How to remove metadata from a document
- Add your PDF, Word, Excel or PowerPoint files.
- Choose whether to replace the names on comments and tracked changes.
- Select Remove Document Metadata and download the clean files.
Examples
A Word report written by Asha Rao at Acme Exports: the Author, Last saved by and Company fields are cleared, the template path that held her Windows user name is cut down to the file name, and her comment now shows Author 1 as the name.
A spreadsheet with a note on cell B1: the note stays, the name at its start changes from Asha Rao: to Author 1:, and a custom property such as Client = Big Bank Ltd is removed.
A PDF exported from Word: the Author, Created with and PDF producer fields and the XMP packet are removed. A form field called applicant_name keeps its name, because that name belongs to the form, not to a person.
About this tool
Office files and PDFs carry details you don't see on the page: who wrote the file, who saved it last, the company, the template it came from, the editing time and the names on comments and tracked changes. This tool removes them and copies everything else across unchanged. You get a list of what was removed from each file, and several files come back in one ZIP.
Common questions
What exactly is removed?
In Word, Excel and PowerPoint files: the title, author, last saved by, dates, company, manager, template, editing time and custom properties. In a PDF: the document information and the XMP metadata, including the programs that made it. With the option on, names on comments become Author 1, Author 2 and so on.
Are comments and tracked changes deleted?
No. Only the names and dates on them change. To remove the comments or changes themselves, delete the comments or accept the changes in Office before you share the file.
Will my document look different?
No. The text, pictures, layout and form fields are copied across as they are. Only the hidden property parts are rewritten.
What about PDF/A files?
PDF/A needs its XMP metadata, so a cleaned PDF/A file no longer meets the standard. The result tells you when this happens. Run the file through PDF to PDF/A again if you need it.
Can it clean .doc, .xls or password protected files?
No. Save older files as .docx, .xlsx or .pptx first, and remove the password before you add the file.
Is it free to use?
Yes. You can use it without an account a few times a day, and a free account raises the daily limit. Nothing is added to your file unless you ask for it.
What happens to my files?
Your files are only used to run the tool you chose, and they're deleted automatically after about 24 hours.
Do I need to install anything?
No. It all works in your browser, on any computer or phone.