How to strip pdf metadata, author, and edit history
- Step 1Drop your PDF — Upload a PDF that may contain metadata you don't want to share.
- Step 2Sanitize — Click run — pdf-lib clears /Info and XMP streams without altering content.
- Step 3Download the clean PDF — Save the sanitized file. Verify with Acrobat's Properties panel — every field will be blank.
Frequently asked questions
Will signature fields still validate?+
Yes. Digital signatures cover content, not metadata. Sanitizing metadata after signing keeps signatures valid.
What about encrypted PDFs?+
Decrypt first using the PDF Unlock tool, then sanitize. The sanitizer needs access to the document structure.
Is edit history really stored in PDFs?+
Some workflows write incremental updates that contain edit traces. The sanitizer rewrites the file without those traces.
Privacy first
Every JAD Security operation runs entirely in your browser. Files, passwords, and PGP private keys never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.