To change the title and author of a PDF, open it in a metadata editor, type the new values into the Title and Author fields, and save a new copy. If you searched for how to “change PDF title author metadata”, the free PDFNova Edit Metadata tool does exactly that in your browser, along with the subject and keywords fields.
It sounds like a small thing, but these hidden details often show up when someone opens your file. Below you will learn what PDF metadata is, where it comes from, how to edit it step by step, and which mistakes to avoid.
What PDF title and author metadata actually are
Every PDF can carry a few lines of information about itself, separate from the text on its pages. This is called metadata, or document properties. The most common fields are:
- Title: the name of the document. Many PDF viewers and browsers show it in the window or tab title instead of the file name.
- Author: the person or organisation that created it.
- Subject: a short description of what the document is about.
- Keywords: words that describe the content, useful for searching and organising files.
The file name and the title are two different things. You can rename a file to “CV-Sara-Khan.pdf” and it may still open with a title like “Document1” or “Microsoft Word – final draft v3”. That is the problem most people want to fix.
Where wrong titles and authors come from
Word processors, scanner apps and converters usually fill in metadata automatically. The author might be the name on the computer you used, an old colleague whose laptop you borrowed, or a company template. The title is often the original file name, including words like “copy”, “draft” or “old”. When you send a CV, a proposal or a client report, these leftovers can look careless.
How to change PDF title and author metadata, step by step
PDFNova processes files in your browser, so your documents are not uploaded to a server. It is free, needs no sign-up and adds no watermark.
- Open the tool. Go to Edit Metadata on your phone or computer.
- Select your PDF. If it is password protected, enter the password when asked.
- Review the current values. The tool shows the existing title, author, subject and keywords, so you can see what the file currently says about itself.
- Edit the fields. Type a clear title and the correct author. Fill in subject and keywords if they are useful, or clear them if they contain old or private details.
- Save and download. Download the updated PDF to your device.
- Check the result. Open the new file and look at its document properties in your PDF viewer to confirm the changes.
Good and bad metadata examples
Here is how small changes make a file look more professional.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Microsoft Word – CV_final_FINAL2 | Sara Khan – CV – Accountant |
| Author | Office-PC-03 | Sara Khan |
| Subject | (empty) | Application for Accounts Officer role |
| Keywords | old template, test | accounting, CV, finance |
Keep titles short and descriptive. Write the author as you want it to appear publicly, which is usually your full name or your business name.
When editing the title and author matters most
- Job applications: a clean title and your own name as author show care.
- Client work: freelancers should make sure their own name or business appears, not a previous client or template.
- Published documents: reports, guides and brochures shared online may be listed by their title in search results and file browsers.
- Accessibility: a meaningful title helps people using screen readers know which document they have opened. Our guide to PDF accessibility basics explains more ways to make documents easier to read and search.
- Shared office files: when several people edit a document, the author field often shows whoever saved it last.
Common mistakes to avoid
Thinking metadata is the only hidden information
Title, author, subject and keywords are the fields you can edit here. Some files carry other details from the software that made them. If you are worried about privacy, read how to remove personal metadata from a PDF before sharing, which covers the wider picture.
Confusing metadata with visible text
Changing the author field does not change a name printed on the page. To change visible text, use the PDF Editor to cover and retype a line or add new text. If you need to show when a document was prepared, see how to add a date to a PDF document.
Editing after protecting
Do your metadata changes first, then add a password with Protect PDF if the file needs one. That way you do not have to unlock and re-protect it.
Using metadata to mislead
Set the author to the person or organisation that really created the document. Changing authorship to pass off someone else’s work as your own is not acceptable, and many institutions treat it seriously.
Frequently asked questions
Does renaming a PDF file change its title?
No. The file name and the title stored inside the PDF are separate. Renaming the file leaves the internal title as it was, so you need a metadata editor to change it.
Can I change the author of a PDF on my phone?
Yes. The Edit Metadata tool works in modern mobile browsers. Open your PDF, change the author field and download the updated copy to your phone.
Will editing metadata change the layout or quality of my PDF?
Editing these fields changes the document information, not the pages. Your text, images and layout stay the same.
Why does my PDF still show the old title after editing?
Make sure you opened the newly downloaded copy, not the original. Some apps also remember recent files, so close and reopen the viewer if the old title still appears.
Fix your PDF properties in a minute
A clear title and the right author make your documents look finished and easier to find later. Open the free PDFNova Edit Metadata tool, update the fields, and download a clean copy ready to share.