FREE PDF SHARING CHECK

Check and Remove Metadata from a PDF

PDF properties can identify a person, organization, or creation tool even when the visible pages look finished. CheckBefore inspects supported PDF structures and keeps page-content review separate.

Processed locally in your browserYour original stays unchanged. The file and filename are not uploaded for a standard scan.

Private scan workspace

Check a file before it leaves your hands.

Start with 2 free checks — no account needed.Original stays unchanged.

Processed locally

Choose a file or drop it hereBrowse from this device.pdf · Maximum file size: 20MB · Processed locally

⌁ Your original stays on this device◌ No account needed for a free check

Choose a file or drop it here

SUPPORTED COVERAGE

What can be detected

Author, title, subject, keywords, creator, producer, creation date, and modification date
XMP metadata packets and supported readable XMP fields
Text comments and other annotation types
Embedded files or portfolio collections and stored form fields
JavaScript, launch, submit, and import actions
Optional content layers and unapplied redaction annotations

CLEAR NEXT STEPS

What can be cleaned—and what needs you

Can be removed

PDF Info and XMP metadata

Supported document properties and the catalog XMP packet can be removed from a separately created PDF copy.

Can be removed

Text comments

Plain text-comment annotations can be removed. Other annotation types remain unchanged for review.

Review required

Attachments, forms, actions, layers, and redaction annotations

These structures are reported but not automatically removed because they can affect content or behavior.

EXAMPLE — NOT A LIVE SCAN

Example findings

Real results use the same label-and-value structure and depend on the file you select. These examples do not claim a risk score or finding count.

PDF

document.pdfLocal example

PDF propertiesExample

AuthorExample author
CreatorExample PDF tool
XMPMetadata packet present

PDF page content is not redacted.

Example only — metadata cleanup is separate from reviewing or redacting PDF page content.

Author: Example author name
Creator: Example document tool
XMP metadata: Metadata packet detected

ONE LOCAL WORKSPACE

How it works

SelectChoose a supported file from this device.
UnderstandReview the evidence and the stated scan limits.
CleanCreate a separate copy with only supported items removed.
RescanCheck the latest copy again and review anything left unchanged.

HONEST BOUNDARIES

What CheckBefore does not do

Removing metadata is not the same as redacting a PDF. Supported text-layer content is checked for likely personal information and secrets, but page text and images are not changed.
Non-text annotations, attachments, forms, actions, optional layers, and unapplied redaction annotations remain for manual review.
Encrypted or scanned-image PDFs receive limited content coverage because protected contents or image-only pages cannot be safely inspected without OCR.

Frequently asked questions

Can CheckBefore remove PDF author metadata?

Yes, for supported unencrypted PDFs it can remove PDF Info fields such as Author and the catalog XMP packet from a new copy, then rescan it.

Does this redact text inside the PDF?

No. Metadata cleanup does not remove visible or underlying page text. Use a proper redaction workflow for page content and verify the result separately.

What happens to PDF attachments and forms?

They are detected where supported and left unchanged for your review.

See all supported file checks on the CheckBefore homepage