PDFPixo

Remove PDF metadata

Remove author, software and hidden data from a PDF.

Clean hidden details like author name and software from a PDF before you send it.

Remove hidden information from a PDF

Besides what you see on the pages, a PDF can carry hidden details: the author name, the company or computer name, the software used, creation and editing dates, comments, attached files, form data, earlier versions of edited text and other leftovers. This tool creates a clean copy that keeps only what is visible on the pages.

How it works

Every page is drawn as a picture and placed into a brand-new PDF. Nothing from the old file is copied over except the look of the pages, so the hidden information, attachments and invisible text have nowhere to hide.

What you lose

Because the pages become pictures, text can no longer be selected or searched, links and form fields are removed, and the file can become much larger than the original. If size matters, run the PDF compressor on the clean copy afterwards.

When to use it

Use it before publishing a document online, sending a file outside your organisation, submitting an anonymous complaint or feedback, sharing a document that was edited many times, or whenever you are not sure what a PDF might contain behind the scenes.

Combine with redaction

This tool removes hidden data, not the visible content. To remove names or numbers that are visible on the page, use the redact tool, which also rebuilds the pages as pictures. Redacting already gives you a clean file, so you do not need to run both.

Check the result

Open the new PDF and look at its document properties in your PDF reader. The author, title and software fields should be empty or show only basic values set by the new file.

Common uses

Remove your name from a report before sharing it publicly, clean a resume template you downloaded, make sure old comments are not sent to a client, or share a scanned document without the scanner and software details.

What is metadata?

Metadata is information about a file rather than its content. Word processors and scanners add it automatically, and most people never see it. It can reveal who made a document, on which software and when, and sometimes earlier names of the file. Removing it is a simple privacy step before sharing.

Large documents

Each page is drawn in turn, so long PDFs take a little time. Keep the page open until the download appears.

Images too

Photos also carry hidden details, such as the camera model, date and sometimes location. Converting or resizing a photo with PDFPixo creates a new picture without that hidden information.

Private by design

Your file is processed inside your own browser. It is never uploaded to a server, and nothing is kept after you close the page. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit. For private documents such as ID cards, this matters more than anything else.

How to use it

  1. Choose the PDF Pick the document to clean.
  2. Start Each page is drawn into a new PDF.
  3. Wait for all pages Long PDFs take a little longer.
  4. Download and check Look at document properties in your reader.

Why choose PDFPixo for this tool

  • Strict cleaning Only the visible pages are kept.
  • Removes leftovers Author, software, comments and attachments.
  • Clear trade-offs You are told what is lost.
  • Private and free The PDF never leaves your device.

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove the author name from a PDF?
Choose the PDF and press the button. A clean copy without hidden details is made.
Will my text stay selectable?
No. Pages become pictures for a strict clean.
Why is the new file bigger?
Pictures of pages are larger than text. Compress it afterwards.
Does it hide visible information?
No. Use the redact tool for visible details.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser.

Related tools