A private, in-browser PDF metadata editor
Every PDF file contains hidden properties known as metadata. This information travels with the file wherever it goes, detailing who created it, what software was used, and when it was last modified. While metadata is useful for organizing and searching documents, it can also expose information you would rather keep private.
This tool allows you to easily view and edit PDF metadata directly in your browser. Because all processing happens locally on your device, your files are never uploaded to a remote server. Whether you are handling confidential legal contracts, financial reports, or personal documents, you can safely inspect and modify their hidden properties without compromising your privacy.
Why you might need to edit PDF metadata
Fixing the document title. The internal title of a PDF is different from its file name. When you open a PDF in a web browser or a dedicated reader, the application often displays the internal title in the window tab. If you exported a document from Microsoft Word, the title might default to something unprofessional like "Microsoft Word - Document1" or an outdated draft name. You can use this tool to change PDF title properties so the document looks professional when opened.
Updating authorship. Documents are frequently passed between team members or repurposed from older templates. As a result, the original author listed in the metadata might be a former employee, a different department, or a generic system account. You can easily change PDF author details to reflect the correct individual or organization before publishing the file.
Improving searchability. If you manage a large archive of documents, properly tagged PDFs are much easier to find. By adding relevant subjects and keywords to your files, you make them more discoverable for desktop search tools and document management systems.
How to remove PDF metadata for privacy
When sharing documents externally—whether submitting a resume, publishing a public report, or sending a file to a client—you may want to ensure no sensitive background information is attached. Metadata can reveal exactly how long you spent working on a document, the specific software versions you use, or the names of other people who contributed to the file.
To completely remove PDF metadata, simply upload your file and click the "Clear all fields" button. This will instantly erase the title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, and all timestamp information.
Additionally, you should check the "Clear XMP metadata" option. Modern PDFs often include an Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) stream, which is a hidden XML file embedded within the document. XMP data can contain extensive tracking information generated by design software. Stripping both the standard fields and the XMP stream ensures your document is thoroughly sanitized before you share it. If you also need to sanitize image files before sharing them, you can use our Remove EXIF Data tool.
Understanding PDF metadata fields
If you are choosing to edit rather than delete your metadata, it helps to know what each field represents:
- Title: The formal name of the document. This is often displayed in the title bar of PDF viewers and browser tabs.
- Author: The person or organization responsible for creating the content.
- Subject: A brief description of what the document is about.
- Keywords: A comma-separated list of terms used to help search engines and indexing software categorize the file.
- Creator: The original application used to write the document before it became a PDF (for example, Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, or Google Docs).
- Producer: The specific PDF engine or library that converted the original file into the PDF format (such as macOS Quartz, Acrobat Distiller, or pdf-lib).
- Creation Date & Modification Date: The exact local timestamps indicating when the file was first generated and when it was last altered.
Once you have updated or removed the necessary fields, saving the file generates a fresh, clean PDF. If your newly edited document is too large to send via email, you can easily reduce its size using our Compress PDF tool.