Remove PDF Metadata Online — Free & Secure
Strip the title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, dates and the XMP packet from a PDF in one step. The pages stay exactly as they are.
What Is This Tool?
Every PDF carries hidden descriptive data alongside the visible pages: an Info dictionary with fields like Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator and Producer plus creation and modification timestamps, and often an XMP metadata packet that repeats and extends the same information. Remove PDF Metadata clears both in a single pass and hands back a file whose pages are byte-for-byte the same but whose "Document Properties" panel is blank.
This is different from our Edit PDF Metadata tool, which is for setting those fields to specific values. This tool is the one-click "wipe it all" option.
Why Remove PDF Metadata?
Metadata can reveal your real name, your organisation, the software and template you used, and when the file was created or last edited — details you may not want to share when a document goes to a client, a public portal, or a job application. Clearing it removes that trail without changing what the reader sees.
What gets cleared
- Title, Author, Subject and Keywords
- Creator and Producer (the software names)
- Creation and modification dates
- The XMP metadata packet in the document catalog
Who Uses It
- Freelancers sending deliverables under a business name
- Job seekers submitting a CV or portfolio
- Anyone publishing a document publicly
- Teams standardising files before archiving
A few real-world examples
- A designer exports a proposal from a personal template and clears the "Author" field before sending it to a client.
- An applicant removes the "last modified" timestamp so a portal cannot infer when the document was rushed.
- A publisher strips Producer strings so released PDFs do not advertise the internal tool chain.
Step-by-Step Guide
Upload your PDF.
Click "Remove Metadata".
Download the cleaned file.
What You'll Get
A new PDF with an empty Info dictionary and no XMP packet. The result screen lists which fields were found and cleared. Page content, fonts, images, bookmarks and links are untouched.
Note: this clears document-level metadata. It does not remove text inside the pages, comments, or hidden layers — use Redact PDF or Flatten PDF for those.
Features
- Free, no registration, no watermark
- Clears the Info dictionary and the XMP packet
- Removes creation and modification dates
- Page content is never altered
- Tells you which fields it found
Supported Formats
Tips
- Run this as the last step, after any editing — editors re-add Producer and date fields
- To set a specific title or author instead of clearing, use Edit PDF Metadata
- Metadata is not the same as visible text — check the pages themselves for names too
- Check "Document Properties" in your reader afterwards to confirm the fields are blank
Troubleshooting
Problem: The result says "no populated fields were found"
Solution: Your PDF already had an empty Info dictionary. If it still shows a Producer in your reader, that value may live only in an XMP packet, which is also removed — re-check Document Properties.
Problem: A name still appears when I open the file
Solution: That name is on the page, not in the metadata. Use Redact PDF to black out whole pages, or edit the source document before exporting.
Problem: My PDF viewer still shows a modification date
Solution: Some viewers show the file system's date, not the PDF's. The metadata inside the file has been cleared.
Problem: My file won't upload
Solution: Confirm it is a real PDF under 50 MB. If it is password-protected, remove the password first with Unlock PDF.
Remove PDF Metadata FAQ
Is this tool free?
Yes. Removing PDF metadata is completely free, with no sign-up, watermark or hidden limits beyond the 50 MB file size.
Does it change how the PDF looks?
No. Only the document's descriptive metadata is removed. Every page renders exactly as before.
What is the difference from Edit PDF Metadata?
Edit PDF Metadata is for setting fields to specific values. This tool clears them all at once.
Does it remove text or names on the pages?
No. It only clears document-level metadata. Visible page text is untouched — use Redact PDF for that.
Does it remove the XMP packet?
Yes. Both the Info dictionary and the XMP metadata stream in the document catalog are removed.
Are my files kept?
No. Your upload and the result are both deleted automatically a short time after processing.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, in any modern mobile or desktop browser — no app required.
Privacy & Security
Your files are handled securely
All uploads are transferred over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection and processed in an isolated job folder. No one at PDFCherry views, shares, or uses the content of your documents for anything other than removing their metadata.
- Uploaded files are automatically deleted within 30 minutes.
- The cleaned PDF is automatically deleted within 1 hour after completion.
- Your original file is never modified — the result is always a new, separate file.
Read our full Privacy Policy or Contact Us if you have any questions about how your files are handled.
Why Trust PDFCherry?
PDFCherry is built and maintained by a small, dedicated team and runs on established, industry-standard PDF libraries — not an anonymous "free tool" that resells your files or data. The privacy practices above apply across the whole site. More about PDFCherry.
Having issues or need help? Contact Us — we're here to help.
Ready to Clear Your PDF's Metadata?
It's free, secure, and takes just a few seconds. Upload your file and wipe the hidden details.
Upload Your File — Remove Metadata