Change the title of a PDF
The title inside the document, not the name of the file on disk.
Renaming the file does not change what a reader displays at the top of the window, because that comes from the title stored inside the PDF. Documents exported from Word usually inherit the first heading, or the name of the template, or the file path of whoever built it. This reads the real title, lets you set it to something sensible, and writes it back without touching a single page.
How to change the title of a PDF
- 1
Open the PDF
Drop it in. The title it currently carries is read out of the document and shown to you.
- 2
Type the title you want
Write it as you would want it to appear in a reader window or a search result.
- 3
Save
Download the PDF. The pages are untouched; only the properties changed.
Why the title matters more than you would think
It is what shows in a browser tab, in a search result, in a reader window, and in the list when someone attaches the file to an email. A document called "Template final v3" says something about you before anyone reads a word.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the old title keep showing?+
Two reasons. Some readers prefer the file name unless the document asks them not to, which is what the display title option here sets. And a PDF carries its properties twice, in the document information and in the XMP block; change only one and viewers disagree. This writes both.
Does this rename the file?+
No. The file name is up to you and your file manager. This changes the title stored inside the document, which is what readers, browsers and search engines display.
Will the pages change?+
No. The page content is copied through untouched. Only the metadata is rewritten.
Is my document uploaded?+
No. It is opened and rewritten in your browser, which matters because the documents with embarrassing titles are usually the confidential ones.