How to Remove Metadata from a PDF
Clear PDF metadata in three simple steps. No software installation required.
Add Your PDFs
Select one or more PDF files from your device.
Remove the Metadata
Click “Remove metadata” to clear document properties, XMP data, and stored page thumbnails.
Download the New Copies
Preview the pages and download each PDF, or get all the results together in a ZIP.
How Does the PDF Metadata Remover Work?
The CompressFly PDF metadata remover clears the document details that a PDF can carry alongside its pages, including author names, titles, keywords, software information, and dates. It also removes XMP metadata and stored page thumbnails. Process a single PDF or several files together, with a separate cleaned copy for each document. Your PDFs are processed locally in your browser, without editing the visible text, images, or page layout. Your original files stay unchanged.
What "processed locally" means
- Your PDF files are not uploaded to a server
- Metadata cleanup takes place on your device
- PDF passwords are handled in your browser
- The cleaned PDFs and ZIP are created locally for download
What PDF Metadata Is Removed?
Clear the document details that can travel with a PDF even when they are not visible on its pages.
| Information | Examples | What this tool does |
|---|---|---|
| Document properties | Title, Author, Subject, Keywords | Removes the stored entries |
| Software and dates | Creator, Producer, creation and modification dates | Clears the document-information entries |
| XMP metadata | Structured metadata stored with the PDF | Removes the metadata records |
| Page thumbnails | Embedded page preview images | Removes stored thumbnails |
Removing metadata does not remove every trace of personal information. Page content, comments, attachments, and embedded images need a separate check.
Why Use CompressFly to Remove PDF Metadata?
Easy to Use
Clean up a PDF's stored metadata without editing properties individually. The focused tool makes this part of document preparation simple.
Less Unwanted Background Detail
Stored author and software information may be unnecessary in a copy you share. Clearing metadata helps reduce those extra details carried alongside the visible document.
Keep the Page Presentation
Metadata cleanup does not require rebuilding the pages. The visible document can keep its layout while stored properties are cleared from the new copy.
Convenient for Collections
Several PDFs can receive the same cleanup in one session. It saves the repeated work of opening and editing each document's properties separately.
Free Browser Tool
Prepare cleaned copies without installing a desktop editor or buying a subscription. No account is needed to use the tool.
Private Processing
Your PDFs stay on your device while their metadata is cleared. The cleanup runs locally, so the document contents are not uploaded to a processing server.
Related PDF Tools
Remove PDF Metadata FAQ
How do I remove metadata from a PDF online?
Remove PDF metadata in three steps: 1. Add one or more PDFs from your device. 2. Click “Remove metadata” to run the cleanup. 3. Download the new PDF copies individually or together in a ZIP.
Does this tool remove XMP metadata as well as PDF properties?
Yes. It clears the document-information entries and removes XMP metadata, rather than only blanking fields in a properties panel. Stored page thumbnails are removed too.
Can I remove the author name from a PDF?
Yes. The stored Author entry is cleared along with the other document metadata. If the name is printed on a page, it will still be visible; use the Redact PDF tool to remove that page content.
Does metadata removal make a PDF completely anonymous?
No. Names on pages, comment authors, attachments, and information inside embedded images may still identify the document or its author. Those need a separate review; clearing PDF metadata is not a complete anonymity guarantee.
Can I remove metadata from multiple PDFs at once?
Yes. Add several PDFs and run the cleanup once. Every file is processed separately, and you can download the results individually or together in a ZIP. The PDFs are not combined into one document.
Can I keep the title while removing only the author?
This tool clears document metadata rather than letting you select individual fields. Use the PDF Metadata Editor to clear the Author entry while keeping the title or other document-information fields.
Is this PDF metadata remover free?
Yes. No account, credit card, or software installation is required. All processing runs locally in your browser, so your PDFs and passwords are not uploaded.