Why remove PDF metadata before sharing?

PDFs created by office software sometimes embed your full username, the path to the original file, the device name, or the version of the software you used. Stripping these fields removes the easily-readable trace.

Does this remove every trace from the PDF?

It removes only the document properties: the Document Information Dictionary, XMP metadata, application data, comment authors and dates, and the file ID. The content stays: comment text, form values, attachments, and anything in hidden layers remain in the file. For PDF/A, PDF/UA, and Factur-X files the tool warns before saving, because removing the XMP metadata breaks those claims.

Will the page content change?

Only the metadata is modified. Pages, fonts, images, and the visible layout remain identical.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

All stripping happens in your browser using pdf-lib. The new PDF is generated locally and downloaded straight to your device.

Can I also keep the title and only remove the author?

Yes. Clear only the Author field and click Save and download. The tool removes that field and the XMP copy of the fields, so no reader keeps showing the old author, and leaves the title and the other values as they were.

Remove PDF Metadata

Clear every metadata field from a PDF: title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, and the creation and modification dates. Click Strip all metadata, then Save and download. Strip also removes the XMP metadata, custom properties, comment authors and dates, and leftovers of earlier saves, and gives the file a new random ID. All processing runs in your browser.

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How it works

pdf-lib loads the PDF in your browser. Strip empties the Document Information Dictionary, custom keys included; removes the XMP metadata from the document, its pages, images, and fonts; removes application data (PieceInfo) and the author, date, and ID of each comment; and replaces the file ID with a random one. Saving then leaves out everything the document no longer uses, including leftovers of earlier saves, and the result downloads as a new file.

Processing runs in your browser

All processing happens inside your browser tab. pdf-lib handles everything in memory; our servers are not involved at any point. You can verify this yourself in your browser's DevTools Network tab.

Related operations

To reduce a PDF's file size after editing metadata, try compress PDF. To shrink a long document before sharing, use split PDF. For pure text extraction without touching metadata, see PDF text extractor.

Frequently asked questions

Why remove PDF metadata before sharing?: PDFs created by office software sometimes embed your full username, the path to the original file, the device name, or the version of the software you used. Stripping these fields removes the easily-readable trace.
Does this remove every trace from the PDF?: It removes only the document properties: the Document Information Dictionary, XMP metadata, application data, comment authors and dates, and the file ID. The content stays: comment text, form values, attachments, and anything in hidden layers remain in the file. For PDF/A, PDF/UA, and Factur-X files the tool warns before saving, because removing the XMP metadata breaks those claims.
Will the page content change?: Only the metadata is modified. Pages, fonts, images, and the visible layout remain identical.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?: All stripping happens in your browser using pdf-lib. The new PDF is generated locally and downloaded straight to your device.
Can I also keep the title and only remove the author?: Yes. Clear only the Author field and click Save and download. The tool removes that field and the XMP copy of the fields, so no reader keeps showing the old author, and leaves the title and the other values as they were.

Last reviewed September 30, 2026

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