Remove PDF Metadata — Scrub Hidden Info
Clear the author name, software, title, and keywords from a PDF before you share it.
Besides what you can see on the page, a PDF quietly stores information about itself: who created it, which program made it, and when it was last edited. This tool clears the main metadata fields before you send the file to anyone.
How to remove PDF metadata (3 steps)
- Open your PDF.
- Click to remove the metadata.
- Download the file with its main metadata cleared.
What is PDF metadata?
Anyone who receives your PDF can see this information, for example under File → Properties in Adobe Reader:
- Title, author (often the account name on the computer that created the file), subject, and keywords.
- The names of the programs used to create and convert the file.
- The creation date and last-modified date.
What this tool does
- Clears the title, author, subject, keywords, creator program, and producer program — both in the main document info and in the hidden XMP section.
- Sets the creation and modification dates to the moment you remove the metadata.
- Leaves page content untouched, so text remains searchable.
- Accepts several files at once and returns them as a ZIP.
What it doesn't remove
- Names or details typed into the document content itself — use Redact PDF for those.
- The names of people who added comments or highlights in the file.
- Extra custom fields some files carry, such as a company name.
FAQ
What metadata does a PDF contain?
The author, the program used, creation and modification dates, subject, and keywords. Some files have extra fields, such as a company name, which this tool does not remove.
Why remove it?
To avoid leaking personal information when you share files publicly — for example, an author name attached without you realizing. Note that extra fields such as a company name are not removed.
Does the document content change?
Not at all. Only the background information about the file is removed.
Does removing metadata make the file smaller?
Only slightly, because metadata is very small. To reduce file size, use Compress PDF.
When should I remove metadata?
Before sending documents outside your organization, to clients, or posting them publicly — especially files created on a work computer, which often have an employee's name in the author field.