PDF Metadata Editor

How to use the PDF Metadata Editor

1. Drop a PDF onto the dashed box (or tap it to browse your files). It never leaves your device.
2. Edit the fields — title, author, subject, keywords — pre-filled with whatever the file already has.
3. Save & download to get a new copy with your metadata. The original file is untouched.

What PDF metadata actually is

Every PDF carries a small dictionary of facts about itself: title, author, subject, keywords, plus the program that made it and the dates it was created and modified. You never see this dictionary when you read the document — but search engines, library systems, e-readers, and your operating system's file manager all read it. That's why a thesis can show up in Google Scholar as "Untitled" while its filename is perfectly sensible: the metadata was never set.

The four fields worth setting

Title is the big one — it's what appears in search results, browser tabs, and e-reader libraries. Author attributes the work. Subject is a one-line summary for catalogs. Keywords are comma-separated search terms for desktop search and repositories. Producer and creator (which program made the PDF) are left alone — editing them is how documents get misattributed, so no reputable editor touches them.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

No — never. Your PDF is read and rewritten entirely in your browser by the pdf-lib library. Nothing is uploaded, stored, or sent to any server, so it's safe for sensitive documents.

Which metadata fields can I edit?

Title, author, subject, and keywords — the four fields that search engines, library catalogs, and e-readers actually display. Producer, creator, and creation/modification dates are shown for reference but can't be changed, which is standard for metadata editors.

Does editing metadata change my PDF's content?

No. The pages, images, and text are copied byte-for-byte into the new file — only the metadata dictionary is rewritten. Your document looks and prints exactly the same; only its catalog information changes.

Why does my PDF show the wrong title in search results?

Most PDFs keep whatever title the creating program stamped in — often the original filename or a template default like 'Microsoft Word Document'. Search engines and file managers display that embedded title instead of the filename. Setting a proper title here fixes it.

What should I put in the keywords field?

Comma-separated terms someone would search for: 'photosynthesis, biology, chapter 4'. Keep them specific and few — five to ten good keywords beat fifty vague ones. They help desktop search, document managers, and some academic repositories index your file.

Why can't I open my PDF here?

Password-protected or encrypted PDFs can't be rewritten in the browser, and corrupted files fail to load — you'll get a clear error either way. Remove the password in your PDF reader first, then edit the metadata here.