The metadata on a PDF file plays an important role in showing information such as when the file was created, the related authors, the subject of the PDF file, the software that was used to make it, and the permissions that the original author had given it. Normally, people will go to Adobe Acrobat Pro to remove metadata from PDF, but new tools can also do the same.
Metadata in a PDF file includes information such as the title, author name, the date created, modification date, subject date, an application which was used to create this PDF file, size of PDF file, number of pages in the PDF file, and all the tags associated with the file. Essentially, Metadata contains all the properties of the file. However, many people do not know how to access or remove Metadata from their files. This step-by-step guide will help you to remove metadata from PDF files. Aside from Adobe Acrobat Pro, there is another PDF metadata editor that supports the removal of metadata from PDF documents.
Steps to Remove Metadata from PDF
To remove metadata from a PDF file effectively, you need a PDF metadata remover that will display all metadata on the file, allowing you to delete anything that you do not need. PDFelement Pro is the tool that you can rely on to help you remove metadata from PDFs with ease.
Step1. Import PDF to the Program
Download and install the Adobe Acrobat alternative, click 'Open,' and then navigate to where you stored your target PDF file. You may also drag a PDF file into the interface to open.
Step2. Remove PDF Metadata without Adobe Acrobat
Select "File" from the menu, then "Properties." The window where you may view the file's metadata will then appear once you choose "Description," so do that. You can modify the metadata on this window however you see fit. Now that you no longer need it, you can remove the PDF's unnecessary metadata.
Step3. Edit the PDF File (Optional)
By selecting the "Text" button after removing the unnecessary metadata, you can proceed to edit the file as you see fit. This will create a new version of the file and introduce you to the updated author. You can also get rid of the metadata and then add a new version.
Step4. Save PDF File
With the removal of the metadata and subsequent editing of the PDF file, you may now go to the 'File' menu and click on the 'Save' button to save the file as a new PDF file.
Conclusion
To further protect your PDF file and its information, you need a solution that can provide extra security features. PDF metadata removal is essentially a security action.
Online services are fantastic for this, but the majority of them simply let you remove the metadata and don't support further security measures like passwords or redaction. Additionally, even if the website is secure in and of itself, your Internet connection could not be, particularly if you're using a public Wi-Fi hotspot or a shared computer.
For these and other reasons, we recommend a proper desktop editor such as WPS Office. Not only can you view and edit PDF metadata to remove it, but you can also perform the following actions on the same file:
- Apply PDF password protection to prevent access or restrict operations such as printing, copying, and editing
- Add a digital signature to validate the authenticity of the document as well as the author
- Permanently redact sensitive information using the versatile redaction tools
