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How to remove metadata from a PDF on a Mac
By DeckleUpdated
To remove metadata from a PDF on a Mac, open Remove PDF metadata in your browser, drop the PDF onto the page, tick the items you want gone, such as Author and the creation date, then choose Remove metadata. Deckle saves a clean copy with those properties deleted and leaves the original as it was. Preview can show a PDF's properties so you can check the result.
How to remove PDF metadata on a Mac with Deckle
- Open Remove PDF metadata in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Drag the PDF from the Finder onto the page, or choose Select a file. Deckle scans it and lists every metadata item it finds, with its current value.
- Tick each item you want removed, or use Select all. Nothing is ticked at the start.
- If you tick Embedded attachments, save any attached files you need first; a warning appears.
- Choose Remove metadata. The button stays disabled until at least one item is ticked.
- Download the copy, which has "(clean)" added to its name.
Deckle checks the new file before the result appears: the removed items must not be found anywhere in it, and every page must look the same as before.
What PDF metadata can reveal
| Item | Example of what it can show |
|---|---|
| Document properties: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, dates | Your full name from your Mac's user account, the app that made the file, when it was written |
| XMP metadata | The same details again, plus edit history from some apps |
| Document identifier | An ID that can link copies of the same document |
| Embedded attachments | Files stored inside the PDF, such as a spreadsheet |
Example: a CV exported from a word processor can show "Author: jsmith" and a Title left over from the template, such as "Resume template 3". Ticking Author and Title removes both.
Deckle deletes the ticked items rather than blanking them, because an empty Author field still shows that one existed. Items you leave unticked stay exactly as they were, and Deckle does not write its own name into the Producer field.
What it doesn't remove
Metadata is information stored with the file, not printed on the pages. Remove PDF metadata does not touch:
- names, dates or signatures that appear on the pages
- comments, form field values or hidden layers
- data inside images on the pages, such as camera details in a photo
A PDF that asks for a password needs an unlocked copy first; use Unlock PDF. For more on what to check, see how to remove selected properties and check the result.
Check the result in Preview
Preview shows a PDF's details in its Inspector. Apple describes it in View information about PDFs and images in Preview on Mac:
- Open the cleaned PDF in Preview.
- Click the Info button in the toolbar to open the Inspector.
- Open the General info tool, which shows general information about the PDF.
The fields you removed should no longer appear. Preview lets you view this information, but Apple's help does not describe a way to remove author or title data in Preview.
Tips
- Clean before you protect. If you will add a password, remove metadata first; Password protect PDF keeps the properties and sets the Producer to Deckle.
- Change your Mac's defaults at the source. Many apps fill the Author field from your account name. Check the app's settings if you share files often.
- Keep attachments you need. Removed attachments cannot be recovered from the clean copy.
- Look at the pages too. Headers, footers and signature blocks often carry the same names as the metadata.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see a PDF's metadata on a Mac?
Open it in Preview and click the Info button in the toolbar, or open it in Remove PDF metadata, which lists each item and its value.
Does removing metadata change how the PDF looks?
No. Pages, text and page sizes are unchanged. Deckle compares the rendered pages with the original after saving.
Can I remove only the author and keep the rest?
Yes. Tick Author only. Every other item stays as it was.
Is the PDF uploaded?
No. The file is read and rewritten in your browser.
Related tools
- Remove PDF metadata to delete properties you choose
- Password protect PDF to lock the clean copy
- Unlock PDF to open a protected file first