Remove PDF metadata and hidden information
Short answer: Hidden information in a PDF includes document properties and XMP metadata, attachments, annotations, forms, scripts, bookmarks, EXIF in images, and earlier versions left by incremental saves. EnjoyPDF secure redaction rewrites the whole file on save and removes all of these.
Where hidden information lives
| Location | May contain |
|---|---|
| Document info (title, author, subject, keywords) | Drafter names, project code names |
| XMP metadata | Creating software, modification times, edit history |
| Attachments and embedded files | The original Word or Excel files |
| Annotations and comments | Internal discussion |
| Form fields | Values that were filled in |
| JavaScript and open actions | Unnecessary scripts |
| Bookmarks and structure tag text | Fragments of the original text |
| Thumbnails | Page previews from before the edit |
| Image EXIF / XMP | Capture device, time, location |
| Earlier versions | Old content kept by incremental saves |
Remove it all at once
When PDF Text Replacer saves with secure redaction, it uses pikepdf to rewrite the file from scratch: no old incremental versions are kept, every item in the table above is removed, and JPEG images have their EXIF, XMP and comment segments stripped. After saving, it automatically checks that metadata, attachments and earlier versions are gone.
Check it yourself
- View “Document properties” in your PDF viewer;
- Open the attachments panel and the comments panel;
- Use a tool such as ExifTool to see the full metadata list.
FAQ
Does an ordinary replacement also remove this information when saving?
No. Rewriting the whole file and removing hidden information are part of secure redaction. An ordinary replacement keeps the original file structure and changes only the target text.
Can the file still be searched afterwards?
The text layer on the pages is not affected, so it can still be searched. What is removed is supporting information such as structure tag text.