Author and title
Remove document title, author, subject, and keyword fields that can identify a person, organization, or project.
Remove PDF Metadata Online
Clean hidden author, title, creator, producer, keyword, date, and XMP metadata from a PDF before you share it. PrivacyStrip processes your file locally in your browser, so it never leaves your device.
Free · no account · original file stays untouched
Strip PDF metadata in your browser
Drop a photo or PDF below. We read every hidden field, then remove it locally in your browser. No upload, no account.
Choose a file · or drag it here Images, PDF, Word, MP3, MP4 · up to 50MB · up to 5 files
🔒 100% local · your file is never uploaded to a server · nothing is stored
What PDF Metadata Gets Removed?
PDFs can retain information about who created them, what software produced them, and when they were edited. PrivacyStrip removes standard document-information fields and embedded metadata when available.
Creator and producer
Clear software fingerprints that can reveal the application or workflow used to make the PDF.
Document dates
Remove creation and modification dates from the standard PDF document-information fields.
XMP metadata
Remove embedded XMP metadata when it is present in the document catalog.
What PDF Metadata Reveals About You
A PDF's hidden properties can tell a recipient more than you expect. Before you email or publish one, consider what the metadata alone gives away:
Your identity
The Author field is filled in automatically by most office software — often your full name or work username, even on personal documents.
Your software and workflow
Creator and Producer fields name the exact application and version — "Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365", "Canva", a specific PDF printer — which fingerprints how you work.
Your timeline
Creation and modification dates expose how long a document was drafted, and consecutive timestamps can reveal overnight or weekend work patterns.
Keywords and subjects
Internal project codenames and subject lines often survive export and travel with every forwarded copy.
Stripping this metadata takes under a minute and changes nothing about the document your recipient sees.
How to Remove Metadata From a PDF
- 1Choose your PDF
Open the PrivacyStrip tool and select a PDF from your device.
- 2Scan the document
Review the metadata PrivacyStrip finds, including standard document properties.
- 3Strip metadata locally
Choose to remove the metadata. Processing happens in your browser, not on a remote server.
- 4Download the cleaned PDF
Save the cleaned copy while the original PDF remains unchanged on your device.
Metadata removal is not redaction
This tool removes hidden PDF metadata. It does not remove visible text, images, comments, annotations, or content in the PDF itself. Use proper redaction software when sensitive information appears on the page.
PDFs Exported From Word and Office
Documents exported from Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint carry the richest metadata of any common file type: author and company names, template titles, editing application, and revision counts. Job applications, legal drafts, and business proposals are the most common leaks. PrivacyStrip cleans the exported PDF, and it also strips the same identifying fields from DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files directly — no export step needed, no upload at any point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PrivacyStrip upload my PDF?
No. Your PDF is processed locally in your browser. It is not sent to a PrivacyStrip server.
What PDF metadata can be removed?
PrivacyStrip removes standard document information such as title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, and dates, and removes embedded XMP metadata when present.
Does metadata removal change the visible PDF?
No. Metadata removal targets hidden document information, not the visible text, images, or page layout of your PDF.
Can PrivacyStrip remove redactions or visible text?
No. Metadata removal is not document redaction. It does not remove visible page content, comments, annotations, or information embedded in the document body.
How do I remove my name from a PDF?
Drop the PDF into PrivacyStrip, scan it, and strip the metadata. The Author field is cleared from the cleaned copy. Copies you already sent keep the original metadata, so clean the file before sharing it the first time.
Why does my PDF still show a name after I cleaned it?
If the name appears inside the visible page — a byline, signature, or header — it is document content, not metadata. Metadata removal does not alter page content; visible text needs proper redaction.
Can I clean a Word document the same way?
Yes. Alongside PDFs, PrivacyStrip removes metadata from DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files — including author names, company fields, and revision history — all locally in your browser.