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Cleansing Metadata from Documents, PDFs and Images

Cleansing Metadata from Documents, PDFs and Images

Owned by Kriti Venkat
Last updated: Apr 30, 2025

What is Metadata?

Metadata is data about data. It includes descriptive information embedded in a file but not visible in the main content. For documents, PDFs, and images, metadata may contain:

  • Author name

  • Date created and last modified

  • Editing history

  • Device information (for photos)

  • Software used to create/edit the file

  • GPS coordinates (for images)

Removing metadata before sharing documents can protect your privacy and help ensure you are not unintentionally disclosing sensitive information.

How to Remove Metadata from Documents (Word)

Important Note: Always double-check your file’s properties after cleansing to ensure no metadata remains before distribution. Use multiple tools when needed for thorough sanitization.

Microsoft Word offers a built-in Document Inspector to identify and remove sensitive metadata.

  1. Open the document in Microsoft Word.

  2. Go to File > Info.

  3. Click Check for Issues > Inspect Document.

  4. In the pop-up window, select items you want to inspect (e.g., Comments, Document Properties).

  5. Click Inspect, and then Remove All for the items you want deleted.

  6. Save the document.

For additional information, visit Microsoft Guide to Inspecting Documents.

  1. Open the document in Microsoft Word.

  2. Click on the Tools menu.

  3. Select Protect Document.

  4. Under the Privacy section, check Remove personal information from this file on save.

  5. Click OK and then save your document.

Note: The Mac version has fewer metadata management features compared to the Windows version.

 

Using the Property Tab in Windows (Basic Method)

For all file types in Windows 7, 10, or 11, you can remove some metadata using the Properties tab:

  1. Right-click the file and choose Properties.

  2. Go to the Details tab.

  3. Click Remove Properties and Personal Information at the bottom.

  4. Choose:

  • Create a copy with all possible properties removed.

  • Remove selected properties.

  1. Click OK.

Note: This method is less comprehensive and mainly suited for quick edits to general files (e.g., images, PDFs).

How to Remove Metadata from PDFs
Adobe Acrobat includes a Sanitize Document and Remove Hidden Information tool to clean metadata.

  1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

  2. Go to Tools > Redact > Remove Hidden Information.

  3. Acrobat will scan the file for metadata, comments, hidden text, etc.

  4. Review the list and click Remove.

  5. Save the sanitized version of the file.

  6. Alternatively, use File > Properties > Description tab to manually clear fields like title, author, etc.

How to Remove Metadata from Pictures

Many image files (especially JPEGs) contain EXIF metadata, such as GPS location and camera model.

Using Windows Explorer:

  1. Right-click the image file > Properties > Details.

  2. Click Remove Properties and Personal Information.

  3. Choose to create a copy or remove specific metadata.

Flattening Documents (An Alternative)

Another method to reduce metadata is to “flatten” a file:

  • In Word or another editor, choose Print to PDF instead of saving directly.

  • This generates a new PDF with all content embedded as a single layer—minimizing traceable metadata.

Note: This does not guarantee all metadata is removed—always verify using inspection tools.