Skip to main content
Y
Youssef_Arafat
Participant
October 17, 2017
Answered

I cannot change the author, title, and other properties of a PDF file

  • October 17, 2017
  • 7 replies
  • 141213 views

Hi guys,

I cannot change the properties of a PDF file, like author, title, subject, and keywords as all these fields are grayed out. Some of the PDF files I have are filled with information, and some are not. For both cases I am unable to change them.

I have considered the possibility that these files are protected by their creators, but the files have no passwords, and I have even tried to create my own PDF using Microsoft Office Word Document and then saved it as a PDF, and even then, though I'm the creator of the file it shows the author with a name I have never seen before and I still cannot change that.

I am using Windows 7, and am using Adobe Reader 9.4.

I have attached a screenshot of the grayed out part where I get to it by:

01. Opening a PDF file.

02. On the tabs above, select File.

03. Select Properties.

I even considered the security tab, but all of the files are showing with no security in the security method!

Here is how I got to the security tab:

01. Opening the PDF file.

02. On the tabs above, select File.

03. Select Properties.

04. On the tabs above, select security.

Thank you for help!

    Correct answer try67

    Note this doesn't change the file, though, just the way files are displayed in the application.

    7 replies

    A
    aino_4323
    Participant
    November 1, 2025

    I had the same problem on Windows 10. I managed to change the title by opening the pdf file in Notepad++ and editing the title row to my preferred title.

    D
    daemon.i
    Participant
    January 7, 2025

    Hi, I've found a bit of a workaround to get the desired title for the free reader. Go to Edit > Preferences > Documents, then select "Always use filename as document title". You might have to close the document and reopen it, but it should match once you've reloaded it.

      G
      Green Trees
      Participant
      February 6, 2025

      THANK YOU!

      B
      Blissful_photo7865
      Participant
      January 6, 2025

      If you only have the free version of Adobe (Reader):

       

      Navigate to where the file is located on your computer.

      Right click the file

      Select Properties

      Click the Details tab

      At the bottom select Remove Properties and Personal Information

      Choose if you want it to create new copy of the file with this removed or do it to the current file (I tested it with a copy first)

       

      Hope this helps someone!

      Bernd Alheit
      Community Expert
      Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 8, 2025

      This doesn't change the properties in the PDF file.

      T
      Tim34245168ggu6
      Participant
      December 13, 2023

      There is not a "File" option in the top menu.  I have Adobe Pro

      Choose Menu > Document Properties 

        Bernd Alheit
        Community Expert
        Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 13, 2023

        Use the hamburger menu.

        Yazeid Hammash
        Yazeid Hammash
        Participant
        March 20, 2021

        Go the original word file - View - Properties - then change the title and remove/add an author (on the right side) - then save as PDF.

        cheers'

        Yazeid Hammash

          M
          Mandy25937917439s
          Participant
          September 2, 2022

          Even when I go into the word document, and remove the name and title in the properties tab, and recreate the new word document, and then change it back to a PDF - the name and title I removed re-appear.   

          C
          Celia26330456v28c
          Participant
          September 28, 2022

          Go to the original word document, right click -> Properties -> Details tab -> click "Remove Properties and Personal Information" at the bottom -> choose remove title & subject in Remove Properties, save the word and then save as PDF. You are good to go now.

           

            D
            DaveDW
            Participant
            March 14, 2020

            I had the same problem. I edited the Title and Author in the word file and saved afterwards as PDF. The PDF file had the same Title and Author. So maybe try to convert the PDF file to a Word file. 

              Bernd Alheit
              Community Expert
              Bernd AlheitCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              March 14, 2020

              Acrobat Reader can't convert PDF to Word.

              try67
              Community Expert
              try67Community Expert
              Community Expert
              October 17, 2017

              This is not possible with the free Reader. You'll need to get Acrobat to be able to do it.

              Y
              Youssef_ArafatAuthor
              Participant
              October 17, 2017

              Thank you for your reply.

              I have looked up the packages in Acrobat website and it did not show anywhere where you can edit file properties.

              The packages were Acrobat Pro DC (14.99$ per month) and Acrobat Standard DC (12.99$ per month.) These were the only available packages in the website at the moment.

              Website: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pricing.html

              Can you please provide a citation that states only premium user is allowed to take actions in properties?

              try67
              Community Expert
              try67Community Expert
              Community Expert
              October 17, 2017

              Either one of these versions can do it.

              Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
              Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices