The Hidden Metadata in PDFs That Most "Metadata Removers" Miss

A PDF stores author and title in two places: the document information dictionary and an XMP metadata packet. Most tools only clear the first one, so the author name and title survive in the XMP packet and are still readable in any text editor. To genuinely anonymise a PDF you have to remove the XMP object as well, not just unlink it.

Available free in the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia and across the EU. Because files are processed in your own browser and never uploaded, no personal data crosses a border, which keeps use consistent with UK GDPR, EU GDPR and CCPA/CPRA expectations.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my PDF still contain my name after using a metadata remover?

Almost always because the tool cleared the document information dictionary but left the XMP metadata packet, which contains a second copy of the author and title. Search the file for "/Metadata" in a text editor to confirm.

Does removing metadata change how the PDF looks?

No. Metadata is stored separately from the page content. Text, images, fonts and layout are unaffected, and the file remains a valid PDF.

Does this also remove text hidden under redaction boxes?

No, and that is a different problem worth understanding. Drawing a black rectangle over text in a PDF does not delete the text underneath — it can still be selected and copied. Metadata removal and true redaction are separate operations.