Sanitize a PDF

Sanitize a PDF by removing hidden and potentially unsafe content: embedded JavaScript, attached files, tracking metadata, and external links. This is useful before sharing a document publicly or accepting one from an unknown source. Your file is processed securely and deleted right after.

How to sanitize pdf

1. 1Upload the PDF you want to clean.
2. 2Choose what to remove (JavaScript, embedded files, metadata, links).
3. 3We strip the selected content.
4. 4Download the sanitized PDF.

When to use this tool

• You received a PDF from an unfamiliar source and want to check it's safe before opening it fully.
• You're publishing a document and want to remove author names, edit history, or tracking metadata first.
• A PDF has an embedded file or script you don't need and want stripped out.
• You're preparing a document for public release and need to remove hidden links or attachments.
• You're forwarding a document that was passed through several people and might carry tracked changes or comments.
• You downloaded a form template from an unfamiliar site and want to check it before filling it in.

Tips for a better result

• Sanitize before sharing a document externally, especially one that's been edited by several people.
• Check which options you actually need; removing metadata is common, embedded files less so.
• Sanitizing won't change what's visible on the page, so don't expect a visual difference.
• Combine with Redact PDF first if the document also has sensitive visible text to black out.
• Sanitize before you redact or fill in a document, so you're working from the cleanest possible starting file.

Privacy: what happens to your file

This tool uploads your file to our server, which forwards it to a self-hosted PDF engine to strip the hidden content you selected, then streams the result straight back to your download. Our own server doesn't write a copy to disk or share your file with anyone else.

Sanitize PDF is one of 34 free organize-category tools on fillable.ca. It pairs well with redact pdf, flatten pdf and protect pdf for a complete document workflow — see the full tools listfor everything else that’s free to use.