Edit PDF
Free PDF privacy tool

Remove PDF metadata

Strip hidden document properties, XMP packets, identifiers, and optional annotation identity data without changing how your pages look.

No file upload Quality-preserving cleanup No account required

Broad metadata cleanup

Removes standard properties, XMP streams, document IDs, and page-level metadata references.

Preserves page content

Pages are not rasterized; verify the new copy because embedded attachments and their internal metadata are preserved.

Local processing

QPDF WebAssembly and final verification run locally without an application document-processing request.

Metadata is only one privacy layer: visible page content, comments, form values, filenames, bookmarks, and embedded attachments can still reveal information. Review the cleaned PDF before sharing it.

Filing this for long-term archival? Read PDF/A vs. PDF — what's the difference.

Before you start

Verified facts

Check access, supported files, limits, and processing before choosing a document.

Free

The core task does not require an account.

A PDF metadata remover strips document properties (author, title, creator, producer, creation and modification dates), XMP packets, persistent document and instance IDs, and page-level metadata objects. It cleans sensitive hidden fields while keeping visible page layouts, fonts, and vector artwork identical.

Price
Free — no account needed
Account
Not required
Processing
Processed locally in your browser using WebAssembly
Formats
PDF
File limit
Up to 100 MB
Browser support
Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
Clear, practical guidance

What does removing PDF metadata do?

Remove PDF Metadata is a browser-based tool that lets you strip hidden properties and identifiers from a PDF. Choose PDF, use the controls above to configure the result, then download or use the resulting PDF. The core workflow runs locally in your browser without an application document-processing request. See formats, limits, and processing.

PDF metadata can contain an author name, document title, editing software, creation and modification dates, search keywords, XMP records, and internal document identifiers. Removing it creates a cleaner sharing copy without those common hidden properties.

EditPDF AI removes the PDF Info dictionary, XMP metadata, document IDs, and page-level metadata references. You can also clear hidden author and timestamp fields from non-form annotations. Pages are not rasterized, so text, images, links, forms, bookmarks, and accessibility structure remain intact.

Practical examples

Common ways people use this tool in real documents and day-to-day workflows.

Privacy-conscious professionals

Remove common author, software, timestamp, and identifier fields before sharing a document outside the organization.

Legal and compliance teams

Prepare a cleaner review or disclosure copy while preserving visible pages, links, forms, and document structure.

Journalists and researchers

Reduce hidden source-identifying information in a PDF before publishing or sending it to collaborators.

Job seekers and small businesses

Clean exported CVs, proposals, invoices, and reports of unintended author or editing-application details.

At a glance

Focused workflow

Strip hidden properties and identifiers from a PDF.

Supported workflow

Accepts PDF and produces PDF. Up to 100 MB

Access and processing

Core tool with browser-based document processing.

Three simple steps

How it works

  1. 1

    Choose and inspect your PDF

    Select a PDF up to 100 MB. The tool checks common document properties, XMP, page metadata, document IDs, and annotation identity fields locally.

  2. 2

    Choose annotation cleanup

    Keep the default option to clear hidden author, timestamp, and annotation-ID fields while preserving visible comments and form fields.

  3. 3

    Clean, download, and review

    Create a sanitized copy, download it, and review visible content, filenames, form values, bookmarks, and embedded attachments before sharing.

Know before you upload

Formats, limits & privacy

Confirm that your file is supported and understand how this tool handles document data.

Input formats
PDF
Output formats
PDF
File limit
Up to 100 MB
Privacy & security

Inspection, metadata removal, rewriting, and verification run locally in your browser without an application document-processing request.

Optional comparison

Remove PDF Metadata vs. doing it manually

Open this comparison if you are deciding between the browser workflow and a manual process.

Compare the workflows
Doing it manually

Dig through a desktop app's document-properties dialog hoping it clears everything.

With Remove PDF Metadata

Remove the Info dictionary, XMP metadata, and document IDs in one pass.

Doing it manually

Guess whether hidden author or timestamp fields are still attached to your comments.

With Remove PDF Metadata

Optionally clear hidden author and timestamp fields from annotations too.

Doing it manually

Risk damaging visible content while trying to strip hidden properties.

With Remove PDF Metadata

Pages are not rasterized, so text, images, links, and forms stay intact.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

What PDF metadata does this tool remove?
It removes the PDF Info dictionary, standard document properties, XMP metadata streams, trailer document IDs, and common page or object metadata references. The optional annotation cleanup removes author, creation date, modification date, and annotation-ID fields from non-form annotations.
Will removing metadata reduce PDF quality?
No. The pages are rewritten without rasterizing them, so text, vector graphics, original images, links, bookmarks, form fields, and accessibility structure are preserved.
Does it remove comments or form values?
Visible comments and markup are preserved. With annotation cleanup enabled, only their hidden identity fields are cleared. Form field names and values are intentionally preserved because changing them could alter the document.
What about embedded attachments and filenames?
Embedded attachments are preserved and may have their own filenames or metadata. The downloaded PDF also has a filename, and visible content or bookmarks may reveal information. Review the entire cleaned copy before sharing.
Will cleaning metadata invalidate a digital signature?
Yes. Metadata cleaning rewrites the PDF bytes, so an existing cryptographic signature will no longer validate. The tool warns when it detects common digital-signature structures.
Is my PDF uploaded to any server to remove metadata?
No. Metadata inspection, stripping of author or editing details, and PDF rewriting run entirely in your local browser.
Learn more

Guides & real-world workflows

Step-by-step guides

How to remove hidden metadata from a PDF

Common use cases

Strip Hidden Metadata Before Filing a PDF
Used in workflows for: Legal Professionals · Healthcare Teams
All role workflows →
Core PDF tool

Ready to use Remove PDF Metadata?

Strip hidden properties and identifiers from a PDF Return to the tool above to choose your file, or browse the complete PDF toolkit for another task.

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