How to use PDF Privacy Inspector
- Choose a PDF. The report appears in a few seconds.
- Read the findings. Items marked Review can reveal who made the file, when, or what was in an earlier version.
- Press Make a clean copy to download a version without the hidden data, then check the new file here too.
About this free online PDF Privacy Inspector tool
EditPDF Online's pdf privacy inspector is a free online PDF tool for pdf metadata viewer, check pdf metadata and remove hidden data from pdf. It works in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, needs no software, signup or watermark, and keeps your files private because nothing is uploaded.
Popular searches:
pdf metadata viewercheck pdf metadataremove hidden data from pdfpdf privacy checksee who created a pdf
Your files stay private
EditPDF Online runs entirely in your browser using open-source libraries. Your documents are never uploaded, stored or seen by us.
What the inspector checks
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Document properties | Title, author, subject, keywords, the app that made the file and when. Office apps often fill these in for you with your name, your company and the title of the template you started from. |
| XMP metadata | A second, XML copy of the properties. It can hold an editing history and document IDs that tie different versions of a file together. |
| Earlier saved versions | Many editors save changes by adding them to the end of the file. Text or pages you deleted can still be inside and can be recovered with free tools. |
| Attachments | Whole files embedded in the PDF, such as the spreadsheet a chart came from. They are easy to forget because most viewers hide them in a side panel. |
| Comments and annotations | Review notes, highlights and sticky notes, each stamped with the name of the person who wrote it. |
| Form fields | Values typed into fillable forms, including fields scrolled out of view. |
| Hidden layers | Content that is switched off in the viewer but still stored in the file. |
| Scripts | JavaScript that some PDF viewers run when the file opens or a field changes. |
| Links | Web addresses on the pages, which can carry tracking parameters or point to internal systems. |
Earlier versions: the leak most people miss
A PDF does not always shrink when you delete something from it. To save quickly, many editors write the change as an update at the end of the file and leave the original content in place. Open the file normally and you only see the latest version, but anyone with a basic PDF tool can pull out the earlier ones. The inspector counts these saved updates. If it finds more than one, the clean copy is the simple fix: it rebuilds the file from the current pages only.
A clean copy is not a redaction
The clean copy removes data hidden around the pages. It does not change what is printed on them. If a page shows an account number or a name, it is still in the clean copy. Drawing a black box over text in an editor often leaves the text underneath, so use a proper redaction tool for that, and check the result by trying to select or search the covered text. To drop whole pages instead, use Delete Pages or Extract Pages. To set a new title or author rather than removing them, use Edit Metadata.
Frequently asked questions
Does it find everything that could identify me?
It checks the places personal details usually hide in a PDF: document properties, XMP metadata, earlier saved versions, attachments, comments, form fields, hidden layers, links and scripts. It does not read the visible text or images on the pages, so names or numbers printed on a page are still yours to check.
What does the clean copy remove?
The clean copy is rebuilt from the pages alone. Document properties, XMP metadata, earlier saved versions, attachments, document-level scripts and bookmarks are left out. Comments, links and form fields stay unless you tick the box to remove them. Visible page content is not changed, so this is not a redaction tool.
Is this tool really free?
Yes. It is free with no signup, no watermark and no daily limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens in your browser, so your files never leave your device.