See and remove the hidden metadata in a PDF
A PDF stores more inside than it shows: your name as author, the program it was made with, when it was created and last changed, bookmarks, annotations, and even embedded attachments. Drag a PDF in and I’ll tell you what it reveals; then download a copy without that trail.
The PDF never leaves your device: everything is analysed and cleaned in your browser. The copy is re-serialised with those fields removed, and re-read to confirm they are gone.
PDF only
The copy you download has been re-serialised without those metadata, and the tool re-reads it to confirm none remain. The visible content of the document is not touched; what goes is the trail of who, with what and when it was made.
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Frequently asked questions
What metadata does a PDF store?
Besides the text and images, a PDF stores an information dictionary: the author, the program it was created with (for example Word) and the one that converted it to PDF, the title, and the creation and modification dates. It can also carry bookmarks with their titles, annotations, an XMP metadata packet, and even embedded attachments.
Does a PDF reveal who made it?
Often, yes. Many programs put your user name as the document “author” without you noticing. This tool shows it to you before you share the file, and gives you a copy without that field.
Can you tell when and with what program a PDF was made?
Yes: the creation and modification dates and the software are recorded in the metadata. It is useful for you, but it also tells anyone who receives the file how and when you made it. The clean copy does not carry them.
Is the PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens inside your browser and the file is never transmitted. You can check it: disconnect from the internet and the tool still analyses and cleans.
Does cleaning the metadata change the document content?
No. It removes the info fields, the XMP, the bookmarks, the annotations and the attachments, and re-serialises the file. The text and images on the pages are not touched. This tool cleans metadata: to remove data from the visible content, use the PDF redaction tool.