Remove Metadata from PDF
Clear everything a PDF remembers about its author and its history, then see the before and after counts.
Free · runs in your browser · nothing is uploaded
How to use the Remove PDF Metadata tool
- Open the tool at the top of this page and add the PDF you want to clean. You can add several files at once.
- If the PDF is password-protected, type the password into the box that appears. The password stays in your browser tab.
- Review the document properties and XMP fields the tool reads from the file. Author names, file paths and several saved versions are the items people most often want removed.
- Under “Also remove”, tick what you need. Attached files, JavaScript, Page thumbnails and Comments and notes are part of this list. Form fields are off by default, so leave them unticked unless you want them gone.
- Click “Remove all metadata”. If you processed several files, the results come back as a ZIP.
- Read the result card. It shows properties and XMP fields before and after, and confirms the page count is unchanged.
If you only need to change one value, use the edit fields instead: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, Created and Modified. An empty box deletes that property, and “Save my edits” writes the change.
The page count and the visible content stay the same; only the hidden details change.
What types of metadata are removed?
The tool removes the document properties and the XMP packet stored in a PDF, including author names, dates, software details and keywords. It also deletes the optional items you tick under “Also remove”. Metadata inside embedded images is the one kind it leaves alone.
| Group | Examples removed |
|---|---|
| Document properties | Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, created and modified dates, custom keys |
| XMP fields | Authors, creator tool, dates, document and instance IDs, edit-history programs, file paths |
| Optional items (“Also remove”) | Attached files, JavaScript, Page thumbnails, Comments and notes, Bookmarks, Accessibility tags, Links, Form fields |
| Not touched | Metadata inside embedded images, such as EXIF data in a photo |
Each optional item is a separate tick, and some are on by default while others are off. Think before you remove Accessibility tags or Form fields, since the document may need them to work for every reader.
Can I save a PDF without metadata?
Yes. When you remove metadata or save an edit, the tool removes the XMP packet, so old values cannot contradict the new ones. The result card then re-reads the saved file so you can check it.
If you edit a field such as Title and save, the new file has no leftover XMP values to conflict with it. The file is rewritten with unused objects deleted, which is why the result card is worth a look before you share the file.
How can I tell the metadata is really gone?
The result card reads the new file back and shows the number of document properties and XMP fields before and after, and whether any unused objects remain in the file. Zero properties and zero XMP fields after means they are not in the saved file. The viewer on PDF metadata viewer shows the same facts for any file you open.
Frequently asked questions
What are PDF metadata?
PDF metadata is hidden information stored in the file, separate from the pages you read. It usually includes the author, title, creation and modification dates, the software that made the file, and keywords. You will not see it in normal page view, but anyone who has the file can read it.
How can I remove PDF metadata?
Open the tool at the top of this page, add your PDF, tick any extra items you need under “Also remove”, and click “Remove all metadata”. The full steps are listed above.
How to remove metadata for free?
The tool is free to use. It has no account, no ads, no analytics and no cookies, so you can open it on this page, add your PDF, and remove the metadata without signing up.
How does removing metadata on this site work?
The tool runs in your browser tab, and nothing is uploaded. Its PDF engine, PDFium compiled to WebAssembly at about 2 MB, loads the first time you open a file. After that first load, it works with the network switched off.
Can I process multiple PDFs at the same time?
Yes. “Remove all metadata” works on one or many files, and multiple results come back as a ZIP.
Can I remove metadata from a password-protected PDF?
Yes. Enter the password in the box the tool shows, and it stays in your browser tab.
Does the tool remove metadata inside images in a PDF?
No. Metadata inside embedded images, such as EXIF data in a photo, is not touched. You need to strip that data from the original image before you insert it into the PDF.
Should I check the result before sharing?
Yes. The result card shows properties and XMP fields before and after, plus the page count. The decision about what to remove is yours, and this tool does not give legal advice.
Related tools
- Redact PDF: use it to find and delete specific text in one PDF, rather than hidden properties.
- PDF redaction software: use it when you need to redact many files at once.
- Redaction check: use it to find text hidden under black boxes.
- Redact an image: use it to black out part of a photo or screenshot.
- Compare PDF: use it to see what changed between two versions of a file.