Sanitize PDF – Remove Metadata, Attachments and Hidden Data Free

How to Remove Hidden Data from a PDF

Choose your PDF. The tool lists what the file contains besides its pages, for example the author name, the software that made it, attachments and comments.
Under "What to remove", keep the suggested selection or change it. Form fields and links are kept unless you tick them.
Click "Clean and download". The cleaned file is checked again, and the report shows what is left.

What a PDF can reveal without you noticing

Document properties – The author is often the full name of the person whose computer made the file, together with the company, the program and the exact date and time.
XMP metadata – A second copy of these properties, sometimes with an editing history. Images inside the PDF can carry their own metadata as well.
Attachments – Files embedded in the PDF, such as spreadsheets or source documents, which many readers do not show unless you open the attachments panel.
Comments – Review notes and highlights, each with the name of the person who wrote it.
Earlier saved versions – Some programs add changes to the end of the file instead of rewriting it, so text you deleted can still be inside the file.
Photo data – Photos from phones and cameras can carry the device model and the GPS position where they were taken. The tool removes this data from JPEG images without re-compressing them, so the pictures look exactly the same.
JavaScript – Scripts and actions that run when the file is opened or a field is used. Ordinary documents do not need them.

What this tool does not do

It does not change what is visible on the pages. To black out names, numbers or images in the page content, use Redact PDF.
Hidden layers are reported but not removed: their content is part of the pages. Bookmarks, page labels and the document language are kept.
Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first with Unlock PDF. A digital signature becomes invalid after cleaning.

Sharing documents with personal data (GDPR, HIPAA)

Data protection rules such as the EU GDPR and the US HIPAA Privacy Rule expect you to share only the personal data that is needed. Hidden properties and comments are easy to overlook, so removing them is a useful step before you send a file to a client, a court, a journal or a public website.

Cleaning hidden data alone does not make a document anonymous or compliant: names, dates and numbers in the page text are still there. Remove those with Redact PDF, which can also find common personal data such as e-mail addresses and phone numbers, and follow your organisation's rules.

Sanitize PDF – Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove metadata from a PDF?

Choose the PDF, keep "Document properties" and "XMP metadata" selected and click "Clean and download". The report then shows that no properties are left.

Will the pages look different after cleaning?

No. Page content is not changed: text stays selectable and searchable, and images keep their quality. Only data outside the visible pages is removed, plus comments, links or form fields if you select them.

Does it remove the GPS location from photos in the PDF?

Yes, for photos stored as JPEG, which is how most PDF tools and scanners save photos: EXIF data such as the camera model and the GPS position is removed, and the image itself is not changed. Images stored in other ways inside a PDF normally contain no EXIF data.

Does this remove names and numbers written in the document?

No. Text on the pages stays as it is. To remove it permanently, use Redact PDF.

Why should I remove comments before sharing a PDF?

Comments often contain internal remarks and always carry the name of the person who wrote them. Many readers hide them until you open the comments panel.

What happens to a digitally signed PDF?

Any change to a signed PDF makes the signature invalid. Clean the document before it is signed, not afterwards.

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. The file is opened, checked and cleaned by your browser on your own device.

Is it free?

Yes – no sign-up and no watermark.

Step-by-Step Guides

How to Remove Sensitive Data from PDF: Complete Guide (Redact Securely)

Related tools: Redact PDF to black out text and images, Protect PDF to add a password, and Add PDF Metadata to write your own title and author.

Explore the full collection of tools in the PDF Security Tools.

Sanitize PDF – Remove Metadata and Hidden Data

What to remove

Keep protecting your PDF