How to edit the metadata of PDFs on Windows and Mac

Every time you open a PDF and wonder where it came from or what it’s for, you’re dealing with metadata—those little bits of information hidden beneath the surface. Think of metadata as your PDF’s ID card. It can include the title, author, subject, and keywords, all of which can be read or edited to help you better manage your documents.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to edit PDF metadata using iLovePDF’s Desktop App for Windows and Mac. It’s a simple process that gives you more control over your files—especially when you want to keep things organized or protect your privacy.

Key takeaways

• PDF metadata includes information like title, author, keywords, and more
• You can view PDF metadata or edit it using iLovePDF on Windows and Mac
• iLovePDF lets you edit, remove, or clear PDF metadata securely on your device
• Editing metadata helps with file organization, searchability, and professional presentation
• iLovePDF is trusted by individuals and global companies for fast and secure PDF management

What is PDF metadata and why should you care?

Metadata is the background information stored inside your PDF. It’s not visible on the document itself but can be read by computers, search engines, and software.

Here’s what metadata can include:

• Title
• Author
• Subject
• Creator
• Keywords

Why does this matter?

Organization

Adding metadata helps you quickly filter and find files—especially when you're working with dozens of documents.

Searchability

Many desktop search tools use metadata, so it’s easier to locate a file if it’s properly labeled.

Privacy

Sometimes, documents carry old or unwanted metadata. If you're sharing files, you might want to remove metadata from PDF files to protect your info.

SEO

If your PDF will be published online, search engines can read metadata. So yes, PDF metadata can be searched online, especially if your document is indexed on the web.

How to edit PDF metadata on Windows or Mac

The iLovePDF desktop app is a simple and secure way to both read PDF metadata and make edits. Here’s how:

Step-by-step: edit metadata with iLovePDF

You’ve now successfully used a PDF metadata editor to update your file.

What about removing or deleting PDF metadata?

Sometimes, editing isn’t enough. If you’re sharing sensitive documents or just want to start clean, you might want to delete metadata from PDF files entirely. With iLovePDF, you can also clear PDF metadata or remove fields that don’t apply.

Many users search for a metadata PDF remover or PDF metadata remover when they need to protect private information or clean up downloaded files. Using a desktop tool like iLovePDF Desktop makes this process quick, local, and safe.

To remove metadata from PDF

Why use iLovePDF instead of online tools?

While there are many online PDF metadata editors out there, a desktop app gives you more control and privacy—especially when working with sensitive documents. iLovePDF gives you both the convenience of online tools and the security of local editing.

Why it works:

• Everything happens on your device—no uploading unless you choose to.
• It works with large files and multiple documents at once.
• It includes more than just metadata tools: you can also merge, split, compress, and sign PDFs.
• It's trusted by enterprises and individuals around the world.

So whether you're looking to view PDF metadata, clean up old files, or add metadata to PDFs for searchability, iLovePDF has you covered.

A small change that makes a big difference

Managing metadata might seem like a small task, but it can really pay off—especially when you're searching for documents later or sharing files professionally. Whether you want to edit PDF metadata, clear it, or simply read PDF metadata, iLovePDF makes it easy on both Windows and Mac.

And when you’re dealing with personal or business files, having a tool you trust makes all the difference.

Try it out on your next PDF

Need to clean up or edit a PDF? iLovePDF gives you a fast, secure way to take control of your metadata—without uploading your files online.

Edit or remove PDF metadata with iLovePDF

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