Remove hidden personal data (GPS, author, revision history) from photos, PDFs and Office files
Last reviewed 2026-09-19
Files carry more than what you see. Photos store the camera and often the GPS position, PDFs and Office files store author names, software, dates and sometimes comment and revision authors. If you publish or send the file, that information goes with it.
Messages you might see
- “Your photo contains your location”
- “Document properties show author and company”
- “Tracked changes and comments reveal names”
Why it happens
- Phones write GPS coordinates into photo EXIF data by default.
- Office and PDF tools record author, organisation, editing time and revision history.
- Comments and tracked changes keep the names of everyone who edited.
Try this first (free, no tool needed)
- Windows: right-click a photo > Properties > Details > Remove Properties and Personal Information.
- Word, Excel and PowerPoint: File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document.
- Acrobat: use the Sanitize Document tool to clear metadata and hidden content.
- On a phone, turn off location for the camera app before taking photos.
If that didn't work
These tools run in your browser. Your file is read and repaired on your own device and is never uploaded.
Metadata Scrubber
Lists what is hidden in the file (camera model, GPS position, author names, revision and comment authors, embedded thumbnails) and then writes a copy without it. It works on JPEG and PNG photos, PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and keeps photo rotation. It cannot detect personal information written in the visible content, such as a name in the text or a face in a photo.
Open Metadata ScrubberCommon questions
Does removing metadata change the picture or text?
No. Only the hidden information is removed; the visible content is unchanged.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The tool runs as a program inside your own browser, so the file is read and repaired on your device and never sent to a server.