How to Edit PDF Metadata: Complete Guide (Title, Author, Keywords & More)

7 min read
How to Edit PDF Metadata: Complete Guide (Title, Author, Keywords & More)

How to Edit PDF Metadata: Complete Guide

PDF metadata is hidden information inside a PDF file – such as title, author, subject, keywords, creation date, and custom fields. This data helps search engines, document management systems, and users identify and categorize your PDFs. However, metadata may reveal sensitive information (author names, edit history), or you may need to correct incorrect titles or add keywords for SEO. This guide covers every method to edit PDF metadata: using a dedicated online tool Add PDF Metadata (fastest), Adobe Acrobat Pro (professional), free desktop software (PDF‑XChange Editor, ExifTool), and command‑line utilities. You will learn how to view, add, modify, and remove metadata fields, as well as best practices for document discoverability.

What Is PDF Metadata? (And Why It Matters)

Metadata is "data about data" – in PDFs, it includes:

  • Document Title: Shown in browser tabs, search results, and PDF viewers.
  • Author: Name of the person or organization who created the document.
  • Subject: Brief description (often used in searches).
  • Keywords: Comma‑separated terms for search engine indexing.
  • Creation Date / Modification Date: Automatically generated timestamps.
  • Custom fields: Any additional properties (for example, "Document ID", "Version", "Client Name").
  • XMP metadata: Extensible Metadata Platform – industry standard for rich metadata.

Why edit metadata?

  • SEO for PDFs: Proper title and keywords help search engines rank your PDFs.
  • Brand consistency: Ensure author name matches your organization.
  • Remove sensitive info: Delete embedded author names, edit history, or hidden comments.
  • Correct errors: Fix missing or incorrect titles before publishing.
  • Organize documents: Add custom fields for document management systems.

What Metadata Can You Edit?

Field Description Example SEO Impact
Title Display name of the document "2026 Annual Report – DonePDF" High (used as page title in search results)
Author Creator name or organization "DonePDF Team" Medium (brand recognition)
Subject Brief description "Financial results and company overview" Medium (snippet in search)
Keywords Search terms (comma separated) "annual report, finance, 2026, DonePDF" High (indexing and discovery)

Method 1: Edit PDF Metadata Using a Dedicated Online Tool (Fastest)

Our Add PDF Metadata tool is designed specifically for this task. It is free, requires no registration, and works directly in your browser. Avoid uploading confidential documents to any online tool.

Step-by-Step Using Add PDF Metadata Tool:

  1. Go to Add PDF Metadata.
  2. Upload your PDF (drag and drop or click to select).
  3. You will see a clear form with all metadata fields (Title, Author, Subject, Keywords).
  4. Edit the fields as needed:
    • Title: Descriptive title for the document.
    • Author: Name of the creator or organization.
    • Subject: Brief description of the content.
    • Keywords: Comma‑separated terms for search engines.
  5. Optionally, add custom fields by clicking "Add Custom Field" (if supported).
  6. Click Apply Metadata.
  7. Download the updated PDF. The tool processes the file and preserves all content while changing only the metadata. Your file is processed in your browser and never uploaded to our servers.

Alternative Free Online Metadata Editors:

  • Sejda Edit Metadata: 50 MB limit, 200 pages, 3 tasks/hour. Supports title, author, subject, keywords.
  • SmallPDF Metadata Editor: Free tier with daily limits, basic fields.
  • PDFescape (online): 10 MB, 100 pages – allows editing document properties.

Privacy warning: Do not upload sensitive PDFs to any online tool. Use offline software for confidential files.

Method 2: Edit Metadata Using Adobe Acrobat Pro (Professional, Offline)

Adobe Acrobat Pro provides complete control over all metadata fields, including XMP and custom properties.

  1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Go to File > Properties (or press Ctrl+D / Cmd+D).
  3. Click the Description tab. Here you can edit:
    • Title: Document title (appears in title bar).
    • Author: Document creator.
    • Subject: Brief summary.
    • Keywords: Comma‑separated search terms.
  4. Click the Additional Metadata button (advanced) to edit XMP data, copyright, and custom fields.
  5. Click OK to save changes.
  6. Save the file (File > Save As).

Acrobat Pro also allows you to remove hidden metadata via Tools > Redact > Sanitize Document.

Method 3: Edit Metadata Using Free Desktop Software (Offline, Private)

These tools work offline and keep your files private. Some add watermarks, but metadata editing works.

PDF‑XChange Editor (Free version, Windows):

  1. Open the PDF in PDF‑XChange Editor.
  2. Go to File > Document Properties.
  3. Click the Description tab.
  4. Edit Title, Author, Subject, Keywords.
  5. Click OK and save. The free version adds a small watermark, but metadata changes are saved.

LibreOffice Draw (Free, cross‑platform):

  1. Open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw (File > Open).
  2. Go to File > Properties.
  3. Edit the description fields (Title, Subject, Keywords).
  4. Click OK, then export as PDF (File > Export As > Export as PDF). The new PDF will contain the updated metadata.

ExifTool (Command line, cross‑platform – Most Powerful):

ExifTool is a free, scriptable tool for batch metadata editing. It can read and write virtually any metadata field.

To view current metadata: exiftool input.pdf

To edit fields:

exiftool -Title="2026 Guide" -Author="DonePDF" -Keywords="pdf, metadata, tutorial" input.pdf

To remove all metadata: exiftool -all= input.pdf (creates a backup with .original extension).

Comparison Table: PDF Metadata Editing Methods

Method Price Basic Fields XMP/Custom Fields Batch Editing Privacy Platform
Add PDF Metadata (DonePDF) Free ✅ Yes (Title, Author, Subject, Keywords) ❌ No (basic only) ❌ No Files uploaded (auto‑delete) Web
Adobe Acrobat Pro ~$15/month ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (via Action Wizard) Local (offline) Win/Mac
PDF‑XChange Editor (free) Free (watermark) ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No Local Windows
ExifTool (command line) Free ✅ Yes (all fields) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (scriptable) Local Win/Mac/Linux

Step‑by‑Step Workflow: Add Keywords to a PDF for SEO

  1. Identify relevant keywords for your PDF (e.g., "annual report", "financial data", "company performance 2026").
  2. Go to Add PDF Metadata tool.
  3. Upload your PDF.
  4. Enter the Keywords field with comma‑separated terms: annual report, financial analysis, 2026, DonePDF.
  5. Fill in Title and Author fields if missing (Title should be descriptive, Author as your company name).
  6. Click "Apply Metadata".
  7. Download the updated PDF. The metadata is now embedded.
  8. Verify by opening the PDF properties (right‑click on the file > Properties > Details on Windows, or Get Info on Mac).

Best Practices for PDF Metadata

  • Always set a descriptive title: Not just a filename. Search engines use the Title tag in results.
  • Use relevant keywords: Terms users would search for – avoid overstuffing.
  • Keep author consistent: Use your organization name across all company PDFs.
  • Remove sensitive metadata before sharing: Use Sanitize in Acrobat or ExifTool to strip hidden data.
  • Update modification date after editing: Some tools do it automatically; if not, add a custom "Last Updated" field.
  • Test with a metadata viewer: Use ExifTool or our tool to verify fields are correctly set.

Common Mistakes When Editing PDF Metadata

  • Confusing filename with title: Changing the file name does not change the internal Title metadata. Edit Title separately.
  • Leaving default metadata: PDFs created from Word often have default "Author = Microsoft Word". Update it.
  • Forgetting to save after editing: In online tools, you must click "Apply Metadata". In desktop software, you must save the file (Ctrl+S).
  • Uploading sensitive PDFs to free online metadata editors: Risk of data exposure. Use offline ExifTool or Acrobat Pro.
  • Not sanitizing before distribution: Hidden metadata (edit history, comments, form field data) can leak confidential information.

Tools for PDF Management – DonePDF Utilities

  • Add PDF Metadata – Dedicated metadata editor (free, no registration)
  • Compress PDF – Reduce size and strip metadata
  • Protect PDF – Add password protection after metadata cleanup
  • OCR PDF – Make scanned PDFs searchable before adding keywords
  • PDF to Word – Extract content for editing

Introduction & Basics

Editing & Metadata

Security & Privacy

Compression & Optimization

Use Cases

Conclusion – Take Control of Your PDF Metadata

Editing PDF metadata is a simple yet powerful way to improve document discoverability, remove sensitive information, and present a professional image. For quick, non‑sensitive files, use our free dedicated tool Add PDF Metadata (fast, no registration). For batch or sensitive documents, use ExifTool (command line) or Adobe Acrobat Pro. Always remember to remove hidden data before sharing confidential PDFs. With the methods and best practices in this guide, you can easily edit any metadata field in any PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I edit PDF metadata for free?

You can edit PDF metadata for free using these methods:

  1. Online (fastest): Use our dedicated Add PDF Metadata tool. Upload, edit title, author, subject, keywords, download. No registration, files never leave your device.
  2. Offline (Windows): PDF‑XChange Editor (free version) – File > Document Properties > Description. Edit fields, save (small watermark added).
  3. Command line (cross‑platform, most powerful): Install ExifTool, then run exiftool -Title="New Title" -Author="New Author" input.pdf.

For sensitive documents, use offline ExifTool. For quick, non‑confidential files, our online tool is fastest.

What is PDF metadata and why is it important?

PDF metadata is hidden information embedded inside a PDF file. It includes fields such as Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creation Date, and custom properties. Metadata is important for several reasons:

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Search engines read the Title and Keywords to rank your PDF in search results.
  • Document organization: Document management systems use metadata to index and categorize files.
  • Branding: Author name should reflect your organization, not default software names.
  • Privacy: Metadata can contain hidden author names, edit history, or comments that should be removed before sharing.

Editing metadata helps improve discoverability and professional appearance.

How do I change the title of a PDF file (not the filename)?

To change the internal PDF title (which appears in browser tabs, search results, and document properties):

  1. Using our dedicated tool: Go to Add PDF Metadata, upload your PDF, edit the "Title" field, download.
  2. Adobe Acrobat Pro: File > Properties > Description tab. Edit the "Title" field. Click OK, then save the file.
  3. ExifTool (command line): exiftool -Title="Your New Title" input.pdf
  4. PDF‑XChange Editor: File > Document Properties > Description, edit Title, save.

Changing the filename (e.g., from "document1.pdf" to "report.pdf") does NOT change the internal title. Always edit metadata separately for proper labeling.

How do I add keywords to a PDF for SEO?

To add keywords to a PDF (searchable terms for search engines and document managers):

  1. Using our dedicated tool: Add PDF Metadata – upload, enter comma‑separated keywords in the "Keywords" field, download.
  2. Adobe Acrobat Pro: File > Properties > Description tab. In the "Keywords" field, enter comma‑separated terms (for example, "annual report, financial data, 2026"). Click OK, save.
  3. ExifTool: exiftool -Keywords="seo, pdf optimization, metadata" input.pdf

Best practices: Use 5‑10 relevant keywords, avoid repetition of the same word, and keep them focused on the document's content. After adding, verify by opening the PDF properties.

How do I remove metadata from a PDF for privacy?

To strip all metadata (author, creation date, edit history, comments, form data) before sharing a PDF:

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro: Tools > Redact > Sanitize Document > Remove Hidden Information. Select all categories, click Remove, then save.
  • ExifTool (free, command line): exiftool -all= input.pdf (creates a backup with .original extension).
  • Our Compress PDF tool: Automatically strips most metadata during compression (privacy benefit).
  • PDF‑XChange Editor: Document > Document Properties > Security > Remove Hidden Information (limited).

After sanitizing, test the PDF by opening Document Properties to confirm metadata is gone.

How do I view PDF metadata without editing?

To view PDF metadata (read‑only):

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader (free): File > Properties (Ctrl+D). Shows Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creation Date, and custom fields.
  • Any web browser: Open the PDF in Chrome or Edge, right‑click on the page (not on the toolbar), select "Document Properties". Shows basic metadata.
  • ExifTool (command line): exiftool input.pdf displays all metadata fields, including XMP and custom properties.
  • Our dedicated tool: Upload to Add PDF Metadata – the form will show existing metadata before editing.

Viewing metadata helps you verify what information is present before sharing.

Does compressing a PDF remove metadata?

Many compression tools, including our Compress PDF tool, automatically strip most metadata during compression to achieve smaller file sizes. However, you should not rely solely on compression for privacy because:

  • Some compression tools preserve certain fields (e.g., Title, Author).
  • Hidden data like comments or form fields may remain if not explicitly removed.

For full privacy, use a dedicated metadata removal tool (Sanitize in Acrobat Pro, ExifTool -all=) after or before compression.

Can I edit metadata on a PDF using my phone?

Editing PDF metadata on mobile is limited but possible:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader (free, iOS/Android): The free version does not allow editing metadata (requires Acrobat Pro subscription).
  • PDF Expert (iOS, paid): Supports editing Title, Author, Subject, Keywords.
  • Our dedicated tool via mobile browser: Add PDF Metadata works on any smartphone browser – upload, edit metadata, download. This is the most practical free method on mobile.
  • Xodo PDF (free, iOS/Android): Does not directly edit metadata.

For serious metadata editing, especially sanitization, use a desktop computer.

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