Why this matters
Every server-based metadata remover (iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Adobe Online, PDF24 Tools web) receives the full metadata you're trying to strip — before they strip it.
Their Terms of Service promise deletion, but you can't audit it. Multiple major PDF services have been caught retaining user files for 'service improvement' (i.e., training ML models).
If the server is ever breached, your metadata (and the document itself) is in the breach. Browser-based processing has no server to breach.
What the scanner detects
- Whether your PDF currently has metadata that would be exposed if uploaded
- Author, creator, producer, title fields that identify you or your employer
- Creation/modification timestamps revealing your timezone and work patterns
- Original file path often containing your OS username
- Embedded JavaScript that could execute on the server processing your file
Ready to scan your PDF?
Drop your file into the scanner. Results in 5 seconds. Nothing leaves your browser.
Open the scannerHow it works
Click "Scan your PDF now" above. The scanner opens in your browser tab — no download, no install.
Drop in your PDF. The file is parsed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No upload, no server, no logs.
Review your 0–100 risk score, the list of findings, and the AI-generated redaction recommendations. Then take action.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to upload my PDF to iLovePDF or Smallpdf to remove metadata?
No. The moment your PDF hits their server, they have the metadata you're trying to strip — along with the full document content. Their ToS promises deletion, but you can't verify it, and several major PDF services have been caught retaining files. If your goal is privacy, server-based tools defeat the purpose.
How can I remove PDF metadata without uploading?
Use a browser-based tool like PrivacyScanPDF. The PDF is read by JavaScript running in your browser tab; the metadata is stripped from the PDF's info dictionary locally; the cleaned file is generated in your browser's memory. No file ever leaves your device.
What's the risk of uploading PDFs to online tools?
Three risks: (1) the metadata you wanted to remove is now on someone else's server, (2) the full document content is on that server too, and (3) if the server is breached, both the metadata and the document are exposed. For sensitive documents (contracts, medical records, legal filings), this is a real disclosure.
How can I verify a tool doesn't upload my PDF?
Open your browser's DevTools (F12), go to the Network tab, then use the tool. If you see POST requests with file payloads going to the tool's domain, it's uploading. If you only see static asset requests (CSS, JS, images), the tool is processing locally. PrivacyScanPDF shows zero upload requests during any operation.
Related privacy scans
How to Check a PDF for Hidden Information and Metadata
Drop your PDF and instantly see every piece of hidden data it carries — author name, original file path, editing software, creation timestamps, embedded JavaScript, file attachments, and 50+ categories of personally identifiable information. The scan runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to Wipe Properties From a PDF Securely
Drop your PDF and the tool wipes every property in the PDF info dictionary — author, creator, producer, title, subject, keywords, creation date, modification date — replacing them with empty strings. The wipe is permanent: the original metadata is removed from the file's bytes, not just hidden. Output downloads to your device; nothing is uploaded.
Can Someone See Who Created a PDF File?
Yes — by default, PDFs store the author name (often your real name from your Adobe or Microsoft account), the creator software (e.g., 'Microsoft Word for Office 365'), and the original file path (which can include your Windows username). Anyone with a free PDF reader can see this. Drop your PDF above to see exactly what it leaks.
Remove Sensitive Hidden Properties From a PDF Online
PDFs hide a surprising amount of identifying information in their properties: author name, editing software, creation timestamps, original file paths, custom XMP metadata. This tool removes all of it — locally in your browser, with no upload to any server. Drop your PDF, get a cleaned version in seconds.
Your PDF never leaves your device
Every operation runs as JavaScript in your browser tab. No upload endpoint exists. Verify it yourself in DevTools (F12 → Network).