Every PDF carries information you did not deliberately put there: the software that made it, often the name of the account that created it, and the exact times it was written and last edited. This shows you what a document reveals — before you send it to a stranger.
Your file never leaves your device. It is read and processed by JavaScript running in this tab. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
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Result
Fill in the fields above and your result will appear here.
What the PDF Metadata Viewer does
PDF metadata lives in a document information dictionary. Word, LibreOffice, Canva, phone scanner apps and printer drivers all write to it automatically, usually filling in the author from the computer's user account.
That is how documents have historically leaked more than intended — a CV showing it was produced from a template belonging to someone else, or a submission whose creation date contradicts the covering letter.
How to use this tool
- Select the PDF. Metadata is read as soon as the file is chosen.
- Look at the author and producer fields in particular — these are the ones most likely to identify you.
- Check the creation and modification dates against what the document claims.
- If anything should not be shared, use the metadata remover before sending it.
What metadata a PDF stores
Title — often left as the original filename
Author — usually the computer account name, filled automatically
Subject — rarely used
Keywords — rarely used
Creator — the application the document was authored in
Producer — the library or driver that wrote the PDF
Created — when the file was first generated
Modified — when it was last written
Creator and Producer together usually identify the exact
software and version used, and Author often names a person.
Worked example
Example: what a CV can reveal
| Title | Resume_final_v7_USE THIS ONE |
| Author | rahul.s |
| Creator | Microsoft Word |
| Created | 3 February 2024 |
| Modified | 9 August 2026 |
The title is visible in the browser tab when the PDF is opened. A recruiter sees it before reading a word of the document.
What your result means
The title appears in the reader's window and browser tab, which surprises most people. A working filename becomes visible to whoever opens the file.
Author is filled in automatically from your operating system account in most software. It is the field most likely to reveal a name you did not intend to share.
A blank result is normal for PDFs produced by scanners and some online tools, which write little or no metadata.
Important considerations
- Metadata is not the only hidden data. Images inside a PDF can carry their own EXIF information, including GPS coordinates from a phone camera.
- Some producers also write an XMP metadata stream, which can hold more than the basic dictionary shown here.
- Modification dates are set by software, not by any authority. They can be changed and should not be treated as evidence.
- Anonymous submissions and public filings are the cases where checking metadata matters most.
- Reading metadata never alters your file.
Limitations of this tool
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be opened without the password and will report an error rather than failing quietly.
- Everything runs in your device's memory, so very large documents can be slow or exhaust available memory.
- Damaged or partially downloaded files cannot be parsed.
- Only the standard document information dictionary is shown. XMP streams and image-level EXIF data are not displayed.
Frequently asked questions
What metadata does a PDF contain?
Title, author, subject, keywords, the creating application, the producing library, and creation and modification timestamps. Most of it is filled in automatically without the author realising.
Why does my PDF show someone else's name as author?
Because it was created from a document originally authored by them, and the metadata was inherited. This is common with templates and shared files, and it is worth clearing before sharing.
Can metadata be trusted as evidence?
No. All of these fields can be edited freely — including by the tools on this site. Treat them as informative, never as proof.
How do I remove this information?
Use the metadata remover, which clears the document information fields and gives you a cleaned copy.