Remove PDF Metadata — Strip Author, Title & Dates
Every PDF records who made it and with what: an author name pulled from the computer account, the title, the software that produced it, and the exact times it was created and last edited. This tool shows you those fields, strips them — the XMP block included — and re-checks the result. The file never leaves your browser.
The author field is the one that catches people out. Export a document from Word or Google Docs and it usually carries the name of whoever owns the account, which then travels with every copy: a CV sent to an employer, a tender submitted anonymously, a legal filing prepared by one firm on behalf of another, a leaked memo. The timestamps are almost as telling — they show when the document was really written, not when it was sent.
What gets removed
- Title, author, subject, and keywords — the document properties any reader shows.
- Creator and producer — the applications that wrote the file, often down to the version.
- Creation and modification dates.
- The XMP metadata packet — an XML copy of the same information that simple tools leave behind.
Metadata is not the same as content. To remove words from the pages themselves use redaction; for photos rather than documents, use the EXIF remover.
How to use Remove PDF Metadata
- Choose a PDF file.
- Read what it is carrying — author, title, software, and timestamps.
- Click "Remove Metadata".
- Check the verification line, then download the clean PDF.
Features
- Shows the fields first — You see the author name and the timestamps before deciding.
- Removes the XMP block too — Not just the simple document properties.
- Verified afterwards — The cleaned file is re-read and the remaining fields are reported.
- Pages are untouched — Text, images, layout, and file structure stay exactly as they were.
- 100% browser-based — No upload, no account, no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What metadata does a PDF actually store?
Document properties — title, author, subject, keywords — plus the creator and producer applications and the creation and modification timestamps. Most files also carry an XMP packet, which repeats the same information as XML and sometimes adds editing history.
Why does my PDF have someone else's name in it?
Because the author field is usually filled in automatically from the account name on the computer that created the source document, or from the template it was based on. Exporting to PDF carries it straight through.
Does removing metadata change the pages?
No. The visible content, layout, fonts, and images are untouched. Only the document information dictionary and the XMP packet change.
Does this hide who wrote the text?
It removes the recorded author, but not anything written inside the document itself — a name in a letterhead, a signature, or a footer stays visible. Use redaction for that.
Is the file uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is parsed and rewritten inside your browser tab, which matters for exactly the kind of document whose metadata you want gone.