pdfviz

Remove metadata from a PDF

or drop one here
Choose a PDF file first.

See the metadata your PDF carries before removing it. Every supported finding starts selected, the file stays in this tab, and the cleaned result is reopened to prove the selected data is gone while every page and selectable character remains.

How to remove metadata from a PDF

  1. Choose the finished PDF

    Press Choose a PDF, or drop the file on the page. Run metadata removal after every other edit so the copy you inspect is the copy you send.

  2. Review every finding

    The tool lists document fields, software, dates, XMP, identifiers and embedded files. Values remain inside this browser tab.

  3. Choose what to remove

    Every supported finding starts selected. Clear a finding only when you intend to keep it in the output.

  4. Read the check, then download

    The output is opened again. Selected findings must be gone, unselected findings must remain, and every page and selectable character must survive.

Metadata is separate from page content

Author, producer, dates, XMP and document identifiers sit around the pages. A name in a footer, a scanned signature and words in a letter are page content. This tool removes the first group. Use redact PDF for information printed on a page.

Run this tool last. Compressing, merging or editing the cleaned PDF can write a new producer field or modification date, which means that later copy has not been checked. If you need to compress or merge the file, do it first, then remove metadata from the final copy.

Where the metadata remover fits

A PDF carries more than the pages you can see. The author name from the machine that made it, the software that produced it, the creation and modification timestamps, the keywords, the XMP packet and the trailer identifier all travel with the file. When you share a PDF, you share all of that too.

This tool lists every supported metadata field, lets you choose what to remove, and verifies the cleaned file before download. It pairs naturally with privacy scan for a broader sweep, and with redact PDF when page content also needs removal. If the file carries a password, unlock it first so the metadata remover can read and clean it.

When you need to remove PDF metadata

Sending files to clients or vendors. Strip the author name and editing software so the recipient sees only the document, not your workflow.

Publishing PDFs online. Every download carries the metadata. Remove it before upload so visitors cannot learn who made the file or when it was last changed.

Legal and compliance sharing. After redacting page content, remove the metadata too so the file does not identify the author or reviewer through hidden fields.

Archiving clean copies. Run metadata removal as the final step so archived files carry only the pages and the metadata you chose to keep.

Submitting to public records portals. Government portals may publish uploaded PDFs as-is. Strip metadata first so your name, software and timestamps do not appear in the public record.

Sharing drafts for review. When you share a draft, the metadata can reveal who created it, when it was last edited and what software you used. Remove it to keep the focus on the content.

How PDF metadata removal works

The tool reads the PDF structure and identifies every supported metadata field: the document information dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords), the software fields (creator, producer), the creation and modification dates, the XMP packet, the trailer identifier and any embedded file attachments. Each finding is listed with its value so you can decide what to keep.

When you download, the tool writes a new copy of the PDF without the selected fields. It does not strip fields by blanking them - it removes the entries from the file structure. The XMP packet is removed, the trailer identifier is removed and embedded files are detached. The result is a leaner file that carries only what you chose to keep.

The cleaned file is then reopened and checked. Selected findings must be gone, unselected findings must remain, and every page and selectable character must survive. If the removal corrupted the file, the check fails and you never see the download.

Questions about removing PDF metadata

Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The scan, your selections and the cleaning all run in this browser tab. No part of the file is sent to a server.
What metadata does it remove?
It removes document fields (title, author, subject, keywords), software fields (producer, creator), creation and modification dates, the XMP packet, the trailer identifier and embedded file attachments.
Does it remove text from the pages?
No. It removes metadata only. For words and images on the page, use redact PDF.
Can I choose what to keep?
Yes. Every finding starts selected, but you can clear the list or toggle individual items. Unselected findings remain in the output.
How does it verify the result?
The cleaned file is reopened. Selected data must be gone, unselected findings must remain, and every page and selectable character must survive before Download appears.
Should I remove metadata before or after other edits?
After. Compressing, merging or editing the cleaned PDF can write new metadata, so run this tool on the final copy.
Does it work on password-protected PDFs?
Unlock the file first with unlock PDF, then remove metadata from the unlocked copy.
Is there a file or page limit?
There is no server-side cap: processing happens in your browser. Very large files are still bound by your browser tab's memory.

The other pdfviz tools

All of them run in a browser tab like this one, and none of them needs an account.