How do I remove hidden comments and attachments from my PDF?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' and select 'Redact a PDF'. Choose 'Sanitize document' and then 'Remove all'. This will strip out hidden comments, attachments, and other embedded content.

What is the difference between Redaction and Sanitize Hidden Data in Acrobat?

Feature What it does When to use. Redaction Removes visible text and images. When you need to hide sensitive information that is visible on the page. Sanitize Hidden Data Removes invisible metadata, scripts, comments, attachments, etc. When you need to ensure privacy by removing all hidden information from the document.

What kind of invisible content does Sanitize Hidden Data remove from a PDF?

Metadata (like author and creation date) Embedded content (such as images or objects) Scripts (automated commands) Comments and markups Bookmarks and attachments Form fields and AI content

◆ Acrobat · protect

Missed Embedded Identifiers

Across recent redactions, where do we fail—visible text, embedded metadata, or images with burned-in identifiers? Reco…

1ready prompt

1real task

3roles

See the prompt↓More protect workflows

When to use it

real situations

Sharing a document with clients and needing to remove old author names.
Sending a legal brief and wanting to strip out all hidden comments.
Publishing a public report and ensuring no embedded scripts remain.

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Across recent redactions, where do we fail—visible text, embedded metadata, or images with…+

Across recent redactions, where do we fail—visible text, embedded metadata, or images with burned-in identifiers? Recommend a defensible, repeatable process to create de-identified complaint files (redaction steps, metadata scrub, and verification) that a junior analyst can follow before external sharing.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF file you want to sanitize in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Go to the Tools pane and select Protect.
3
In the Protect toolbar, click Sanitize.
4
When prompted, confirm that you want to remove hidden information by clicking OK or Sanitize.
5
Save the sanitized PDF to preserve the changes.
Best practiceBlog sources recommend saving a backup copy of your original PDF before sanitizing, as this process is irreversible.

In the appWith the API

After sanitizing, review your document to ensure all sensitive hidden data has been removed as intended.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

SanitizeTo remove sensitive or private information from a document before sharing it.ExampleRemember to sanitize the document by redacting personal details before sharing it publicly.

RedactionRedaction is the permanent removal of visible sensitive information from a document.ExampleThe redaction of personal names ensures privacy for all individuals mentioned in the report.

MetadataMetadata is hidden information about a file, such as who created it or when it was changed.ExampleChecking a photo's metadata reveals the camera model and the exact date it was taken.

Who does this

3 roles

Legal AssistantCompliance OfficerRecords Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to 'All tools' and select 'Redact a PDF'.
Choose 'Sanitize document' and then 'Remove all'. This will strip out hidden comments, attachments, and other embedded content.

Feature	What it does	When to use
Redaction	Removes visible text and images.	When you need to hide sensitive information that is visible on the page.
Sanitize Hidden Data	Removes invisible metadata, scripts, comments, attachments, etc.	When you need to ensure privacy by removing all hidden information from the document.

It's important to use Sanitize Hidden Data because PDFs can contain invisible information like author names, creation dates, or even hidden text. Removing this ensures privacy and compliance, preventing others from seeing data you didn't intend to share.

Yes, even after redacting visible text, it is crucial to use Sanitize Hidden Data. Redaction only handles what you can see. Sanitize Hidden Data removes the invisible layer of information, such as metadata, embedded content, and scripts. Both steps are necessary for complete document security and privacy.

Metadata (like author and creation date)
Embedded content (such as images or objects)
Scripts (automated commands)
Comments and markups
Bookmarks and attachments
Form fields and AI content