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PDFNova

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View and edit PDF metadata

PDFs carry hidden details: a title, an author name, the program that made them and when. Check what a file says about itself before you send it, correct a wrong title that shows in browser tabs, or remove the information entirely.

Your files never leave this device.

Everything runs in this browser tab — there is no upload step and no server that could receive your document. To check: once this page has loaded, turn off Wi-Fi or switch your browser to offline mode, then use the tool. It still works. More ways to verify

or drop one here

How to use

  1. Choose the PDF. Its current fields appear in the form, with read-only details below.
  2. Edit the title, author, subject or keywords. Leave a field empty to remove it.
  3. Select Save changes — or Remove all document metadata to clear everything, including creator, producer and dates.
  4. Download the new copy.

How it works

PDF stores document-level details in two places: the Document Information dictionary (simple key–value fields like Title and Author) and, in many files, an XMP block, which is XML embedded in the file. pdf-lib reads and writes the information dictionary. Because many readers show XMP values when both exist, the tool offers to remove the XMP block when saving edits so the new values are the ones people see. Removing all metadata deletes both.

Worked example

A report exported from a template still says Title: "Quarterly template v2" and Author: the template's creator. Opening it here shows both. Changing the title to "Q3 operations report", clearing the author and saving produces a copy whose browser tab and file-properties window show the new title and no author.

Limitations

  • Only document-level metadata is changed. Metadata attached to individual images or pages, comments, embedded files and form data are left as they are.
  • The visible content of the document can still reveal who wrote it; this is not a full redaction tool.
  • Dates are shown in your device's local time zone.

Questions

Why does my PDF reader still show the old title?

The file probably has an XMP block with the old value. Save again with the XMP option ticked, or use Remove all document metadata.

Does removing metadata change how the document looks?

No. Pages, text and images are unchanged.

Is removing metadata enough to anonymise a document?

Not always. Names can appear in the text, headers, tracked changes or image data. Review the content as well.

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