PDF tool for Mac

Remove the hidden data before it leaves.

PDFs quietly carry the author’s name, the software used, comments, old versions and attached files. Clean them before they go outside.

Download for Mac

Free 7-day trial · then one purchase, no subscription · macOS 14+

In short: To remove metadata from a PDF on a Mac, drag it, pause and choose Remove hidden data in Sheaf. It shows what’s there (author, edit history, comments, attachments, scripts, hidden layers), removes it, and saves a clean copy that looks the same.Updated 13 November 2026

Sheaf's action circle open around a dragged PDF
Hidden data removedAuthor, 14 comments, 1 attachment
Stays on your MacNo upload, works offline
No accountNothing to sign up for
Originals untouchedEvery result is a new file
One-time purchaseNo subscription
How it works

Remove metadata in three moves.

No app to open, no window to find. It happens where the file already is.

  1. Drag

    Start dragging the file from Finder, Mail, Photos or your desktop.

  2. Pause

    Hold still for a moment. Sheaf’s actions open in a circle around your cursor.

  3. Choose More › Remove hidden data

    See what’s inside, then save a clean copy.

Your options on a Mac

Three ways to do it, honestly compared.

Preview (built in)

Tools › Show Inspector shows some info.

  • Free
  • Shows basic info only
  • Can’t remove history or attachments

Online PDF sites

Upload the file to a website, wait, download the result.

  • Your document goes to someone else’s server
  • Free plans limit files, size or tasks per day
  • Needs an internet connection

SheafFastest

Drag the file, pause, let go.

  • Author, dates, edit history
  • Comments, attachments, scripts, layers
  • Pages look exactly the same

What hides in a PDF

  • Document info: author, title, the app that made it, created and edited dates.
  • Comments and markup that were hidden but never deleted.
  • Attachments: files embedded inside the PDF.
  • Scripts and hidden layers.

Pair it with redaction

Removing metadata cleans what you can’t see; redaction removes what you can. Do both before sending sensitive files outside.

Questions

How do I see a PDF’s metadata on a Mac?

In Preview, Tools › Show Inspector shows basic document info. Sheaf’s Remove hidden data lists everything it will remove.

Does removing metadata change the pages?

No. Pages look the same; only hidden information is removed.

Should I remove metadata from my résumé?

It’s a good idea: it removes the author field and edit history before you send it.

Keep going

Related tools and guides

Redact PDF

Removes the text, not just covers it.

Password-protect PDF

Lock a PDF before you send it.

Word to PDF

Word, RTF, text and web pages to PDF.

For law firms

Bates, redaction, court-ready PDFs.

For job seekers

Résumés, applications, offer letters.

Watermark PDF

Draft, Confidential or your own words.

Your next PDF takes one second.

Drag it, pause, let go. Free for 7 days, then yours with one purchase. Family Sharing included.

Download for Mac

Mac App Store · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon and Intel