Every PDF carries information that is not printed on its pages. Usually it is harmless, but it can reveal the author’s full name, the company that produced the file, the software used, and when the document was created and last edited.
What PDF metadata looks like
| Field | Typical example |
|---|---|
| Title | Q3 Board Pack DRAFT v7 |
| Author | Jane Smith |
| Creator | Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 |
| Producer | macOS Quartz PDFContext |
| Created / Modified | Dates and times, often with time zone |
These values come from the app that produced the PDF. A document titled “DRAFT v7” or an author name of a former employee can be embarrassing or, in legal and HR contexts, a real problem.
How to check a PDF’s metadata
- Adobe Acrobat Reader: File → Properties → Description.
- Preview on Mac: Tools → Show Inspector, then the info tab.
- In your browser: open Edit PDF Metadata and choose the file; the current values fill the form.
How to remove it
- Open Remove metadata from PDF.
- Choose your file. Remove all metadata is already ticked.
- Click Process and download.
The tool clears the information dictionary and deletes the XMP metadata stream. If you would rather keep a title but drop the author, untick the box and clear only the fields you want removed.
Other places information hides
Metadata is only one layer. Before sharing a sensitive document, also consider:
- Comments and annotations – flatten them or delete them.
- Form field values – flatten the form so values cannot be edited or extracted as data.
- Covered text – a black rectangle drawn over text does not remove the text underneath. Use true redaction.
- Unused pages – remove pages that should not be shared.
Because Online PDF Editor processes files in your browser, the document you are cleaning is never uploaded, which is exactly what you want when the point is to protect information.