Clean PDF: Remove Metadata and Comments

Cleaning PDFs

Got a PDF that needs cleaning? This strips out metadata, embedded scripts, attached files and other hidden content. Good for when you're sharing something publicly and don't want your name or company info attached, or when you want to remove old comments and automatic actions. Five switches let you choose exactly what goes.

Everything happens in your browser. File never leaves your computer.

Upload

• Click upload or drag your PDF in.
• Works with PDFs up to 100 MB, several at once.
• Shows the file name and size so you know it's the right file.

Pick What to Remove

• Pick what to remove:
• Document properties: Author, title, subject, keywords, creator app, dates and the hidden XMP metadata. On by default.
• Scripts and automatic actions: JavaScript and actions that run when the file opens. On by default.
• Attached files: Files embedded inside the PDF. On by default.
• Comments and annotations, Bookmarks: Off by default, switch them on if you want those gone too.
• Note: removing annotations also removes clickable links and form field boxes.

Start Cleaning

• Hit the start button.
• Progress bar shows it working.
• Usually takes a few seconds. Big files take longer.
• Everything happens in browser: nothing gets uploaded to a server.

Result

• A cleaned copy is ready to download.
• Your pages look exactly the same.

Download

• Click download.
• File saves with "-clean" in the name. Several files download as a ZIP.
• Your content stays the same, only the hidden data is gone.
• Works in any PDF reader.

What Gets Removed:

• Metadata: Author, creation and modification dates, software used, XMP data.
• Scripts: JavaScript and other code that could be risky.
• Attachments: Files embedded in the PDF.
• Comments: Notes, highlights and other annotations, if you switch it on.
• Bookmarks: The outline, if you switch it on.

When to Use This:

• Before sharing work documents externally.
• Legal files that need metadata stripped.
• Academic papers before submission.
• PDFs with scripts or auto actions you don't trust.
• Removing old review comments before sending a final version.
• Removing your name from a resume or portfolio before sharing.

Good to know:

• In-browser processing: File never leaves your computer. No uploads to servers.
• Content preserved: Only removes hidden data. Your actual content stays exactly the same.
• Works everywhere: Cleaned PDFs open normally in any reader.
• No storage: Since it's all client-side, nothing gets saved anywhere.
• Fast: Most PDFs clean in seconds.

Upload, pick what you want removed, download. Good for stripping metadata before sharing, removing scripts and attachments, or clearing old comments. To black out visible text, use Redact PDF instead.