Remove metadata from a PDF
Every PDF carries a document info dictionary with fields like Author, Creator, Producer, CreationDate and ModDate. Most of the time those fields are harmless boilerplate from whatever application generated the file. But before sending a draft to opposing counsel or attaching a filing, those fields can reveal which attorney drafted it, which internal system created it, or that the document was modified after the date it purports to bear.
PrepFile reads those fields, reports exactly what it found, strips them from the document info dict, and gives you a cleaned PDF to download — entirely in your browser. The original never leaves your machine.
Note on XMP: some PDFs carry a separate XMP metadata stream embedded in the file catalog, which holds a richer set of properties. PrepFile reports XMP presence. Fully stripping XMP streams requires a tool like ExifTool or Adobe Acrobat, because the XMP blob is embedded in a way that pdf-lib's write path leaves intact. For most attorney-drafted PDFs, the document info dict is the only populated metadata store.
Open the tools — free, no upload
How to scrub a PDF
- Click the Metadata Scrubber tile on the homepage.
- Drop your PDF in the dropzone or click to choose it.
- PrepFile scans the file locally and downloads two things: a plain-text report listing every field found, and a cleaned PDF with those fields cleared.
- Review the report to confirm the fields you expected to find were there.
- Perform a manual spot-check: open the cleaned PDF in Acrobat or Preview → File properties → confirm fields are blank.
Questions
What metadata fields does this remove?
Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, CreationDate and ModDate — the eight standard fields in the PDF document info dictionary. XMP streams are reported but not stripped (see above).
Does it modify the document content?
No. Only the info dictionary fields are altered. Page content, images, fonts and annotations are untouched.
Is this safe to use on privileged documents?
The file never leaves your browser — there is no server involved. Processing happens entirely in your machine's memory. That said, always verify your IT or security policy before processing highly sensitive documents on any web-based tool.