Remove PDF Metadata
Remove selected Info, catalog XMP and page XMP references locally
About this tool
Remove PDF Metadata inspects the document Info dictionary and reports catalog and page XMP references. Choose all Info entries, including custom keys, the catalog XMP reference, and optionally each page’s XMP reference. The result reports the number of Info entries and XMP references removed and generates a separate PDF without deliberately changing page content. This is reference removal, not forensic erasure. Unreferenced object bytes can remain in the serialized file; attachments, image EXIF, comments, document identifiers and visible text are outside the removal scope. A blank properties dialog therefore does not prove that all private information is gone. Values are previewed up to 2,048 characters, while removal covers the full selected dictionary. Files stay in the browser; 50 MiB, 200-page and 80 MiB output limits apply. Encryption, XFA and any signature fields are rejected.
Scenario Recipes
Remove known authoring properties before sharing
Goal: Choose each metadata location deliberately and keep the source intact.
- Load the PDF and expand Info values; note whether catalog and page XMP are present.
- Select the entire Info dictionary and the XMP locations your workflow does not need.
- Download the copy and inspect it independently. Check attachments, annotations and visible content separately.
Result: A separate PDF with the selected metadata references removed.
Failure Clinic (Common Pitfalls)
A byte search still finds an old metadata string
Cause: Removing a reference does not garbage-collect every unused object.
Fix: Use forensic sanitization when byte-level removal is required.
The properties panel is empty but information remains in an attachment
Cause: Attachments are outside the selected metadata reference locations.
Fix: Review or remove attachments with a separate tool before sharing.
Production Snippets
Three separate metadata locations
text
Document Info: Title, Author, PrivateCustom
Catalog /Metadata: document XMP
Page /Metadata: page XMP
An attachment is outside these three locations.Frequently Asked Questions
Are custom Info keys removed too?
Yes. Selecting document Info removes the entire Info dictionary reference, including standard properties such as Author and Title and custom keys. It does not only blank a fixed list of fields.
What is the difference between catalog and page XMP?
The PDF catalog can reference document-wide XMP, while individual pages can reference their own metadata. These are separate options; page XMP is kept unless you select its removal.
Is the original metadata gone from every output byte?
No. The operation removes selected references, but unused object data can remain in the rewritten PDF. For forensic sanitization or redaction, use a tool designed to remove all reachable and unreachable sensitive content.
Does it remove attachments, EXIF or visible names?
No. Attachments, embedded-image metadata, annotations, document identifiers and visible page text are outside this tool’s scope. Review those separately before sharing a document.
Can I remove metadata from a signed PDF?
PDF rewriting changes the bytes covered by a signature. This tool rejects signature fields, including empty ones, and signature/certification declarations rather than claiming a signature will survive.
What does a zero-change result mean?
None of the selected Info entries or XMP references were present. A rewritten copy can still be downloaded, but this is not counted as a new successful removal and does not mean other metadata locations are empty.
Keep browsing