PDF Metadata Remover - Strip XMP Free

1 Upload PDF →
2 Strip metadata →
3 Download clean file

Free PDF metadata remover - strip Document Info and XMP metadata before you email, upload, or archive a file. Browser-only; your PDF never leaves your device.

What this PDF metadata remover does

PDFs carry hidden **Document Info** (title, author, creator, producer, keywords, creation and modification dates) and often an **XMP metadata stream** - the same family of tags image tools read as provenance. This page clears those header fields in your browser so you can share a cleaner attachment before email, client delivery, or portfolio upload.

This is **upload-prep**, not PDF editing: we do not merge pages, redact visible text, flatten forms, or parse embedded images. For JPG/PNG attachments exported from a deck, use the AI metadata remover after you export slides. For read-only inspection on photos, use the AI metadata checker first.

Who should strip PDF metadata before sharing?

Freelancers sending **client proofs** as PDF attachments, designers exporting **Canva or Figma decks** with author names in Document Info, photographers delivering **print-ready PDFs** that still carry Lightroom or Photoshop producer strings, and anyone posting a **PDF portfolio** where you do not want software history visible in file properties.

Recruiters, lawyers, and researchers also use PDF metadata removers when a résumé or brief still lists the original author's name, employer, or creation timestamp in Document Info - even when the visible text looks fine. Stripping header metadata is a lightweight privacy step before external sharing.

What gets removed

Document Info strings - Title, Author, Subject, Creator, Producer, Keywords
Document Info dates - CreationDate and ModDate when stored in the Info dictionary
XMP metadata stream - embedded XMP packet linked from the PDF catalog Metadata entry
Not touched - visible page content, fonts, vector art, bookmarks, annotations, or embedded JPEG/PNG previews inside the PDF

How to remove metadata from a PDF

Whether you clean one résumé or a batch of pitch decks, the workflow stays the same.

Upload one or more PDF files (up to 10 per batch, 15 MB each)
Processing runs locally - nothing is sent to our servers
Review the removed-field summary, then download the cleaned PDF with a _clean suffix
If you extract slides as images for social upload, run those JPGs through the metadata checker or Instagram prep tool

Document Info vs XMP - what platforms read

PDF metadata lives in two common places. This tool targets both standard locations used by desktop readers and compliance scanners.

Document Info dictionary - Classic PDF properties shown in Adobe Acrobat File → Properties. Often includes author, title, and software that exported the file.
XMP packet (Metadata stream) - XML-style metadata used by Creative Cloud, some AI exports, and DAM systems. May include workflow history, Dublin Core fields, or provenance extensions.
Embedded raster previews - Thumbnail images inside a PDF are separate binary objects. Cleaning the PDF wrapper does not rewrite those bytes; export slides as JPG if you need image-level stripping.

PDF vs image metadata workflows

Creators often clean a **PDF attachment** for email or portfolio delivery, then export **individual slides as JPG** for Instagram carousels. Those are separate files - cleaning the PDF does not automatically clean exported images. Use this tool on the PDF; use image tools on raster exports.

Some AI design exports embed provenance in **both** the PDF wrapper and the slide PNG. Treat each format on its own upload path. A clean PDF plus dirty JPG exports is a common reason carousel posts still trigger AI Info labels.

Example scenarios (what you might clean)

Canva pitch deck PDF - Author and Creator fields show your account email → strip before investor send
Lightroom PDF export - Producer string names Adobe Lightroom → remove for anonymous portfolio upload
ChatGPT or design-tool PDF - XMP stream may carry workflow tags → delete Metadata stream + Document Info
Scanned résumé PDF - ModDate reveals last edit time → clear dates for blind review
Slide deck for Instagram - Clean PDF for email, then export JPG slides and run image remover separately

Limits and what this tool does not do

No visible redaction - Hidden metadata only; text and images on pages stay unchanged
No password removal - Encrypted PDFs may fail; unlock in a desktop reader first
No OCR or form flattening - Use a full PDF editor for layout changes
Rare vendor extensions - Non-standard metadata bags outside Document Info / catalog Metadata may survive - verify in Acrobat Properties if compliance requires a zero-metadata file

Privacy - all cleaning happens locally

Every PDF is processed in your browser session. Files are not uploaded to our servers, so contracts, résumés, and unreleased decks stay on your device. Close the tab when finished - we do not store your documents.

Supported format and batch limits

Format: PDF (.pdf) only
Size: up to 15 MB per file
Batch: up to 10 PDFs per session
Privacy: 100% browser-based, no upload
Cost: completely free

Clean image attachments after the PDF

Exported JPG or PNG slides still carry EXIF, XMP, or C2PA. Strip those before Instagram, TikTok, or Etsy upload with the same privacy-first browser engine used on our photo tools.

Photo metadata remover & cleaner →

Inspect photos before you strip

Not sure whether an exported slide still has C2PA or XMP? Run a read-only scan first, then clean only what you need.

Tell me my metadata - understand each field →

PDF remover vs photo checker vs photo remover

Use this **PDF metadata remover** for .pdf attachments. Use the **AI metadata checker** for a technical field list on JPG/PNG/WebP/AVIF. Use the **photo metadata remover** when you need pixels unchanged but image header data deleted. All three share the same upload-prep philosophy; only the file parser differs.

FAQ

How do I remove metadata from a PDF?

Upload the PDF above. The tool clears Document Info string fields, removes CreationDate and ModDate when present, deletes the XMP Metadata stream when the catalog links one, then downloads a cleaned copy. Processing stays in your browser.

Does this remove XMP from PDF?

Yes when the file stores XMP in a standard Metadata stream on the PDF catalog. The tool deletes that stream and clears Document Info. Unusual vendor extensions outside those locations may survive - re-open the download in a desktop reader if you need to verify.

Does this remove author and producer from PDF properties?

Yes. Title, Author, Subject, Creator, Producer, and Keywords are cleared from Document Info. Those are the fields most desktop readers show under File → Properties → Description.

Are creation and modification dates removed?

When the PDF stores CreationDate or ModDate in the Info dictionary, this tool deletes those entries along with other Document Info fields. Some readers may show a new save timestamp after download - that comes from rewriting the file locally, not from your original export metadata.

Can this remove C2PA from a PDF?

Some PDFs embed C2PA or XMP provenance in the Metadata stream. This remover targets Document Info and the catalog Metadata entry. Heavy embedded credentials in rare layouts may need a dedicated desktop tool - inspect exports before relying on a single pass.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. Cleaning runs locally in your browser session.

Will removing PDF metadata change how the document looks?

No. Only hidden header metadata is changed. Text, images, and layout on each page stay the same.

Does cleaning a PDF clean Instagram carousel images inside it?

No. Embedded preview images inside a PDF are not extracted or rewritten here. Export slides as JPG/PNG and clean those files separately before social upload.

How is this different from the photo metadata remover?

The photo metadata remover handles JPG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF. This page is PDF-only with a separate parser. GIF, TIFF, and PDF stay blocked on image tools by design.

Can I batch remove metadata from multiple PDFs?

Yes. Upload up to 10 PDFs per session (15 MB each). Each cleaned file downloads with a _clean suffix so you can keep originals separate.

Why did my PDF fail to clean?

Password-protected or corrupted PDFs often fail in browser parsers. Remove the password in Acrobat or Preview first, or try a fresh export from your design tool. Very old PDF 1.0 files with damaged cross-reference tables may also fail.

Should I check metadata before removing it?

For photos, yes - use the AI metadata checker or metadata calculator for a read-only report. PDFs do not have a separate checker on this site yet; desktop Acrobat Properties or `exiftool` can confirm Document Info before and after cleaning.

Related guides

Platform upload prep and C2PA background - useful after you clean a file or when labels persist.

Remove metadata from PDF