Edit PDF Metadata

How to Edit PDF Metadata — Step by Step

Working with this tool comes down to three actions: you load a document, adjust the fields, and save a new file. Everything happens in your browser, so you do not need to install anything or create an account.

1. Load a PDF file. Choose one document from your drive. The tool reads its basic descriptive information and shows it in text fields. If the file did not contain a piece of information, that field stays empty.
2. Check the document information. After loading, you will see the page count and the creation and modification dates. If the document does not contain one of the dates, a dash appears in its place.
3. Enter new values. You can change the title, author, subject, keywords, creating application, and PDF producer. Leave any fields you do not want to change exactly as they loaded.
4. Click "Save metadata." A new PDF file is created, and you will see a download link, a "Done" message, and information about whether the metadata was saved or cleared. Next to it, you will also see the finished file size in kilobytes.

The original on your drive remains untouched — you work on a copy that you download yourself. That way, you can safely compare both files before deciding which one to keep.

What Metadata You Can Edit

You have six basic descriptive fields available. Each one is a regular text field — you enter what should appear in the saved document.

Beyond these fields, the saved file always gets the current modification date. You do not enter it manually — the document simply receives the current timestamp.

It is worth knowing that after loading a file, the fields are not empty only if the data was actually present in the document. If some description was missing from the file, the field waits for your decision.

Clearing Metadata and Privacy

Above the save button there is a "clear all metadata (privacy)" checkbox. It is unchecked by default — until you select it, the tool saves what you have in the fields.

When you select it and click save, all descriptive fields are set to empty: title, author, subject, creating application, and PDF producer. The keyword list is also empty. The modification date is still set to the moment of saving.

What remains in the file? The document content, its layout, page count, and appearance — these elements are not changed. You remove only the descriptive layer, meaning the information about who prepared the document and with what.

This matters, for example, when you publish a file online or pass it on and do not want to reveal details about how it was created. Remember, however, that the text itself, headers, or footers may still contain data you do not want to make public — you need to check that yourself by reviewing the document before sending it.

Limitations and What the Tool Does Not Do

The tool handles one PDF file at a time and focuses on basic descriptive fields. Here are the limits worth knowing before you use it for a specific document.

• PDF only, and only one at a time. You cannot load other formats, combine several documents into one, or split one file into parts.
• Metadata only, not content. You cannot change text, images, or page layout. The result is the same document with a different descriptive layer.
• Extended metadata (XMP). The tool edits basic descriptive fields. PDF documents can also store extended information in a separate structure — the tool does not change it, and it may remain in the file. If full privacy matters to you, check the resulting file in a program that shows all metadata layers.
• Dates. You cannot set your own creation or modification date. The modification date in the saved file is always the moment you click save.
• Digital signatures and protection. The tool does not handle digital signatures, and the new version of the document will not preserve a signature. Similarly, password-protected files may fail to load or save — check such cases yourself.
• Large documents. All processing happens on your computer, so very large files may take longer and use more browser memory.
• File name. The new document gets a name based on the original, with a .pdf extension and special characters replaced by simpler equivalents. You cannot change it in the tool — do that after downloading if you want.

In short: the tool cleans up document descriptions, but it is not a replacement for a PDF editor or programs for working with digital signatures.

File Format and Local Processing

The input is one PDF file. After loading, the tool reads its basic metadata and document information, and when you click save, it creates a new PDF file ready for download.

The most important privacy point: the document is not sent to any server. The entire operation happens in your browser, so the file never leaves your computer. You do not need to log in, install anything, or wait for data to be processed on a website.

The downloaded file keeps the original content and layout — only the descriptive layer changes. The new document's name is based on the original name, ends with the .pdf extension, and has special characters replaced by simpler equivalents, so it works smoothly on different devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

This is a local tool; it does not remove all possible metadata (such as XMP), so check the file in a PDF reader before publishing.