PDF Metadata Viewer Free
View all metadata properties of any PDF file including title, author, dates, and more.
Drop your PDF here
or click to browse files
PDF Metadata Features
Quickly inspect all properties of any PDF document.
Metadata Fields
View title, author, subject, keywords, creator, and page count in one place.
See when the PDF was created and last modified.
Your PDF stays on your device. All reading is done locally.
Output
Metadata is read instantly using PDF.js without rendering pages.
Displays all standard PDF Info Dictionary fields as defined in the PDF specification.
Works in any modern browser with no software to install.
Key Takeaways
- This is a read-only viewer that opens your PDF locally in the browser with PDF.js, so the fileis processed on your device, making it safe for contracts and other private documents.
- It reads the standard Info Dictionary fields - Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Producer, creation and modified dates - plus the total page count, without rendering any pages, so even large PDFs load almost instantly.
- It only views metadata and cannot change it, since editing would require rewriting the PDF binary, which this browser-side viewer does not do.
- Blank fields are normal because PDF metadata is optional, and password-protected PDFs will not open until you remove the encryption first.
How to View PDF Metadata in Your Browser
Add Your PDF
Drag a PDF onto the upload area or click Choose PDF File to select one from your device. PDF.js reads the file in the browser when supported. For sensitive documents, confirm the active workflow before processing.
Click View Metadata
Press the View Metadata button. The tool reads the document's Info Dictionary and page count without rendering any pages, so even large PDFs load almost instantly.
Review the Properties
Inspect the Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator and Producer, creation date, last modified date, and total page count. Empty fields mean the value was never set in the source file.
Which Metadata Fields This Tool Reads
This viewer reads the standard PDF Info Dictionary fields plus the page count. The table below lists each field, where it comes from, and why it matters. All reading happens in your browser; nothing is written back to the file.
| Field | Source | What It Tells You |
|---|---|---|
| Title and Subject | Info Dictionary | The document name and topic set by the author, used by readers and search indexing. |
| Author | Info Dictionary | The person or organization credited with the document. |
| Keywords | Info Dictionary | Search terms the author attached to help locate the file. |
| Creator and Producer | Info Dictionary | The app that authored the content and the software that wrote the PDF. |
| Creation and Modified dates | Info Dictionary (D: format) | When the file was made and last changed, converted to YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS. |
| Page Count | Document structure | The total number of pages, read without rendering them. |
When This Viewer Is the Right Choice
Checking a Document's Origin
Use it to see which application created a PDF and when. The Creator and Producer fields often reveal whether a file came from Word, Acrobat, LibreOffice, or an export pipeline.
Verifying Before Sharing
Open a PDF to confirm what Title, Author, and Keywords it carries before you send it out, so you know exactly what document properties travel with the file.
Privacy-Sensitive Files
Because the PDF is read locally in your browser, this is a good fit for contracts, reports, or any document you prefer not to send to a server.
Quick Page Count and Dates
When you only need the page total or the creation and modified timestamps, this reads them in one step without opening a full PDF editor.
Common Problems and Fixes
Most fields are blank
Metadata fields are optional in the PDF format. Scanned documents and files exported by some apps leave Title, Author, and Keywords unset, so they correctly display as empty.
Password-protected PDF will not open
Encrypted PDFs cannot be read without the password. Remove the protection first, then load the file again to view its metadata.
I want to change a value
This tool views metadata only. Editing requires rewriting the PDF binary, which is not part of this browser-side viewer, so the fields are shown for reference and not saved back.
An error appears or the file will not load
Confirm the file is a valid PDF rather than a renamed image or document. Corrupted or partially downloaded files can fail to parse; try re-downloading the original PDF.
About PDF Metadata
PDF metadata (also called document properties) stores information about the PDF such as its title, author, subject, and creation date. This tool reads and displays standard metadata fields with browser-side parsing when supported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?
No. All metadata reading is done locally in your browser using PDF.js.
Your files stay on your device for browser-side workflows at any point.
For sensitive documents, confirm browser-side mode before continuing.
What metadata fields are shown?
The tool shows Title, Author, Subject, Keywords, Creator, Creation Date, Last Modified, and Page Count.
These are the standard fields defined in the PDF Info Dictionary specification.
Fields that were not set by the PDF creator will appear empty.
Why is some metadata empty?
Metadata fields are optional in the PDF format.
Many PDFs are created without filling in all metadata fields.
Scanned PDFs and PDFs from certain applications often have minimal metadata.
Can I edit the PDF metadata?
Viewing metadata is fully supported in the browser.
Editing requires modifying the PDF binary structure, which is not yet supported in the browser.
Metadata editing is planned for a future release.
What is the Creator field?
The Creator field shows the application that originally created the PDF.
Common values include Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, LibreOffice, and others.
The Producer field shows the software that converted it to PDF format.
What format are the dates shown in?
Dates are shown in YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format for clarity.
PDF dates are stored internally in a special D: prefix format.
The tool converts these to a human-readable format automatically.
Can I view metadata from password-protected PDFs?
Password-protected PDFs cannot be read without the correct password.
Remove the password protection first, then view the metadata.
Some readers may show limited metadata even for protected PDFs.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no registration.
There are Practical workflow limits on the number of PDFs you can inspect.
No modifications are made to your PDF file.
Sources and References
Format and tool details on this page are based on the official specifications and documentation below.
- Portable Document Format (PDF)- Library of Congress
- PDF- MDN Web Docs glossary