlier versions, and the PDF is written again as a single new version.
Embedded JPEG photos are cleaned at the byte level: EXIF, XMP, IPTC and comment segments are removed, while the colour profile and colour-transform segments are kept so the photo looks the same. The new file is then read back and compared with the original.
Metadata, redaction and other files
Metadata removal does not touch what is printed on the page. To permanently remove names, account numbers or signatures from the pages themselves, use Redact PDF. For Word files, the Word metadata remover deletes authors, comments and tracked changes. For photos, use the photo metadata remover.
Example: fix the title that shows in the browser tab
A published report opens in browsers with the tab title “Microsoft Word – final_v3_JB.docx”. Open it, set the title to “Annual Report 2026”, set the author to your organisation, and clear the old keywords. Save the PDF: browsers and search engines now show the proper title, and the old values are gone from the XMP.
What to expect from the result
Removing metadata does not change visible content. Names, numbers or logos printed on the pages stay, so use a redaction tool for those. Encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first. Removing XMP makes PDF/A archive files non-compliant, and any change invalidates a digital signature; both cases are flagged. Only JPEG photo metadata is cleaned; other image types rarely carry EXIF. Metadata added by another app or service after you send the file is outside this tool's control.
PDF Metadata Editor questions
How do I change the title of a PDF?
Open the PDF, keep Edit selected, type the new title and choose Save and download. The title is what browsers show in the tab and what search engines may display, so it is worth setting on any PDF you publish. The file name does not change.
Can I change the creation date of a PDF?
Yes. Pick a new date and time for Created or Modified, or clear them to remove the dates entirely. The dates are stored in UTC. Changing dates to misrepresent when a document was made can be unlawful in legal or financial contexts.
Why does my computer still show the old author or title?
Some apps cache file properties, and older edits often leave the previous values in the XMP metadata. This editor removes the XMP copy when it saves. If your file manager still shows old values, refresh or reopen the folder.
Does removing metadata change how the PDF looks?
No. Pages, text, images, links and form fields stay the same. Only hidden information is removed, and the document is saved again from scratch. Digital signatures are the exception: any change to a signed PDF makes its signature invalid, and the tool warns you when a file is signed.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is read and rewritten by your browser on your own device. Nothing is sent anywhere, so it is safe for contracts, CVs, legal files and reports you have not published yet. Closing the tab discards everything.