After deleting pages, does the new PDF still carry the author name and earlier saved versions of the original?
No. The new file is created from scratch and only the remaining pages are copied into it. Document metadata such as the author and title, and any earlier versions stored inside the original, do not come across. Everything that appears on the remaining pages, including text, images and comments, is copied as it is, so review those before sending.
What usually hides inside a PDF
Behind the pages you see, a file can carry details that never show while reading. The best known is document metadata: the author, often the user name on the computer that made the file, plus the title, subject, keywords and the program used. Some programs also save an edit by appending it to the end of the file instead of rewriting it, so the previous version stays complete inside, and someone who knows how can pull it out.
Picture a quotation where you changed the price before sending: the old version with the first price may still sit inside the same file.
What the tool does
Delete PDF pages does not edit your file or cut anything out of it. It creates a new, empty PDF and copies the pages you kept into it one by one. So:
- The author, title, subject and keywords from the original are not copied. The new file carries only the basic details written for any newly created file, such as its creation date.
- Earlier versions stored inside the original do not come across, because only the pages in their current state are copied.
- The content of deleted pages is never copied, so no hidden trace of it remains.
- Bookmarks and interactive form fields do not come across either.
What does come along, and needs a look
Anything that is part of a remaining page travels with it. That includes things you might forget:
- Comments and sticky notes attached to the page, which can show the name of whoever wrote them.
- Text printed in a header or footer, such as an employee name or the file path on their computer.
- Images on the page are copied as they are. If they came from a phone they may carry their own details, and the tool does not inspect or clean them.
- Text hidden under a black box you drew to cover it: the box only covers it visually, and the text underneath may still be copyable.
A 4-page quotation where page 4 is internal notes. You delete it and the summary reads: Pages to delete: 4 (1 of 4). Pages that will remain: 3.
The result is 3 pages without the original author name or the old versions, but a sticky note on page 2 stays with that page.
Checks before you send
- Open the new file and look at the document properties in your reader; the author and title should be empty.
- Open the comments panel and make sure it is empty or that what is there is fine to share.
- If you will pull images out of the file to publish, check their details with the Image metadata inspector and remover tool first.
Common questions
Can I use deletion to strip metadata even without removing a page?
No. The tool needs at least one page selected and is not a cleaning tool. It only helps here as a side effect when you are really deleting pages.
Does the original still hold the details?
Yes. The original is unchanged, so do not send it if you want those details kept private.