PDF metadata removal is essential for anyone sharing documents professionally. Every PDF you create contains hidden information that can compromise your privacy or reveal confidential details about your organization.
What PDF Metadata Gets Removed?
When you use MetaClean to remove metadata from PDF files, we strip the following fields:
- Author: Your name or username from the computer that created the document
- Creator: The application used to create the original file (Microsoft Word, InDesign, etc.)
- Producer: The PDF conversion software and version
- Creation Date: When the document was first created
- Modification Date: When it was last edited
- Title, Subject, Keywords: Document properties that may contain sensitive info
Use Cases for PDF Metadata Removal
Business & Legal Documents
Contracts, proposals, and legal documents often need to be anonymized before sharing. The author field might reveal your company structure, and timestamps can expose negotiation timelines.
Job Applications & CVs
Your resume might show it was created from a template, edited multiple times, or even contain a previous employer's name in the metadata. Clean it before sending to recruiters.
Academic Papers
Students submitting assignments should remove metadata that might show the document was created by someone else or edited at suspicious times.
Published Content
E-books, reports, and whitepapers should have clean metadata for professional presentation and to avoid exposing internal processes.
💡 Pro Tip: Always remove PDF metadata before uploading documents to cloud storage, email attachments, or public websites. Once shared, the metadata is accessible to anyone who downloads the file.
Why Choose Browser-Based PDF Metadata Removal?
Traditional methods require installing software like Adobe Acrobat Pro ($22.99/month) or command-line tools like ExifTool. MetaClean offers a free, instant alternative that works on any device with a web browser.
Most importantly, unlike other online PDF tools, MetaClean never uploads your files. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript, making it the most private option for sensitive documents.