Read or rewrite PDF metadata: which tool changes what?

Choose between inspecting a PDF's declared properties and deliberately rewriting the title, author, and keywords.

PDF metadata is the information a document declares about itself: title, author, subject, keywords, creator, page count and encryption state. Reading it is diagnostic, writing it is editorial, and the two actions have different risks.

Inspect first with the metadata viewer

The viewer reports the declared info, page count, page sizes and whether the file is encrypted, without changing anything. Use it before editing, so you know what was there and can confirm the edit landed.

Rewrite deliberately with the metadata editor

The editor changes title, author, subject, keywords and creator in the file itself. Use it to correct a wrong author or strip an internal project name before sharing a document externally.

Remember that metadata is not a security control

Editing properties does not remove text, images or embedded content from the pages. If the body of the document contains private information, metadata changes will not hide it, and a watermark is a visible mark rather than a redaction.

Tools covered in this guide

PDF Metadata Viewer
Read a PDF's declared info, page count, sizes, and encryption status.
PDF Metadata Editor
Rewrite a PDF's title, author, subject, keywords, and creator locally.
Watermark PDF
Stamp text or image watermarks onto chosen PDF pages, locally.

Frequently asked questions about PDF metadata

Does editing metadata change the document content?

No. Only the declared properties change; pages, text and images are left as they were, and the original file on disk is untouched.

Can I see if a PDF is encrypted before opening it?

Yes. The metadata viewer reports encryption status, which explains why another tool may refuse to process the file.

Is metadata removal the same as redaction?

No. Removing properties does not remove visible or hidden content from the pages, so treat redaction as a separate, deliberate task.