How to Change PDF Title And Author

PDF is a popular file format that is used for sharing and distributing documents. One of the key features of a PDF document is its ‘Title’ and ‘Author’. A document’s title and author help users identify the document easily and also provide essential details for hands-free searching. In some cases, when sharing PDF documents, you may need to change the title or author information. In this blog post, we will discuss how to change PDF title and author information.

Video Tutorial:

What’s Needed

Before we start, you will need to have the following tools available:

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC
  • A PDF document with title and author information

What Requires Your Focus?

You will need to focus on the following steps:

  1. Open the PDF Document in Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC
  2. Access the Document Properties Menu
  3. Update the Document Title
  4. Update the Document Author
  5. Save the Changes and Close the Document Properties Menu
  6. Verify the Changes

Different Methods to Change PDF Title And Author

Method 1: Changing PDF Title and Author Using Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC is an excellent tool that can help you change the title and author information for your PDF documents. The following steps show how to do it:

  1. Open the PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC.
  2. Click on ‘File’ from the top menu, and then click on ‘Properties’ from the dropdown list.
  3. In the ‘Document Properties’ dialog box, click on the ‘Description’ tab.
  4. Click in the ‘Title’ field and update the title accordingly.
  5. Click in the ‘Author’ field and enter or update the author information.
  6. Click the ‘OK’ button to save the changes and close the ‘Document Properties’ dialog box.

Pros:

  • Easy and straightforward
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC is a widely used software

Cons:

  • You need to have Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC installed on your computer

Method 2: Changing PDF Title and Author Using Online PDF Editors

Online PDF editors like SmallPDF, PDFescape, and others can also be used to change the title and author information for your PDF document. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Open the online PDF Editor of your choice.
  2. Click on ‘Choose file’ or ‘Upload PDF’ to upload the PDF document.
  3. After the document has been uploaded, click on ‘Edit’ or ‘Edit PDF’.
  4. Click on the ‘Document’ menu and select ‘Document Properties’ or ‘Properties’ from the dropdown list.
  5. Update the title and author fields and click ‘OK’ to save the changes.
  6. Download the edited PDF document.

Pros:

  • No need to install any software
  • You can use it online from anywhere.

Cons:

  • Internet connection is required.
  • The quality of the edited PDF may not be as high as the original one.

Method 3: Changing PDF Title and Author Using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a free PDF viewer from Adobe and can be used to edit the title and author information for your PDF documents. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Open the PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
  2. Click on ‘File’ from the top menu and select ‘Properties’ from the dropdown list.
  3. In the ‘Document Properties’ dialog box, click on the ‘Description’ tab.
  4. Click in the ‘Title’ field and update the title accordingly.
  5. Click in the ‘Author’ field and enter or update the author information.
  6. Click the ‘OK’ button to save the changes and close the ‘Document Properties’ dialog box.

Pros:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a free software
  • Easy and straightforward

Cons:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC does not have as many features as Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC.
  • Cannot save edited PDF document with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Why Can’t I Change PDF Title And Author Information?

There are some reasons why you may be unable to change the title and author information of a PDF document. These reasons include:

  1. The PDF document is protected. You cannot change the information if it is password-protected or restricted from editing.
  2. The PDF viewer or editor you are using does not support editing of PDF metadata.
  3. The PDF has multiple authors and only one or none of them has editing rights.

Fixes:

  • You can try to remove the password protection or restrictions on the PDF document prior to editing.
  • You should use a PDF editor or viewer that supports editing of PDF metadata.
  • You can contact the other authors or owner of the PDF document and request editing rights.

Implications and Recommendations

Changing the title and author information of a PDF document is vital in ensuring that it is easily identifiable and searchable. It also helps keep the document organized and protects it from being lost or misplaced. It is, therefore, recommended that PDF documents have correct title and author information to facilitate effective collaboration, sharing, and storage.

5 FAQs About Changing PDF Title And Author Information

Q1: Can I edit the title and author information of a PDF document on my mobile device?

A: Yes, there are several mobile PDF editors and viewers that support editing of PDF metadata like Adobe Acrobat Reader DC mobile app, Foxit Mobile PDF, and others.

Q2: Can I change the title and author information of a PDF document without downloading third-party software?

A: Yes, you can use online PDF editors like SmallPDF, PDFescape, Sejda, or ILovePDF to change the title and author information of a PDF document without downloading any software.

Q3: Can I change the title and author information of multiple PDF documents at once?

A: Yes, you can use batch processing functionality of some PDF editors like Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC to update the title and author information of multiple PDFs at once.

Q4: Can I set a default title and author information for all my PDF documents?

A: Yes, you can set a default document title and author information in Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC. The default information will be used for all new PDF documents created using Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC.

Q5: Can I change the title and author information of a PDF document without leaving any traces of editing?

A: Yes, you can use PDF metadata scrubber tools like PDF Metadata Remover, iMetadata, or Metadata Anonymization Toolkit to remove all metadata traces of author and title information.

Final Words

In conclusion, changing the title and author information of a PDF document is essential in ensuring document organization, identification, and effective collaboration. You can use Adobe Acrobat Pro or DC, Online PDF Editors, or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to change the information quickly and easily. Remember to use correct title and author information and to protect your PDF documents from unauthorized access where necessary.