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Pdfiqo

Remove metadata from a PDF

Strip author, software and other hidden document info.

Drop a PDF hereYour files stay on this device.Choose files
  • Processed on your device
  • Works offline once loaded
  • No sign-up, no watermark

How to remove metadata

  1. 1

    Choose the PDF to clean

    Drop the file onto the page or click to locate it. One PDF is processed at a time.

  2. 2

    Strip the metadata

    Click Remove metadata. No settings are needed. The document information and XMP metadata are deleted in one step.

  3. 3

    Download the clean copy

    Click Download to save the cleaned file. The word clean is added to its file name so you can tell it apart from the original.

Why strip metadata before sharing a PDF

Every PDF carries a small file card of details about itself. You rarely see it, but anyone who opens document properties can. That information often says more than people expect.

Situations where scrubbing PDF metadata makes sense:

  • Anonymous submissions. Peer review, tender bids and blind hiring processes can be undermined by an author name left in the file.
  • Publishing on the web. Search engines and viewers may display the title and author stored in the file, not the one on your page.
  • Legal and HR documents. Metadata can reveal who edited a file, which templates were used, and when work actually happened.
  • Freelance and agency work. Deliverables sometimes show a subcontractor's name or an internal file title the client was never meant to see.
  • Personal documents. Scans exported from a phone app may include device and software names.

What gets removed

This tool clears three places where descriptive data lives inside a PDF:

  1. The document information dictionary. This is the classic set of properties: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, creation date and modification date.
  2. The XMP metadata stream. A more detailed XML record that many modern apps write alongside the classic fields, sometimes including editing history.
  3. Private application data. Extra information some programs store for their own use.

Your pages stay exactly as they were. Text, images, fonts, bookmarks and links are not touched.

Handled locally, never uploaded

Removing metadata is about controlling what you share, so it would make little sense to hand the file to a stranger's server in the process. Here, the cleaning runs as code inside your own browser. The PDF is read from your disk, the properties are deleted in memory, and the clean version is saved back to your device. No one else sees the original or the result. You can load the page, go offline, and it still does the job. There is no cost and nothing to sign up for.

Limits worth knowing

  • Properties only. Metadata attached to individual images inside the PDF, such as camera details embedded in a photo, is not rewritten.
  • Content stays. Hidden text, comments, form values and attachments are separate from metadata. Review them yourself, or use Redact PDF to erase sensitive content from pages.
  • Encrypted files. You will need the password to open them, and the cleaned copy is saved without encryption. Add protection back with Protect PDF.
  • Size. Each file can be up to 200 MB. Large documents depend on your device's available memory.

Related tools

If you want to replace the properties with your own values instead of wiping them, use Edit metadata. A common workflow is to remove everything first, then set a clean title and author. For files that are too large to send, follow up with Compress PDF.

Frequently asked questions

What is PDF metadata?

Metadata is information stored inside a PDF that describes the document rather than being part of its pages. It commonly includes the title, author, subject, keywords, the app that created the file, and creation and modification dates. Most viewers show it under document properties.

What exactly does this tool remove?

It deletes the document information dictionary, which holds fields like Title, Author, Creator, Producer and dates. It also removes the XMP metadata stream and application-specific private data. The visible pages are left untouched.

Why would I want to remove metadata from a PDF?

The author field often contains your full name or your employer's account name. Creator and Producer reveal which software and sometimes which version you used. Dates can show when a document was really drafted. Removing all of this avoids sharing more than you intended.

Does removing metadata delete hidden text or comments?

No. This tool only clears document properties. Text hidden under shapes, comments and annotations remain. To permanently remove sensitive content from the pages, use Redact PDF.

Will the PDF look different afterward?

No. Pages, fonts, images and links are unchanged. Only the properties panel in your viewer will look emptier.

How can I see a PDF's metadata?

In most desktop PDF readers, open the file and look for Document Properties in the File menu. Check the Description tab before and after cleaning to confirm the fields are gone.

Is my file sent to your servers to be cleaned?

No. The cleanup happens entirely in your browser. There is no upload, and the page keeps working offline once it has loaded.