Edit PDF Metadata Online — title, author, keywords, dates, and custom fields
See exactly what's already stored in a PDF's properties, correct it, or clear it before sharing — the page content itself is never touched.
The metadata console
Upload a PDF to see its current properties, then edit any field you need.
Drop your PDF here
or browse files
Document preview
Standard fields
Custom metadata
Your file is ready
Total pages:
New file size:
Next steps for this file
Common follow-ups once the properties are set correctly.
Metadata is the paperwork attached to the file, not the page
Open a PDF's properties dialog and you're not looking at the document — you're looking at a separate record that travels alongside it, describing who made it and when.
Properties, not content
Software that exports to PDF fills in an Info dictionary automatically — often with a generic title like "Untitled" or the exporting software's own name as Author. None of that is wrong exactly, it's just usually not what you'd actually want a recipient, a search engine, or a document management system to see.
This tool reads that dictionary with pdf-lib the moment you upload a file, fills every field with what's currently there, and lets you change any of it — including adding arbitrary key-value pairs that aren't part of the standard set at all. Nothing in the visible pages is touched; only the properties record changes.
Everything you can see and edit
Standard fields
Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, and both date fields — common PDF properties supported by many PDF readers.
Custom fields
Any key-value pair — Project ID, Client Name, Document Status — that isn't part of the standard set at all.
Date fields
Visual pickers for Creation and Modification dates — no manual date-string formatting to get wrong.
Existing values, shown first
Every field is pre-filled with whatever's already in the file, so you can see it before deciding to change anything.
Clearing a field
Delete a field's contents and leave it blank to remove identifying information before sharing a document publicly.
Four fields worth checking before you share a file
Title and Author are useful starting points when you want a PDF's properties to clearly identify the document.
Upload your PDF
Drag it onto the upload area, or click Select PDF. Supported metadata fields fill in automatically.
Edit what needs changing
Adjust the fields directly:
Update
Click Update Metadata to write a new PDF with the changed properties in place.
Download
Rename the output file if you like, then download the version with updated properties.
Same document, properties that actually describe it
The page content is identical — only the record attached to the file changes.
Illustrative example — your result depends on the values you enter.
Documents where the properties panel matters as much as the content
Cases where what's in the Info dictionary affects search, organization, or how a file presents itself.
| Situation | What gets updated | Typical user |
|---|---|---|
| Published reports | A real title and author so a PDF's document properties look intentional. | Marketers & publishers |
| Document management systems | Custom fields like Project ID or Department for internal search and filing. | Office admins & IT teams |
| Public-facing downloads | Cleared Author and Producer fields to avoid revealing internal software or names. | Legal & compliance teams |
| Academic submissions | Title, Author, and Subject that match a paper's actual citation details. | Researchers & students |
| Client deliverables | Company name as Author and a client-facing Title before sending final files. | Freelancers & agencies |
| Version tracking | A custom Version-Number or Document-Status field for internal review cycles. | Teams with approval workflows |
| SEO-relevant PDFs | Descriptive Title and accurate metadata that help identify and organize the document. | Content & SEO teams |
| Archival collections | Accurate Creation and Modification dates for clearer document history and organization. | Archivists & librarians |
What each metadata field is actually for
Every field means something specific, even if PDF readers rarely bother to show all of them.
Title, Author, Subject
The three fields most PDF readers show in their window title or properties panel. Title is often shown instead of the filename — worth setting deliberately rather than leaving as the export tool's default.
Keywords
A comma-separated list some search tools and document management systems index directly — useful for internal search even when it doesn't affect public web search rankings.
Creator and Producer
Creator names the original application that made the content (like a word processor); Producer names whatever converted it to PDF. Clearing both removes a small trail of what software touched the file.
Creation and Modification dates
Creation and Modification timestamps are stored in the PDF's metadata rather than your operating system's file dates, so they can travel with the document when it is copied or shared.
When the properties don't update the way you expect
Identify the problem, then use the matching fix.
Some fields loaded blank
The original PDF simply never had a value set for that property.
Expected — type in whatever value you want it to have going forward.
A custom field didn't appear after upload
Only non-standard Info dictionary entries show as custom fields — anything matching Title, Author, and the other standard names appears in the fields above instead.
Check the standard fields section first — it may already be there under its proper name.
Keywords look joined together
The field expects comma-separated values, and one long word without commas is treated as a single keyword.
Separate each keyword with a comma — "invoice, march, client-a" becomes three distinct keywords.
The date field shows the wrong time
The picker displays the date in your local timezone, converted from the stored value.
Expected behavior — set the date and time you actually want; it saves correctly regardless of timezone.
A PDF viewer still shows the old title
Some readers or browser tabs cache the previous file's properties.
Close and reopen the downloaded file, or open it in a different viewer.
A password-protected PDF won't load
Encrypted files can't be read by the in-browser rendering engine.
Remove the password with a PDF unlock tool first, then upload the unlocked copy.
Some fields loaded blank
Why: No value was ever set.
Fix: Type in the value you want.
Custom field missing
Why: It matched a standard field name.
Fix: Check the standard fields section.
Keywords look joined together
Why: No commas separating them.
Fix: Add commas between keywords.
Date field shows the wrong time
Why: Displayed in your local timezone.
Fix: Expected — set the value you want.
Viewer shows the old title
Why: The reader cached the previous file.
Fix: Close and reopen, or try another viewer.
Password-protected PDF won't load
Why: Some password-protected or encrypted PDFs cannot be opened by browser PDF libraries.
Fix: Unlock it first, then upload.
Setting metadata once, correctly
A working order that avoids the most common redo.
Always write a real title
Leaving Title blank or as "Untitled" is the single most common metadata mistake — it's the first thing most readers show.
Review Creator and Producer before sharing
These fields can identify the software used to create or convert a PDF. Clear them when that information is not needed in the shared file.
Use custom fields for tracking, not the standard ones
Repurposing Subject to store a Project ID gets confusing fast — a genuine custom field keeps the standard properties clean.
Keep keyword lists short and specific
Three to eight relevant keywords are more useful for internal search than a long list of generic terms.
Double-check dates before saving
A wrong Creation date can throw off archival sorting — confirm both date fields before clicking Update Metadata.
Keep the original file
The download is a new file — hold onto the source in case you want to try different metadata values later.
PDF metadata questions
If something's not covered here, the troubleshooting section above likely has it.
Is it safe to upload my PDF to edit its metadata?
Yes. The PDF is processed in your browser and is not uploaded to AllInOneTools' server.
Will editing the metadata change the visual content of my PDF?
No. Editing metadata only changes the document's properties, like Author or Title — it doesn't alter the visible text, images, or layout of any page.
Can I see the existing metadata before I make changes?
Yes. When you upload a PDF, the tool reads its existing metadata and fills in the fields automatically, so you can see what's already there before editing anything.
What are custom metadata fields used for?
Custom fields let you attach information the standard properties don't cover — a Project ID, Client Name, Document Status, or Version Number for internal tracking.
What happens to my file after I'm done?
Nothing — it was never uploaded. The PDF with updated metadata is generated in your browser and downloaded as a new file; the original stays untouched.
The write-up on how this was built
Because reading, editing, and rewriting the Info dictionary all run client-side, I wrote up the implementation — how pdf-lib exposes standard fields, and how custom key-value entries get read and written back safely.
Published on freeCodeCamp
How to Build a Browser-Based PDF Metadata Editor Using JavaScript
Covers reading and editing PDF metadata with JavaScript, including title, author, subject, keywords, creator information, and client-side processing that keeps files private.
Written by Bhavin Sheth · Founder, AllInOneTools