Edit PDF metadata
Edit PDF metadata: see the title, author, subject and keywords stored inside a PDF, then change them or clear them out.
How the files you choose are handled is set out in the privacy policy.
How to edit PDF metadata
- Tap Choose a PDF. The boxes fill with what the file currently says about itself.
- Change what you want. Empty a box to remove that detail.
- To clear the hidden extras too, tick Also remove the program names and the dates.
- Press Save properties, then Save PDF.
What PDF metadata is
Besides its pages, a PDF carries a small set of facts about itself, known as metadata or document properties. They do not appear on any page. You see them under File, Properties in a PDF viewer, and other software reads them silently.
| Property | What it usually holds | Who sees it |
|---|---|---|
| Title | A document name, often an old file name or a template name | Browser tabs, search results, e-readers, document libraries |
| Author | The name on the software licence or the computer account | Anyone who opens Properties |
| Subject and keywords | Descriptions added by hand or by a document system | Search tools and archives |
| Creator and producer | The programs that wrote the file, with version numbers | Anyone who opens Properties |
| Created and modified | Dates and times, with time zone | Anyone who opens Properties |
Why change it
- A wrong title in the browser tab. Open a PDF in a browser and the tab shows the title property, not the file name. Many PDFs announce themselves as “Microsoft Word - Document1” or the name of last year's report.
- How a PDF looks in search results. Search engines often use the title property as the headline for a PDF. A clear title is worth setting on anything published.
- Libraries and e-readers. Reference managers and reading apps sort by title and author. Correct properties keep a collection tidy.
- Professional polish. A proposal sent to a client should not name a different client in its properties because it began as a copy.
Why remove it
Metadata is written without anyone deciding to write it. A CV exported from a borrowed computer carries the owner's name as author. A tender document shows which software version a firm uses and at what hour the file was finished. For anything going outside your organisation, or published anonymously, clearing these details is a sensible habit.
To clear everything, empty the four boxes and tick the option to remove program names and dates. The result screen confirms that all properties were removed.
What is and is not removed
PDFs can store properties in two places: a classic information block and a newer block in a format called XMP, which often repeats the same details. This tool rewrites the first and removes the second, so the two cannot disagree and the old values do not linger.
It deals with the document's properties only. It does not change what is on the pages, and it does not remove comments, form entries, hidden layers, attached files or details buried inside embedded photos. Text that is visible on a page, such as a name in a header, is content, not metadata.
The pages are untouched
Editing properties does not redraw or recompress anything. Text, pictures, links, bookmarks and form fields remain as they were. To change the pages themselves, see watermark PDF, add page numbers to PDF or remove PDF pages.
Questions
How do I change the title of a PDF?
Choose the PDF, type the new title in the Title box, press Save properties and save the file.
How do I remove the author name from a PDF?
Empty the Author box and save. The author entry is deleted from the file.
How do I remove all metadata from a PDF?
Empty all four boxes, tick Also remove the program names and the dates, and save.
Why does my browser tab show a strange name for my PDF?
Browsers show the title property stored inside the PDF. Set the title here and the tab will show it.
Does this change the content of the pages?
No. Only the document properties are rewritten.