How to Edit PDF Metadata — Title, Author, and Keywords

Every PDF carries metadata — hidden fields like title, author, subject, keywords, creation date, and the software that created it. This metadata is what search engines, document management systems, and file indexers read when organizing and ranking your files. A PDF with a title of "Document1" and no author is harder to find and looks unprofessional.

Editing PDF metadata lets you set accurate, descriptive fields that improve discoverability and present a professional image. YourPDF.tools provides a metadata editor that runs entirely in your browser, so you can fix document properties even on confidential files without uploading them to any server.

Key Takeaways

  • •PDF metadata includes title, author, subject, keywords, creation date, and producer application.
  • •Well-structured metadata improves searchability in document management systems and operating system file search.
  • •Clearing metadata before sharing can remove sensitive information like the original author name or software used.
  • •YourPDF.tools edits metadata client-side — your files remain private on your device.
Edit Your PDF Metadata

What PDF Metadata Contains

  • Title: The document title displayed in PDF viewer title bars and search results. Often defaults to the filename, which may be unhelpful.
  • Author: The name of the person or organization that created the document. Important for attribution and document management.
  • Subject: A brief description of the document topic. Helps categorize files in large document repositories.
  • Keywords: Comma-separated terms that describe the content. Search tools use these to surface relevant documents.
  • Creator and Producer: The application used to create and convert the document. These fields can reveal the software stack used, which some organizations prefer to keep private.

How to Edit PDF Metadata

  1. Open the PDF Metadata tool. Visit yourpdf.tools/pdf-metadata in your browser.
  2. Upload your PDF. Drag the file into the tool. Current metadata fields are displayed for review.
  3. Edit the fields. Update the title, author, subject, and keywords. Clear any fields you want to remove.
  4. Save and download. Apply the changes and download the updated PDF with the new metadata.

When to Edit PDF Metadata

Before publishing a document on your website, set a clear title and relevant keywords so search engines can index it properly. Before submitting a report to a client, set the author field to your company name and the title to something descriptive like "Q4 2025 Financial Analysis" instead of "final_v3_edited.pdf."

Before sharing a document externally, you might want to clear the creator and producer fields to avoid revealing what software you used. Some organizations have policies about metadata hygiene, especially for legal and regulatory documents where the metadata could be used in discovery processes.

Metadata and Privacy

PDF metadata can inadvertently expose information you did not intend to share. The author field might contain an employee name from a document that should have been attributed to the company. The creation date might reveal that a "just completed" document was actually finished weeks ago. The producer field might show you used free trial software.

For sensitive documents, review and clean metadata before distribution. YourPDF.tools lets you view all metadata fields, edit what you want, and clear everything else — all without the file leaving your device.

Edit Your PDF Metadata

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I view the current metadata of a PDF?
In most PDF viewers, go to File > Properties or Document Properties. In Adobe Reader, press Ctrl+D. The YourPDF.tools metadata editor also displays all current fields when you upload a file.
Does changing metadata affect the document content?
No. Metadata is stored separately from the page content. Editing the title, author, or keywords does not change any text, images, or formatting on the document pages.
Can I remove all metadata from a PDF?
Yes. Clear every metadata field in the editor and save the document. This strips the title, author, subject, keywords, and other properties. Note that some basic structural metadata (like PDF version) cannot be removed.
Why does my PDF show the wrong title in browser tabs?
Web browsers display the PDF title from the metadata, not the filename. If the title field contains "Untitled" or a random string, that is what appears in the browser tab. Editing the title metadata to something descriptive fixes this.
Does metadata affect SEO for PDFs on the web?
Yes. Search engines read PDF metadata when indexing documents. A descriptive title and relevant keywords can help your PDF appear in search results for the right queries.
Edit Your PDF Metadata

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Written by Andrew, founder of YourPDF.tools