What metadata is stored in PDF files?

PDF metadata typically includes the document title, author name, subject, keywords, creation date, modification date, the software used to create it (Creator), and the PDF library used to generate it (Producer). Some PDFs also embed XMP metadata with additional fields.

What metadata is stored in Office files?

Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) files store author, last modified by, company, creation time, modification time, total editing time, and revision count in a file called docProps/core.xml inside the ZIP archive.

Is my file uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read entirely in your browser. PDF processing uses the pdf-lib library running locally; Office processing uses JSZip to read the internal XML. Nothing is transmitted to any server.

Does stripping metadata affect the file content?

No. Only the metadata fields are cleared or removed. The text, images, formatting, and all other content of your document remain intact.

Why should I strip document metadata before sharing?

Metadata can reveal your real name, employer, the software you use, when and how often you edited the document, and sometimes GPS coordinates if images are embedded. Lawyers, journalists, and researchers routinely strip metadata before sharing sensitive documents.

Does this work on .xlsx files?

Yes. Excel files (.xlsx) are ZIP archives containing XML files. The tool opens the archive, clears the author fields in docProps/core.xml, and re-packages the file for download.

Can I verify the metadata was removed?

Yes. Open the cleaned file in Adobe Acrobat (File → Properties → Description) or Microsoft Word (File → Info → Properties) to confirm the fields are empty.

Does this remove hidden tracked changes or comments?

No. This tool removes document property metadata only, not revision history or comments embedded in the document body. To remove tracked changes in Word, use Review → Accept All Changes before exporting.

Privacy Tools /

File metadata cleaner

Strip author names, creation dates, software fingerprints, and other hidden metadata from PDF and Office files before sharing them.

100% in your browser. Your file is never uploaded anywhere.

Drag & drop a PDF, .docx, or .xlsx file here

Choose file

How to use

Drop a PDF, Word (.docx), or Excel (.xlsx) file onto the upload area above.
The tool reads the file and displays the embedded metadata fields.
Click Strip metadata & download to download a cleaned copy.
Open the downloaded file and verify the fields are blank in its properties dialog.

Common use cases

Legal documents — remove author names and revision history before sharing contracts.
Academic papers — anonymise submissions for double-blind peer review.
Journalism — strip source-identifying metadata from shared documents.
Business — prevent competitor analysis of your editing software and workflow.

Also see: File Hash Calculator to verify file integrity after cleaning, and Image Redactor to black out sensitive content in images.

Frequently Asked Questions

What metadata is stored in PDF files?: PDF metadata typically includes the document title, author name, subject, keywords, creation date, modification date, the software used to create it (Creator), and the PDF library used to generate it (Producer). Some PDFs also embed XMP metadata with additional fields.
What metadata is stored in Office files?: Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) files store author, last modified by, company, creation time, modification time, total editing time, and revision count in a file called docProps/core.xml inside the ZIP archive.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?: No. The file is read entirely in your browser. PDF processing uses the pdf-lib library running locally; Office processing uses JSZip to read the internal XML. Nothing is transmitted to any server.
Does stripping metadata affect the file content?: No. Only the metadata fields are cleared or removed. The text, images, formatting, and all other content of your document remain intact.
Why should I strip document metadata before sharing?: Metadata can reveal your real name, employer, the software you use, when and how often you edited the document, and sometimes GPS coordinates if images are embedded. Lawyers, journalists, and researchers routinely strip metadata before sharing sensitive documents.
Does this work on .xlsx files?: Yes. Excel files (.xlsx) are ZIP archives containing XML files. The tool opens the archive, clears the author fields in docProps/core.xml, and re-packages the file for download.
Can I verify the metadata was removed?: Yes. Open the cleaned file in Adobe Acrobat (File → Properties → Description) or Microsoft Word (File → Info → Properties) to confirm the fields are empty.
Does this remove hidden tracked changes or comments?: No. This tool removes document property metadata only, not revision history or comments embedded in the document body. To remove tracked changes in Word, use Review → Accept All Changes before exporting.

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