PDF Metadata Remover
See and remove the hidden data in a PDF: author, software, dates, edit history, earlier versions and photo locations. Nothing leaves your device.
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 is PDF metadata, and why remove it?
PDF metadata is information stored inside the file about the document rather than in it: who wrote it, which software created and edited it, when, and often the original file name or title. Many PDFs also carry an XMP edit history, a unique document ID, earlier saved versions, and camera and GPS data inside embedded photos. None of it shows on the page, but anyone can read it. A PDF metadata remover deletes this information so the file shows only what you meant to share.
How to remove metadata from a PDF
- Choose Open File and select one or more PDFs, or try the sample PDF. Nothing is uploaded.
- Read the summary: each finding is labelled by risk, from author names and photo locations to software and dates.
- Leave Remove all selected, and choose what else to remove: XMP history, document ID, photo data, attachments, JavaScript and comment authors.
- Choose Remove metadata and download. For several files, choose Clean all as ZIP.
- Check the before-and-after comparison: the new file is read back so you can see what was removed.
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: a proposal that names its author and its discount
Open the sample PDF. It shows the author, the client name in the title and keywords, Microsoft Word and Acrobat in the edit history, a photo with GPS coordinates, a comment signed by a lawyer, an attached spreadsheet, and an earlier version containing an internal discount that is no longer visible on the page. Remove all and download: the new file contains only the page you can see.
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 Remover questions
How do I remove metadata from a PDF?
Open the PDF here, check the list of hidden information, keep Remove all selected and choose Remove metadata and download. The cleaned copy has no author, title, software, dates, XMP history or document ID, and it is rebuilt without earlier versions. It works in any modern browser, without Acrobat.
What metadata does a PDF contain?
Usually: title, author, subject, keywords, the creating application and PDF producer, and creation and modification dates. It may also contain an XMP block with edit history and document IDs, a file ID in the trailer, earlier saved versions, comment author names, attachments, JavaScript, and EXIF or GPS data in embedded photos.
Can deleted text be recovered from a PDF?
Often, yes. Many editors save changes by appending them to the end of the file, so the earlier version, including text you deleted, is still inside. The tool reports how many times a PDF was saved this way. Cleaning rebuilds the file with only the current version and drops anything no longer used.
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.