Remove hidden metadata from PDFs

See exactly what's embedded in your file — author, software, GPS, creation dates — then strip it permanently. Everything runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.

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Drop a PDF here, or click to choose

Single PDF files up to 100 MB — processed entirely in your browser

Your file is never uploaded to any server

Step 1

Upload your PDF

Drop any PDF file. It stays on your device — nothing is sent anywhere.

Step 2

Review metadata

See every hidden field: author, software used, creation date, and more.

Step 3

Download clean file

Strip all metadata and download your sanitised PDF in seconds.

Reading PDF…

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Metadata found

File fingerprint (SHA-256)

Original —

Detect alterations

Upload a second version of this PDF to check if it was modified. The SHA-256 hash is compared against your original or cleaned file.

Drop altered version here, or click to compare

✓

Metadata removed successfully

About Cleanpdf

A free, privacy-first tool for removing hidden data from PDF files — built for journalists, lawyers, researchers, and anyone who cares about what they share.

What is PDF metadata?

Every PDF you create carries invisible data baked in by the software that made it. This metadata can reveal who wrote the document, when it was created, what software and operating system was used, and sometimes even the GPS coordinates of where it was created.

This information is invisible when you read or print the file — but it's easy for anyone to extract. Sending a PDF without stripping its metadata can inadvertently expose personal or organisational information you never intended to share.

AuthorFull name of the document creator

CreatorSoftware used to write the file

ProducerPDF conversion tool used

CreationDateExact timestamp the file was made

ModDateLast time the file was changed

KeywordsTags embedded by the author

XMP dataExtended metadata stream

PieceInfoApp-specific hidden data

How Cleanpdf works

Unlike most tools that upload your file to a server, Cleanpdf processes everything directly in your browser using the pdf-lib JavaScript library. Your PDF is read into memory, parsed, stripped, and returned to you — without ever leaving your device.

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Fully private

No uploads, no servers, no logs. Your file exists only in your browser tab.

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Instant results

Processing happens in milliseconds, even for large files, with no waiting for a server response.

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Full transparency

Every metadata field is shown before removal so you know exactly what was in your file.

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Alteration detection

SHA-256 fingerprinting lets you verify whether a PDF was modified after you cleaned it.

Who should use this?

Anyone sending PDFs to people they don't fully trust. Common use cases include journalists protecting sources, lawyers sanitising documents before disclosure, HR teams removing internal system data from job offers, researchers sharing drafts without revealing authorship, and individuals who simply value their privacy.

Privacy policy

Last updated: June 2025

Cleanpdf ("we", "our", "the service") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we handle data when you use this website.

1. Data we collect

We collect minimal data necessary to operate the site and serve advertisements:

Standard web server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited, timestamps). These are retained for up to 30 days for security purposes.
Anonymous analytics data (page views, session duration, general geographic region) via privacy-respecting analytics, if enabled.
Advertising data collected by Google AdSense, described in section 4 below.

2. Your PDF files

This is the most important section. Your PDF files are never uploaded to our servers. All file processing — reading metadata, stripping metadata, generating SHA-256 hashes, and comparing files — happens entirely within your web browser using JavaScript. We have no technical ability to access, view, store, or transmit your files. They never leave your device.

3. Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

Essential cookies: required to serve the website correctly.
Advertising cookies: used by Google AdSense to serve relevant advertisements (see section 4).

You can disable cookies in your browser settings. Disabling advertising cookies will result in less relevant ads being shown, but will not affect the tool's functionality.

4. Advertising (Google AdSense)

This site uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to collect data about your visits to this and other websites in order to display relevant advertisements. This data is collected by Google and governed by Google's Privacy Policy.

You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or by visiting aboutads.info.

5. Third-party links

This site may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

6. Children's privacy

This service is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

8. Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at: privacy@cleanpdf.com (replace with your actual contact email).