How to Remove Metadata From PDFs and Images Before Sharing
What hidden metadata is, what it can reveal, and how to remove it from documents and photos before you share them.
What metadata is
Metadata is information stored inside a file that you do not see when you open it. A PDF or Word file can contain the author's name, the software used, and creation and editing dates. A photo can contain the camera model, the date and sometimes the GPS location.
Why it matters
If you share a document or photo publicly, that hidden information goes along with it. A photo posted online could reveal where it was taken, and a document could show a name or an old title you did not mean to share.
How to clean a file
Open the metadata cleaner for the file type, add your file and download the cleaned copy. Keep your original in case you need it, and check that the new file opens normally.
What cleaning does not do
Removing metadata does not remove text or images visible in the file itself, such as a name written on a page or a face in a photo. Review the visible content separately.
A good habit
Clean files before you upload them to public sites, forums or portals where the file will be seen by many people. For private submissions to your own college, it is usually unnecessary.
This guide is general information. Rules differ between institutions, so confirm requirements with your college or the portal you are using.