PDF metadata: what a PDF file can reveal
A PDF can store the author, title, subject, keywords, creating app, producer and creation and modification dates in its Info dictionary, plus a parallel XMP metadata stream, and DropMeta deletes those Info entries and every XMP metadata stream in your browser, but it does not touch annotations, form data, attachments or visible page content.
Common PDF metadata fields
| Field | What it reveals | Privacy risk | Removed by DropMeta? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author (Info) | Name of the person or account that created the file | High | Yes — deleted from the Info dictionary |
| Title (Info) | Document title, sometimes an internal file name | Medium | Yes — deleted |
| Subject and Keywords (Info) | Topic and tags, sometimes internal project names | Medium | Yes — deleted |
| Creator (Info) | The authoring application (e.g. a word processor) | Low | Yes — deleted |
| Producer (Info) | The PDF library or converter and its version | Low | Yes — deleted; DropMeta saves without rewriting Producer |
| CreationDate and ModDate (Info) | When the file was created and last modified | Medium | Yes — deleted; DropMeta saves without adding a new ModDate |
| Trapped (Info) | Print-production flag | Low | Yes — deleted |
| Catalog XMP metadata stream | Creator, creator tool, document and instance IDs, edit history | High | Yes — removed; if it cannot be removed cleanly, download is blocked |
| Other XMP streams (objects typed /Metadata) | Per-page or per-image XMP packets | Medium | Yes — every object with /Type /Metadata is deleted |
| Document ID (trailer /ID) | A file identifier that can link versions of one document | Low | Not targeted |
| Annotations and comments | Reviewer names, comment text, timestamps | High | No — annotations are not modified |
| Form field values | Data typed into fillable forms | High | No — not modified |
| Embedded files and images inside the PDF | Attachments and image-level EXIF | Medium | Not targeted |
| Encryption / password protection | — | — | Encrypted PDFs are rejected, never unlocked |
How to remove PDF metadata
Use the PDF tool: it clears the Info dictionary and XMP metadata in this browser tab and rejects encrypted PDFs instead of unlocking them.
- Open Strip PDF metadata online and drop or choose a PDF.
- Run strip. Info fields and XMP metadata streams are removed locally.
- Download the cleaned PDF. If Catalog XMP cannot be removed cleanly, you get an error instead of a download.
FAQ and limits
How do I remove the author from a PDF?
Drop the PDF on the PDF tool and run strip. Author is deleted with the other Info fields and the XMP stream, in your browser, before download.
Does stripping metadata remove comments or annotations?
No. DropMeta clears document properties and XMP only. Annotations, form data and visible text are not modified — use a redaction tool for content.
Why will DropMeta not process my encrypted PDF?
Encrypted PDFs are rejected by design. DropMeta never unlocks or ignores encryption; decrypt the file in a tool you trust first.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The PDF is loaded, stripped and saved in your browser tab. No account, no upload.