What metadata is typically in a PDF?

Standard fields: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator (the originating app like Microsoft Word), Producer (the PDF generation tool, often Distiller or pdf.js), Creation Date, Modification Date. Less common: PDF version, page count, security settings, viewer preferences, custom XMP metadata. Sometimes: file path on creator's machine, registered Windows username, software version numbers, language settings. The 'Creator' and 'Producer' fields can leak organizational info ('Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO Version: 16.0.16529.20210').

Why does it matter what metadata is in my PDF?

Privacy/security: file paths can reveal usernames or internal directory structures. Author field can leak names if multiple people contributed and one wasn't aware. Creator/Producer fields can identify which company/license is being used (e.g., 'Adobe InDesign' suggests professional design work, 'Microsoft Word' suggests business document). Timestamps can reveal when documents were created/modified, useful in legal disputes or fraud investigations. Forensic investigators routinely examine PDF metadata first.

Are images in PDFs scanned for metadata?

This tool reads document-level metadata only. Images embedded in PDFs may have their own EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS coordinates, edit history), which isn't displayed here. To examine image metadata: extract images with PDF tools (Preview on Mac, pdfimages CLI), then check EXIF separately. To strip EXIF: convert PDF pages to images, strip EXIF, re-embed (reduces quality). Easier: when generating PDFs from images, strip EXIF first using image tools.

Can hidden / deleted content remain in a PDF?

Yes. Document Information (this tool's scope) is the visible metadata. Hidden content can include: redacted-but-not-removed text (covered with black boxes that still allow text selection), tracked changes / comments / annotations, hidden layers, JavaScript code, file attachments, form data, OCR text behind scanned images. Use Adobe Acrobat's 'Sanitize Document' or open-source tools like qpdf with --linearize for thorough cleanup. For sensitive documents, print to PDF (re-render) for the cleanest output.

Why is the 'Author' field different from the 'Creator' field?

Author: human author claimed in the document (the person who wrote it). Creator: the application that originally created the source document (Word, Pages, InDesign). Producer: the application that converted to PDF (Distiller, Acrobat, pdf.js, ghostscript). Example: someone writes a contract in Word ('Author: John Smith'), saves as PDF via Word's built-in PDF export ('Producer: Microsoft® Word'). All three fields can independently leak information; check each in this tool.

Will the metadata show if a PDF has been edited?

The 'Modification Date' field is updated when the PDF is modified by most editors. However: (1) Some tools don't update this field (privacy-conscious workflows). (2) Editing tools can manually set this field to any date. (3) Re-saving without changes may or may not update it. (4) Digital signatures can attest to a specific version, making subsequent modifications detectable. For legal/forensic purposes, look for digital signatures, version comparison, or commit history (if PDF is in Git/version control), not just metadata.

File & Format Converters · Free tool

PDF Metadata Viewer

Inspect hidden PDF metadata including author, title, producer, and creation dates instantly. Free, online tool that runs directly in your browser with no uploads.

Updated June 2026

Drop a file or click to choose

Drop a PDF to inspect its metadata.

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What it does

Every PDF carries a small block of metadata — title, author, producer, creation date, keywords, the software that made it, and sometimes the full file path from the creator’s machine. This viewer reads it all without opening the file in Acrobat, without uploading anywhere, and without installing anything. Useful for vetting a contract you’ve received, auditing a resume before sending, or confirming a file matches a version history.

If any field surprises you — an author name that’s not yours, a timestamp from years ago — use PDF Metadata Remover to strip the fields before sharing. For a deeper conceptual walkthrough, see How to remove PDF metadata.

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How to use it

Drop any PDF onto the upload area.
Read the two-column metadata table — dashes mean the field is blank.
Note anything surprising (author, producer, creation date, path).
If you need to strip those fields, open PDF Metadata Remover.

When to use this tool

Auditing a document before sending to confirm no sensitive metadata is included.
Verifying a received contract’s author and creation date for legal purposes.
Forensic review of a document for litigation discovery.
Checking that a redacted PDF doesn’t leak the original author’s identity.

When not to use it

Encrypted PDFs — must decrypt first.
Image-only / scanned PDFs — they have document metadata but image-level metadata too (use EXIF tools for that).
Detecting hidden / redacted content — viewer shows metadata, not body content analysis.

Common use cases

Law firm reviewer checks if opposing counsel’s deposition PDF reveals their case-management software.
Job applicant scans their resume PDF to verify Word version isn’t leaking personal info.
Journalist verifies a leaked document’s metadata matches the alleged source date.
IT auditor confirms sensitive corporate PDFs aren’t leaking employee names in author fields.

Frequently asked questions

What metadata is typically in a PDF?: Standard fields: Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator (the originating app like Microsoft Word), Producer (the PDF generation tool, often Distiller or pdf.js), Creation Date, Modification Date. Less common: PDF version, page count, security settings, viewer preferences, custom XMP metadata. Sometimes: file path on creator's machine, registered Windows username, software version numbers, language settings. The 'Creator' and 'Producer' fields can leak organizational info ('Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO Version: 16.0.16529.20210').
Why does it matter what metadata is in my PDF?: Privacy/security: file paths can reveal usernames or internal directory structures. Author field can leak names if multiple people contributed and one wasn't aware. Creator/Producer fields can identify which company/license is being used (e.g., 'Adobe InDesign' suggests professional design work, 'Microsoft Word' suggests business document). Timestamps can reveal when documents were created/modified, useful in legal disputes or fraud investigations. Forensic investigators routinely examine PDF metadata first.
Are images in PDFs scanned for metadata?: This tool reads document-level metadata only. Images embedded in PDFs may have their own EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS coordinates, edit history), which isn't displayed here. To examine image metadata: extract images with PDF tools (Preview on Mac, pdfimages CLI), then check EXIF separately. To strip EXIF: convert PDF pages to images, strip EXIF, re-embed (reduces quality). Easier: when generating PDFs from images, strip EXIF first using image tools.
Can hidden / deleted content remain in a PDF?: Yes. Document Information (this tool's scope) is the visible metadata. Hidden content can include: redacted-but-not-removed text (covered with black boxes that still allow text selection), tracked changes / comments / annotations, hidden layers, JavaScript code, file attachments, form data, OCR text behind scanned images. Use Adobe Acrobat's 'Sanitize Document' or open-source tools like qpdf with --linearize for thorough cleanup. For sensitive documents, print to PDF (re-render) for the cleanest output.
Why is the 'Author' field different from the 'Creator' field?: Author: human author claimed in the document (the person who wrote it). Creator: the application that originally created the source document (Word, Pages, InDesign). Producer: the application that converted to PDF (Distiller, Acrobat, pdf.js, ghostscript). Example: someone writes a contract in Word ('Author: John Smith'), saves as PDF via Word's built-in PDF export ('Producer: Microsoft® Word'). All three fields can independently leak information; check each in this tool.
Will the metadata show if a PDF has been edited?: The 'Modification Date' field is updated when the PDF is modified by most editors. However: (1) Some tools don't update this field (privacy-conscious workflows). (2) Editing tools can manually set this field to any date. (3) Re-saving without changes may or may not update it. (4) Digital signatures can attest to a specific version, making subsequent modifications detectable. For legal/forensic purposes, look for digital signatures, version comparison, or commit history (if PDF is in Git/version control), not just metadata.

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