How do I edit or remove a PDF's metadata?
To edit PDF metadata, drop the file into FixDoks's Edit PDF Metadata tool, which reads and displays fields like Title, Author, Subject, Keywords and dates. Change any field, or click Remove all metadata to clear everything including the XMP block, then click Save metadata. Page content stays untouched, all inside your browser.
Edit PDF Metadata at a glance
| Input | One PDF file |
|---|---|
| Output | PDF with updated metadata |
| Processing | In your browser; your files are not uploaded |
| Price | Free, no watermark |
| Download | Free Google sign-in |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use Edit PDF Metadata
- Drop your PDF. FixDoks reads and displays its current metadata fields.
- Edit Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer or the dates as needed.
- Or click Remove all metadata to clear every field and the XMP data at once.
- Click Save metadata to download the updated file.
What is PDF metadata?
Every PDF carries a small set of hidden details in its information dictionary, separate from the visible page content: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, plus Creator and Producer, which usually name the software that made the file, and Creation date and Modified date. Many PDFs also carry a second, overlapping copy of similar details in an XMP metadata block, added by newer publishing software. None of this appears on the printed page, but it shows up in a file's Properties panel in Adobe Reader, Windows Explorer, macOS Preview and search tools, and it is sometimes indexed by search engines or document management systems.
Why you might want to change it
- Correcting a wrong or auto-filled Title so the file shows a sensible name when opened, rather than the original file name or a blank field.
- Setting an Author name before sharing a document professionally, or removing a personal name before sending a file more widely.
- Adding Keywords or a Subject to make a document easier to find later in a search-based archive.
- Clearing Creator and Producer fields that reveal what software or template was used to build the document.
Removing everything
Remove all metadata clears every field in the information dictionary as well as the XMP metadata block, leaving the file with no descriptive details attached at all. This is a common step before sharing a sensitive or official document externally, since it stops a name, company or software fingerprint from travelling inside the file. Page content, text, images and layout are completely untouched; only the hidden properties are cleared.
What editing metadata does not change
This tool only touches the information dictionary and XMP block. It does not change anything visible on the page, does not affect fillable form fields, and does not remove a password or usage restrictions on a protected file; those need Unlock PDF instead. Dates you set are stored in the file but PDF viewers format and display them differently, so do not expect every reader to show the date in exactly the way you typed it.
Metadata fields at a glance
| Field | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Title | Name shown in the viewer's title bar and browser tab. |
| Author | Person or organisation credited with the document. |
| Subject / Keywords | Used by search and document management tools. |
| Creator / Producer | The software that created or produced the PDF. |
| Creation / Modified date | When the file was made or last changed. |
Tips
If you are preparing a document for a formal submission, check whether the recipient expects a specific Title format, since some portals display exactly that field to reviewers. When in doubt about privacy, removing all metadata is the safest default before sending a file outside your organisation.