Osenpa
Clean Metadata guide

Remove author names and document metadata on Windows

Check author and other hidden properties in Word, PDF, PowerPoint and Excel files. Create a separate copy with Clean Metadata.

By Osenpa · Updated
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Short answer

A document can carry an author name or other properties that do not appear on its pages. Right-click a supported file in File Explorer and choose Clean Metadata, then Create clean copy. Read the file's result and check the saved copy's document properties. Names in the text, comments and tracked changes need a separate review.

This guide covers Clean Metadata. Check requirements and download options before you begin.

Before you start

  • Clean Metadata on Windows 11 24H2 or later, x64, with an active license.
  • A backed-up sample on a local NTFS drive.
  • A supported document family: PDF, DOCX, PPTX/PPSX, XLSX or ODT/ODS/ODP. Not every feature within those formats is supported.

Start here

  1. Save and close the file

    Finish your edits and close the document. Start with a sample DOCX, PDF, PPTX or another supported type, and keep a backup of important files.

  2. Create a separate copy

    In File Explorer, right-click the document, choose Clean Metadata, then Create clean copy. Wait for the result before moving or editing the source.

  3. Read the result

    Check the filename, status, Removed metadata fields count and output path. Read any notes about information kept so the document still works. The count tells you how many fields were removed; it does not list their names.

    Clean Metadata showing Finished, one cleaned document, zero errors and 53 metadata fields removed.
    A real clean-copy result for a sample document. The original stayed in place and the document text was unchanged.

  4. Open the reported output

    Open the saved copy in your usual reader or editor. Check its document properties for the author name or other value you wanted removed. Also check the pages, slides or sheets you need, including images, links, formulas and fields.

  5. Check the content before sharing

    Review names on pages, comments, tracked changes and embedded material separately. These are not all removed by metadata cleaning. Send the checked copy, with any retained information understood.

Check your result

  • The copy opens with the expected text, layout and working features.
  • The author or other property you wanted removed was checked in the saved copy's document properties.
  • Comments, tracked changes and visible personal information received a separate review.
Why a property can remain

A document can display a property as part of its text. For example, a field may look up a stored value. Removing that value could change the page, so Clean Metadata can keep it and explain why.

Some embedded images or drawings may also remain unchanged when their metadata cannot be checked safely. Read the notes for the file before sharing it.

If the document is skipped

Read the specific explanation. Some document structures, printer settings, embedded objects or encodings cannot be processed safely. Export a new copy in the original application only when that is an appropriate recovery step, then review it before retrying.

Clean Metadata is for supported metadata cleaning. For PDF editing and the separate PDF Tools metadata workflow, use the related PDF guide below. Neither workflow is a substitute for verified redaction.

The app used in this guide

Clean Metadata

View app details

Related guides

Sources and further reading