Why this matters
Adobe Acrobat Pro costs $20/month — overkill for occasional metadata removal.
macOS Preview's built-in metadata editing is limited (you can change the Title but not easily strip Author or Creator).
Server-based tools upload your PDF to a third-party server, which is unnecessary on a Mac that's perfectly capable of processing it locally.
Browser-based processing on Mac uses the same JavaScript engine (V8 in Chrome, JavaScriptCore in Safari) as professional PDF tools — just without the upload step.
What the scanner detects
- All PDF info dictionary fields (Author, Creator, Producer, Title, Subject, Keywords)
- XMP XML metadata blocks
- Embedded JavaScript and ActionScript
- File attachments and embedded files
- 50+ categories of PII in visible text (emails, phone numbers, SSNs)
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
How do I remove PDF metadata on Mac without Adobe Acrobat?
Open PrivacyScanPDF in Safari or Chrome on your Mac. Drop in your PDF. The tool reads it locally, strips every metadata field, and downloads the cleaned PDF. No Acrobat, no install, no signup. Works on macOS 12 Monterey and later.
Can macOS Preview remove PDF metadata?
Partially. Preview's Get Info dialog lets you change the Title, Author, Subject, and Keywords, but doesn't strip the Creator, Producer, or timestamps. It also doesn't remove XMP XML metadata. For complete stripping, use a browser-based tool or PDF-lib based tool.
Is browser-based PDF processing on Mac as good as Acrobat?
For metadata removal, yes. Modern Mac browsers (Safari 16+, Chrome 100+) handle PDF parsing and metadata stripping as well as Acrobat. The difference: Acrobat costs $20/month and runs as a separate app; browser-based tools are free and run in a tab.
Will this work on an M1/M2/M3 Mac?
Yes — and faster than on Intel Macs. The Apple Silicon chips (M1/M2/M3) are particularly fast at the JavaScript processing required for PDF metadata stripping. Most PDFs process in under a second on M-series Macs.
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Strip Serial Numbers and GPS Coordinates From a PDF
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Erase Adobe InDesign Metadata From a PDF
InDesign exports PDFs with extensive metadata: the designer's name (from their Adobe account), InDesign version, template info, font lists, plug-in signatures, and creation timestamps. This metadata can identify the designer, their employer, and their toolchain. Strip it locally in your browser before sharing InDesign-exported PDFs externally.
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).