What metadata is hidden in a PDF?

PDF files contain hidden fields: author name, company name, creation software (e.g. Microsoft Word), creation and modification timestamps, and sometimes file system paths from the creator's computer.

Why should I remove PDF metadata?

When sharing documents externally — resumes, legal submissions, client reports — metadata can expose your name, company, and the software you use. Stripping it adds a layer of privacy.

Does removing metadata change the visible content?

No. Pages are not touched. The tool deletes the Document Info dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, dates and any custom fields) and the XMP metadata block that many apps also write, then reads the result back to confirm nothing is left.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. File Studio is built on a strict local-first architecture. Every PDF operation — merging, splitting, compressing, redacting — runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. Your files never leave your computer. You can even disconnect your internet after the page loads and the tools will continue working perfectly.

Is File Studio completely free?

Yes, 100% free with no limits. There are no file size caps, no daily limits, no watermarks added to your output, and no account or email required. All tools are free forever.

Does it work on mobile and tablet?

Yes. File Studio is fully responsive and works on Android and iOS browsers. All processing happens locally on your phone's or tablet's hardware.

Remove PDF Metadata Online Free — Strip Hidden Info

Strip hidden author, creation date and software info from PDFs. Free, no upload. Protect your privacy before sharing documents.

Beta: this tool works for common files but is still being improved; see Limitations below.

About Remove Metadata

Remove Metadata deletes the document properties a PDF carries about itself: the document information dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords, the creating application, the PDF producer, the creation and modification dates and any custom fields) and the XMP metadata packet, plus per-page XMP and private application data. Pages are not touched, so the document looks and prints exactly as before.

How to use Remove Metadata

Drop in the PDF. The tool lists the metadata fields exactly as they are stored in the file, from both the document properties and the XMP packet (marked XMP).
Review what is there. If nothing is listed, the PDF has no document properties or XMP metadata.
Click the remove button. The properties dictionary and the XMP metadata are deleted, and the result is read back to confirm nothing remains.
Download filename_cleaned.pdf, which is also added to your workspace.
Optionally check the result in PDF Info, where title, author, subject, creator and producer should now show as empty.

When it helps

Job applications

A résumé built from a friend's or former employer's template often still lists their name as the author. Clearing it avoids an awkward question from a recruiter who checks file properties.

Anonymous feedback and submissions

Blind peer reviews, tenders evaluated anonymously and anonymous complaints should not carry the author's name or organisation in the file properties.

Client deliverables

Internal titles like 'v7 final FINAL do not send' or a junior colleague's name in the Author field look careless on a document sent to a client. Clearing them takes a second and leaves the visible pages untouched.

Tips

The list before removal shows the file's own values, including custom fields some apps add (such as Company or SourceModified) and the XMP copies of the author, tool and dates.
Metadata is only one place names hide. Headers, footers, tracked comments, file names and signature blocks are visible content and are not changed by this tool.
Remove metadata last. Many tools, including other File Studio tools, write their own Producer value when they save, so cleaning before merging or compressing undoes the work.
After cleaning, viewers show the title, author and dates as empty. Some show the file name in place of the title.

Limitations

Metadata attached to individual images or embedded files inside the PDF, and the file identifier (ID) in the trailer, are left as they are.
Annotations, comments, bookmarks, attachments, form data and hidden layers are not removed.
Password-protected PDFs need to be unlocked first.

What happens to your files

The PDF is read and rewritten by pdf-lib in your browser, and the metadata you are removing is never sent anywhere. The cleaned copy is saved in the on-device workspace (IndexedDB, files expire after seven days) and downloaded. If you added the original to the workspace, it is still there with its metadata until you delete it.

Related guides

What Hidden Metadata Is in Your PDF?

Every PDF file contains invisible metadata fields that reveal information about its creation. This includes the author's full name, the company or organisation name, the software used to create it (Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, etc.), the exact creation and modification timestamps, and sometimes the full file system path from the creator's computer. When you share documents externally, this hidden data travels with the file and can be viewed by anyone using a PDF inspector.

Remove Author, Software and Creation Date

File Studio deletes the metadata in one click: the Document Info dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, creation and modification dates, and custom fields such as Company) and the XMP metadata block that many apps write alongside it. Before you clean, it shows the values actually stored in the file. The visual content — text, images, formatting — is unchanged. Names that appear in the visible text or in comments are untouched.

Protect Your Identity Before Sharing

Before sending resumes to recruiters, submitting legal documents, sharing client proposals, or distributing reports externally, removing metadata adds an important layer of privacy. It prevents recipients from seeing which software you use, when exactly you created the document, and potentially your personal or organisational identity. This is a best practice recommended by privacy professionals and is especially important for whistleblowers, journalists, and legal practitioners.

Frequently asked questions

What metadata is hidden in a PDF?: PDF files contain hidden fields: author name, company name, creation software (e.g. Microsoft Word), creation and modification timestamps, and sometimes file system paths from the creator's computer.
Why should I remove PDF metadata?: When sharing documents externally — resumes, legal submissions, client reports — metadata can expose your name, company, and the software you use. Stripping it adds a layer of privacy.
Does removing metadata change the visible content?: No. Pages are not touched. The tool deletes the Document Info dictionary (title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, dates and any custom fields) and the XMP metadata block that many apps also write, then reads the result back to confirm nothing is left.
Are my files uploaded to a server?: No. File Studio is built on a strict local-first architecture. Every PDF operation — merging, splitting, compressing, redacting — runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript. Your files never leave your computer. You can even disconnect your internet after the page loads and the tools will continue working perfectly.
Is File Studio completely free?: Yes, 100% free with no limits. There are no file size caps, no daily limits, no watermarks added to your output, and no account or email required. All tools are free forever.
Does it work on mobile and tablet?: Yes. File Studio is fully responsive and works on Android and iOS browsers. All processing happens locally on your phone's or tablet's hardware.

Related tools

PDF Info — See hidden properties
Page Numbers — Number every page
Extract Text — Copy text out of PDFs
Chat with PDF — Private browser AI Q&A