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

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'All tools' > 'Redact a PDF'. Select 'Sanitize document'. Click 'Remove all' to strip hidden content like comments, bookmarks, attachments, and form fields.

What is the difference between Redaction and Sanitize Document in Adobe Acrobat?

Feature What it does What it removes. Redaction Hides visible text and images permanently. Visible text, graphics, and images. Sanitize Document Removes all invisible data layers. Metadata, embedded content, scripts, comments, bookmarks, attachments, form fields, AI content.

Why is it important to sanitize a PDF document before sharing it publicly?

It is important to sanitize a PDF to prevent accidental leaks of private information. Documents often contain hidden data like author names, creation dates, or even deleted text that is still embedded. Sanitizing ensures this invisible data is removed, protecting your privacy and compliance.

If I only use the Redact tool, can my PDF still leak sensitive information?

Yes, if you only use the Redact tool, your PDF can still leak sensitive information. Redaction only handles visible text and images. It does not remove hidden layers like metadata, comments, or scripts. You must use the Sanitize Document feature in addition to redaction for full security.

What kind of invisible data does Sanitize Document remove from a PDF?

Metadata (like author and creation date) Embedded content (like hidden images or objects) Scripts and actions Comments and markups Bookmarks and attachments Form fields AI content tags

Set up automated PDF sanitization via scripting or API in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Show me code to clean up a PDF using the API for...…+

Show me example code to automatically sanitize a PDF using the Adobe PDF Services API for [language] and [PDF type].

when the reply comes backWant to see how to handle errors in your automation?

BImprove — “do it better”Review my PDF sanitization code and suggest improvements for...…+

Review my PDF sanitization script and suggest improvements for better privacy and reliability: [paste code].

when the reply comes backNeed help setting up authentication for the API?

CDecide — “help me choose”Help me choose the best Adobe API endpoint for...…+

Help me choose the best Adobe PDF Services API endpoint for sanitizing PDFs in [my use case].

when the reply comes backCurious about batch processing many PDFs at once?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Install Adobe Acrobat Pro and ensure you have access to the Action Wizard tool.
CautionAction Wizard is only available in Acrobat Pro, not in Acrobat Reader.
2
Open Acrobat Pro and navigate to the Action Wizard workspace.
3
Create a new action and add the 'Remove Hidden Information' step to the action sequence.
Best practiceYou can customize which types of hidden data are removed by configuring the 'Remove Hidden Information' options.
4
Save the action with a descriptive name, such as 'Automated PDF Sanitization'.
5
Use the Action Wizard interface to batch process a folder of PDFs, or invoke the action programmatically using JavaScript via the Acrobat JavaScript API.
NoteThe JavaScript method app.execMenuItem('RemoveHiddenInfo') can be used to trigger the sanitization step within a script.
6
Optionally, integrate the action into a larger workflow by calling the action from a command-line tool or external automation using the Acrobat SDK.
Best practiceSome developers use watched folders or third-party automation tools to trigger Acrobat actions for continuous sanitization.

In the appWith the API

You can automate hidden data removal by creating a custom Action in the Action Wizard and applying it to multiple files at once.

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

Glossary

words on this page

SanitizationRemoving or hiding private or sensitive information from a document.ExampleThe sanitization process removed all client names and addresses before the report was published.

APIA way for different software to talk to each other automatically.ExampleAn online store uses an API to automatically send shipping details to a delivery service.

EndpointA web address your code sends requests to for a specific job.ExampleThe app sends your payment details to a secure endpoint on the server to process the transaction.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

We occasionally leak identifiers because someone forwards an archived file without realizing embedded metadata remains.

FAQ

about this task

You can send your PDF file to the Adobe PDF Services API's appropriate endpoint using your code, and it will process the file to remove sensitive information automatically. You'll need to set up authentication and follow the API documentation for your programming language.

PDF sanitization means using code to remove or hide private information from PDF files, so that when they are shared, no sensitive data is left behind. This is done automatically, without manually editing each file.

Yes, you can write a script that loops through a folder of PDFs and sends each one to the API for sanitization, making it easy to process many files automatically.

Using the API lets you automate the process and handle many files without opening each one by hand, while the desktop app requires you to work with one file at a time and click through menus.

Automation saves time, reduces human error, and makes sure every PDF is cleaned the same way, which is important for privacy and compliance, especially when dealing with lots of documents.

Set up automated PDF sanitization via scripting or API

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help