How to remove PDF metadata on Mac.

Remove source PDF metadata during a redacted export on your Mac.

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Remove metadata from a PDF in four steps

1. Drag the PDF onto ClipScrub. Finder can also open the PDF through its Open With menu.
2. Review the sensitive text ClipScrub found. Drag a Redact box over anything else you want removed.
3. Choose Save. Select a new filename for the exported PDF.
4. Search the exported copy for each removed value before sharing the file.

How ClipScrub scrubs metadata from a PDF

ClipScrub builds a new PDF from the redacted pages. The exported PDF contains none of the source document’s attributes.

ClipScrub also blanks the creator name and the creation and modification dates that macOS adds to the PDF.

Metadata and visible text need separate checks

The redaction pass does not check metadata fields. A name in the source PDF’s author field will not appear as a detection.

The rebuilt export removes that source attribute.

Detection can miss sensitive text. Review the exported PDF before sharing it.

Safe text can remain searchable

ClipScrub flattens every page, then adds back the text outside the redacted areas. Text covered by a redaction does not return to the exported PDF.

To export without searchable text, turn off searchable PDF exports in Settings ▸ General ▸ PDF export.

Read the complete guide to redacting a PDF on Mac without Adobe.