Change the author of a PDF
The name stored inside the file, which is usually whoever first opened the template.
The author field is filled in by whatever program made the PDF, which means it usually holds the name of the person whose copy of Word was used, or a machine login like admin or dell-pc. That name travels with the document to clients, tender committees and job applications. This shows you what is actually in there and lets you set it, or clear it entirely.
How to change the author of a PDF
- 1
Open the PDF
The author it carries is read out and shown. This is frequently the surprising part.
- 2
Set or clear the name
Type the name or organisation it should say, or empty the field to remove it.
- 3
Save it
Download the document with the new author. The pages are not touched.
Why the author field leaks
Nobody looks at it, which is exactly why it is worth checking. A tender submitted under a competitor name, or a CV authored by your current employer, is a small detail that gets noticed by precisely the wrong reader.
Stripping everything instead
To remove all the properties rather than correcting one, use the dedicated tool.
Frequently asked questions
Where did that name come from?+
From the account name in the program that exported the PDF. If the document began as a colleague template, it is often their name, even years later.
Can I remove the author completely?+
Yes. Clear the field and it is removed from both the document information and the XMP metadata, rather than being blanked in one and left in the other.
Should I clear everything instead?+
If you want a clean document rather than a corrected one, the remove metadata tool strips the lot in one pass, which is the better choice before publishing.
Is the file uploaded?+
No. It is all done in your browser.