Quick answer
To remove metadata from a PDF, add the file to KitFuse and press Clean metadata. KitFuse deletes the author, title, subject, keywords, creator app, producer, creation and modification dates, XMP metadata, document ID and comment author names, then checks the result. Pages, text and images stay the same.
How to remove author and metadata from a PDF
- Add your PDF.
Drag one or more PDF files onto the page or press Choose PDFs.
- See what's inside.
KitFuse lists the document information it found, such as author, company, the app that created the file and dates.
- Clean and download.
Press Clean metadata. The new PDF is re-checked and ready to download.
What metadata does a PDF contain?
Every PDF can carry a document information dictionary and an XMP metadata block. Word processors and PDF printers fill them in automatically, usually with:
- the author, taken from your computer or Office account name
- the title and subject, sometimes left over from an old template
- the company name and custom fields added by business software
- the creator and producer, which reveal the apps and versions you use
- creation and modification dates
- a document ID that can link different copies of the same file
- the names of people who added comments
When should you clean a PDF?
Clean PDFs before sending them outside your organization, publishing them online, submitting anonymous feedback or applications, or sharing documents that were based on someone else's template. Lawyers, journalists and HR teams routinely strip document metadata for exactly these reasons. If you're combining files, Merge PDF and Split PDF also produce files without the original metadata.
Frequently asked questions
Will cleaning change the content of my PDF?
No. Pages, text, images, links and form fields are kept. Only the document information, XMP metadata, document ID and comment author names are removed.
Does it work with password-protected PDFs?
Not yet. Remove the password in your PDF app first, then clean the file.
What happens to digital signatures?
Any change to a signed PDF makes the signature invalid. Clean a copy and keep the signed original.
Is my document uploaded?
No. The PDF is processed by a library that runs in your browser and is stored on our own site, so the document never leaves your device.