What PDF metadata can you edit?
PDF metadata is the set of document properties a PDF stores about itself. This editor changes the standard properties most PDF readers show in their “Document properties” panel:
- Title
- The document title, often shown in browser tabs and reader title bars.
- Author
- The person or organisation recorded as the author.
- Subject
- A short description of the document.
- Keywords
- Search terms or tags, usually separated by commas.
- Creator
- The application the original document was made in.
- Producer
- The software that generated the PDF.
- Created and Modified
- The creation and modification timestamps stored in the metadata.
Custom document properties, such as a company or project name, are shown but not editable yet. They're copied into the edited PDF unchanged. To see everything a file stores before you start, use the PDF Metadata Viewer.
Why edit PDF metadata?
Common reasons include:
- Correcting the author: a file made from a colleague's template, or on a shared computer, can carry someone else's name.
- Fixing the title: an old working title, such as “Draft v3”, can show up in browser tabs and search results.
- Adding useful details: a clear subject and keywords can make a published document easier to find and file.
- Tidying before publishing: replacing internal software names or dates you'd rather not share.
How to change the author of a PDF
- Drop the PDF onto the editor above, or choose it from your device.
- Replace the name in the Author field, or clear it to remove the author entirely.
- Select Save Metadata Changes. The editor builds a new copy and re-opens it to verify the result.
- Download the edited PDF. Your original file isn't changed.
How to change a PDF title
The title in a PDF's properties is separate from the file name. Renaming a file doesn't change it, which is why a PDF can open with an old or unexpected title in a browser tab. Edit the Title field, save, and the edited copy will carry the new title. Changing the title doesn't change any heading printed on the page.
What do Creator and Producer mean?
Creator is usually the application the original document was written in, such as a word processor. Producer is usually the software that converted it into a PDF, such as an export feature or a print-to-PDF driver. They're often filled in automatically, can include version numbers, and can be changed or cleared like any other field here.
Can you change PDF creation and modification dates?
Yes. The date fields use your device's time zone and are saved with minute precision. If you don't touch a date, the exact stored value is kept. Clearing a date removes it from the edited copy. If a file stores a date in a format that can't be read, the editor keeps it unless you enter a new one.
What happens to XMP metadata when metadata is edited?
Many PDFs keep a second copy of their metadata in an XMP record. If only the standard properties were changed, the old XMP values could remain and contradict your edits: one app might show the new author while another shows the old one. To avoid that, saving changes removes the document's XMP record. Details that only exist in XMP, such as document IDs and any PDF/A identification, are removed with it, and the editor tells you before and after saving. XMP attached to individual pages or images isn't document metadata and is left as it is.
Is editing metadata the same as removing it?
No. Editing replaces or clears the specific fields you choose and keeps everything else. If you want to remove all supported metadata in one step, including custom properties and XMP, use the PDF Metadata Remover.
Should I check my PDF before sharing it?
It's a good habit. Metadata is only one part of a PDF, and a file can also contain comments, annotations, form data and attachments. The PDF Privacy Checker reports the document information PDFSanitize can currently detect, so you can see what to review before you send the file.