Remove PDF metadata on a Mac
Preview can show a few properties. It cannot reliably clear the author, XMP packet and document-level metadata. Docfy does it in Safari or Chrome — no Terminal, no Homebrew, no Acrobat.
- 100% in-browser
- Safari and Chrome
- No install
- No account
Clean a PDF on your Mac
Safari or Chrome · no install · processed locally
One PDF at a time · inspected and cleaned locally · no upload
Why Preview is not enough
Preview's Inspector can display a PDF's title, author and some dates. That is useful for checking, but it is not a metadata remover: saving a copy or exporting does not reliably clear the author, the XMP packet or document-level attachments. On macOS, Word, Pages, Chrome's print dialog and "Save as PDF" all produce files with different metadata fingerprints.
A dedicated app can do the job, but it is another install and another account. This page uses the browser that already ships with your Mac.
Preview Inspector
Good for reading a few fields. No reliable removal of XMP or document-level metadata.
Print to PDF
Often creates a new file, but can carry over author, producer and timestamps from the source.
Word or Pages export
Writes the account name and app version into the file. The page looks clean; the metadata does not.
Browser remover
Rebuilds the PDF with only the pages and an empty property set. No install, no upload.
What "clean" means on a Mac
Cleaning is not the same as re-saving. Docfy reads the PDF, copies the pages into a new document and writes an empty property set. The XMP packet and document-level attachments are not carried over. The result opens in Preview and prints the same way, without the author or software fingerprints.
The trade-off: bookmarks, form fields and attachments are not preserved. If the document depends on them, keep the original. For a contract, offer letter, statement or résumé, that is usually the right trade.
What actually changes
| Field | Original file | After cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Author | alex@acme.test | absent |
| Title / subject | Statement Q3 | absent |
| Creator / producer | Word · macOS Quartz | absent |
| Created / modified | 2026-10-01 · 2026-10-02 | absent |
| XMP packet | present | absent |
Steps on a Mac
Open docfy.me in Safari or Chrome
Any current browser works. You do not need to install an app or grant access to your files.
Drag the PDF from Finder
Drop it on the page, or use the file picker. Docfy lists the author, title, creator, producer, dates and XMP presence.
Clean and verify
The clean copy downloads to your Mac. Re-open it in Preview, or drop it into the viewer again, to confirm zero fields.
Questions people ask
Can I remove PDF metadata on a Mac without installing anything?
Yes. Open docfy.me in Safari or Chrome, drag the PDF from Finder into the page, and clean it. Nothing is installed, no Terminal or Homebrew required.
Does Preview remove the author or XMP?
Preview's Inspector can show some properties, but it does not reliably clear the author, XMP packet or document-level metadata. Saving a copy does not remove those fields.
Is the PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The file is read and rebuilt in the browser tab. You can confirm with Safari or Chrome DevTools → Network: no request carries the PDF.
Where does the cleaned file go?
It downloads to your Mac's Downloads folder (or the location your browser uses). Open it in Preview; the pages and text are unchanged.
Does it work on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs?
Yes. The tool runs in the browser, so the CPU does not matter. Any current Safari, Chrome, Edge or Firefox works.
What is not preserved?
Bookmarks, form fields and document-level attachments are dropped when the file is rebuilt. Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first.
Other Docfy tools
Clean the PDF before it leaves your Mac.
Author, XMP and document metadata are removed in Safari or Chrome, with a verification pass before download.