Sanitize PDF

Deeply sanitize PDF files by stripping JavaScript, launch actions, tracking streams, attachments, and sensitive metadata.

🔒 Verified Client-Side Privacy Guarantee Zero Server Uploads Zero Persistence

Hidden XML metadata, author names, creation software history, embedded thumbnails, and invisible annotation objects are deleted directly in local browser memory.

Execution Engine: Client-Side Metadata & Object Sanitization Engine (pdf-lib)
Memory Sandbox: In-memory XML metadata stream stripping and hidden object removal

The FileTools PDF Sanitizer performs deep structural surgery on PDF documents right inside your browser. It scans and strips active content such as embedded JavaScript, automated launch actions, additional action (AA) triggers, tracking streams, embedded files, and sensitive document metadata—ensuring safe, private document distribution.

Key Challenges Solved

  • ✓ Fear of malware or active scripts in untrusted pdfs.
  • ✓ Need to clean sensitive metadata and attachments before sharing.
  • ✓ Cannot upload confidential documents to external servers.

Who Is Sanitize PDF Built For?

1

Cybersecurity professionals and compliance officers

2

Legal and corporate teams sharing sensitive disclosures

3

Privacy-conscious users defanging inbound attachments

Key Features & Benefits

Active Content Removal

Neutralizes executable JavaScript, OpenAction triggers, and interactive event hooks.

Embedded Attachment Cleansing

Strips embedded file payloads (/EmbeddedFiles, /AF) that can deliver malicious payloads.

Deep Metadata Scrubbing

Purges author names, software signatures, creation dates, and unindexed XMP metadata streams.

Granular Sanitization Controls

Choose exactly which elements to remove while preserving form fields and annotations when desired.

How to Use Sanitize PDF

  1. Select or drag and drop your PDF file into the PDF Sanitizer.
  2. Review detected active elements, metadata dictionaries, and attachments.
  3. Select your desired sanitization options and click "Sanitize PDF".
  4. Download your cleansed, safe PDF along with an itemized security report.

Common Use Cases

Red-Team / Security Compliance

Cleanse outbound documents submitted to courts, government portals, or public repositories.

Malicious Attachment Neutralization

Defang suspicious PDF files by neutralizing launch actions and embedded script routines.

Whistleblower & Privacy Protection

Eradicate device identifiers, author usernames, and revision histories before public disclosure.

Continue Your Workflow

Recommended logical next steps after using Sanitize PDF:

PDF Metadata Inspector

Inspect document properties, creation dates, embedded JavaScript actions, attachments, and catalog structure directly in your browser.

Open tool →

PDF to PDF/A

Prepare and convert PDF documents for long-term archiving with ISO 19005-2 PDF/A-2b compliance metadata and color profiles.

Open tool →

Protect PDF

Encrypt your PDF files with 128-bit password protection and document permission controls.

Open tool →

You May Need This Before

Common preparation and prerequisite steps before Sanitize PDF:

Flatten PDF

Flatten interactive PDF form fields into permanent page content to lock form values and ensure universal reader compatibility.

← Prerequisite tool

PDF Repair

Diagnose and recover damaged, corrupted, truncated, or unreadable PDF documents directly in your browser.

← Prerequisite tool

PDF Metadata Inspector

Inspect document properties, creation dates, embedded JavaScript actions, attachments, and catalog structure directly in your browser.

← Prerequisite tool
Multi-Step Workflows

Recommended Workflows Featuring Sanitize PDF

Connected step-by-step processing routines for complete document tasks:

Redact & Sanitize Public Legal Filings

Permanently destroy confidential account numbers, purge hidden XMP metadata dictionaries, and sanitize embedded scripts.

1. Redact Text→2. Strip Metadata→3. Sanitize Document

Important Operational Notes & Realistic Limitations

  • Visual text content containing printed phone numbers or visible names cannot be removed automatically; use a redaction tool for visual redactions.
  • Encrypted password-protected PDFs must be decrypted before dictionary sanitization.
Recommended Guide

Online PDF Tools Without Uploading Files: Private In-Browser Guide

Discover how client-side WebAssembly and PDF.js process sensitive documents directly in your browser with zero server uploads and total privacy.

Read Guide (8 min read) →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PDF sanitization?

PDF sanitization is the process of inspecting and removing active code, scripts, automated actions, embedded payloads, and hidden metadata that could pose security or privacy risks.

Does sanitizing a PDF affect visible text or layout?

No. Visual layout, page fonts, and graphics are preserved intact. Only active code, embedded files, and metadata are pruned.

Can this tool remove PDF malware or exploits?

Yes. Most PDF exploits rely on JavaScript execution, OpenAction auto-execution, or malformed embedded streams. Stripping these dictionaries neutralizes common PDF attack vectors.

How is this different from Remove PDF Metadata?

Remove Metadata only strips author and date fields. The PDF Sanitizer performs deep structural surgery: stripping JavaScript, launch actions, URI actions, embedded attachments, and tracking streams.

Are my confidential documents private?

Yes. Processing is 100% client-side via WebAssembly and JavaScript. Zero bytes are uploaded to any server.