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Sanitize PDF

Remove scripts, links, attached files and hidden metadata before sharing.

Runs on your device

Other sites: 0Check it yourself
  1. 1Add files
  2. 2Set up
  3. 3Download

Tip: You can also drop files anywhere on this page, or paste them.

or drop them here

Accepts PDF

How to use Sanitize PDF

  1. 01Add one or more PDFs to clean.
  2. 02Keep the default choices to remove scripts, attached files, links and metadata, or turn some off. Flatten form fields too if the form doesn't need to stay fillable.
  3. 03Press Sanitize PDF. The result says what was removed.

About Sanitize PDF

Sanitize PDF removes everything in a file that can run code, call out to the internet or carry information you can't see on the page. That covers JavaScript and other actions that run when the file opens, a page shows or a field changes; links to websites and other files; attached files; and metadata such as author names, editing software, XMP, thumbnails and editors' private data. The pages, their text and images stay as they are, and the file is rewritten so removed parts can't linger as unused objects.

Why your files stay private

Files that need sanitizing are often ones you don't fully trust, or are about to make public. The cleanup runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and its scripts never run while it is processed.

Sanitize PDF: common questions

Can a PDF really contain harmful code?
PDFs can hold JavaScript and actions that launch other programs, send data or open web addresses. Most readers limit them, but removing them is the safest way to pass a file on, especially one that came from someone else.
Will the document look different?
No. Sanitizing removes things that aren't part of the page drawing. Links stop being clickable, and forms keep working unless you choose to flatten them.
Is this the same as redaction?
No. Sanitize removes hidden extras, not what you can see. To remove words or areas shown on the page, use Redact PDF.
What counts as hidden data?
Document properties (author, title, software, dates), the XMP metadata packet, metadata on single pages, page thumbnails, and private data that editors such as Illustrator store inside the file.
Does it work on signed or protected files?
A file with an open password must be unlocked first. A digital signature stops verifying after sanitizing, as after any change, so sanitize before you sign.

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