PDF Metadata Editor: Free Online PDF Title and Author Editor — How-To Guide

Every PDF carries hidden document information — a title, an author name, a subject, and keywords — that most readers never see but many tools do. PDF viewers show it in the properties panel, search tools index it, document management systems sort by it, and some upload portals display it. If you have ever opened a file and found the title field still says "Untitled" or the author field still shows a former colleague's name, you know why cleaning it up matters.

ToolsFam's PDF Metadata Editor lets you fix all of that for free, right in your browser. Upload a PDF, edit its title, author, subject, and keywords, and download a new copy with the updated information. Nothing is uploaded to a server, and nothing about the visible pages changes.

Try it free: PDF Metadata Editor

What the tool does

The PDF Metadata Editor updates the document information dictionary of a PDF — the standard metadata fields that travel with the file. Specifically, it lets you edit:

• Title — the document name shown in viewers and search results.
• Author — who created or owns the document.
• Subject — a short description of what the document is about.
• Keywords — terms that help the document show up in internal searches.

The editor works locally with PDF-lib, a well-known browser PDF library. You upload the PDF, inspect the file, enter the metadata you want, and download a new copy. Because the work happens in your browser, the file never leaves your device.

This is useful for reports, resumes, invoices, white papers, ebooks, school submissions, and client handoffs — any document you share or archive where a clean, professional set of details matters.

How to use it, step by step

1. Open the tool. Go to the PDF Metadata Editor page. There is no signup and nothing to install.
2. Upload your PDF. Select the file from your device. The editor reads it locally and shows its current metadata.
3. Review the existing fields. Check what is already there. You may find an old author name, a blank title, or a leftover subject from a template.
4. Enter the new metadata. Type the title, author, subject, and keywords you want. Fill in only the fields you need to change — leave the rest as they are.
5. Download the updated PDF. Save the new copy to your device. It contains the same pages and visible content as the original, with the metadata replaced.
6. Verify before you send it. Open the downloaded file in your PDF viewer, check its properties panel, and confirm the new title and author appear as expected.

That is the whole workflow. Most edits take under a minute, and you can repeat it for as many files as you need.

3 practical tips

• Clean metadata before every client handoff. A report that says "Untitled" in its properties panel looks unfinished, even if the pages are perfect. A 30-second metadata pass makes the file look as professional as its contents.
• Remove old author names on reused templates. Documents built from a colleague's template often carry that person's name in the author field. Updating it avoids confusion and keeps ownership clear.
• Use keywords for documents you archive. Adding a few consistent keywords — a project name, a client name, a year — makes files much easier to find later in a document library or search tool.

Frequently asked questions

Will editing metadata change the visible text of my PDF?

No. Metadata fields are separate from the visible PDF pages. Your text, images, layout, and formatting stay exactly the same — only the hidden document information changes.

Can this remove all hidden data from a PDF?

It updates the common document metadata fields: title, author, subject, and keywords. For forensic-level cleanup, where every trace of hidden data must be removed, use a dedicated redaction and metadata removal workflow instead.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No. The PDF is edited in your browser and downloaded as a new file. Processing is local, so your document never travels to a server.

Do I need an account or software?

No. The tool is free, runs in any modern browser, and requires no signup or installation.

Privacy note

The PDF Metadata Editor runs 100% in the browser — files never leave the device. Your documents are processed locally on your own computer, and nothing is stored or sent anywhere. That makes it a safe choice for resumes, invoices, contracts, and other documents you would rather not upload to a random online service.

Try it free: PDF Metadata Editor