How to Change the Meta Title of a PDF File

The PDF title is key metadata that shows the document’s name in PDF readers and browsers. It’s different from the file name and can be set in the document properties.

A well-chosen PDF title can improve search rankings and make the document easier to find online. Changing the title to something clear and relevant helps users quickly understand the document’s content.

Change Title Name in PDF with PDFgear

You no longer need to rely only on Adobe software to edit PDF titles. Many free PDF title changers are now available that can do the job just as well.

PDFgear is a powerful PDF editor that lets you easily change the title through file properties. You can also modify or delete other metadata like the author, subject, and keywords.

Here’s how to change a PDF title without Adobe Acrobat:

Step 1. Download PDFgear for Free

Access its official website and download PDFgear to your computer, then follow the instructions to install it.

Step 2. Open a PDF with PDFgear

Launch PDFgear and click Open File button in the left panel. Choose the PDF you want to edit.

Step 3. Edit PDF Title

Click anywhere in the PDF, then select Document Properties.

In the Document Properties, find the Title field. Delete the current title and type in your new one.

You are also provided with other options to edit the subject, author and keywords of the PDF document

Click OK to save your changes, and the new title will be applied to your PDF.

That’s it! You’ve successfully changed the title of your PDF.

Change PDF Title with Adobe Acrobat

For those who purchase Adobe Acrobat, it makes it easy to manage PDF metadata. You can edit the title, author, keywords, and subject to better organize your documents.

You can also add copyright information to the PDF metadata to show legal ownership of the content.

Learn the steps to edit a PDF title with Adobe Acrobat.

Step 1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat. Go to File > Properties (or press Ctrl + D on Windows, Cmd + D on Mac).

Step 2. In the Document Properties dialog box, select the Description tab.

In the Title field, enter a new title for the PDF. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 3. You can also click Additional Metadata, where you can add Copyright Status, Copyright Notice, and Copyright Info URL to the PDF.

Change the Title of PDF with Microsoft Word

When the PDF is simple (without complex formatting), and you are comfortable with the possible changes in layout when converting back and forth.

You can change the title of a PDF using Microsoft Word, but the process involves converting the PDF into an editable format first.

Step 1. Open Microsoft Word. Go to File > Open and select the PDF you want to edit.

Word will convert the PDF into an editable Word document. If a message pops up about layout changes, click OK.

Step 2. Once the PDF is open in Word, you can edit the content, including the title.

Go to Info > Click Properties. Then double-click Advanced Properties to open a dialog box. You can update metadata like the title, author, etc.

If you leave the title field blank, the file name will appear in the header. Click OK to save.

Step 3. After editing, go to File > Save As. Choose PDF as the file type, select a location, and click Save.

This method works for editing both content and metadata. However, for quick tasks, a dedicated PDF editor like PDFgear or Adobe Acrobat may be more efficient.

FAQs

What is PDF metadata?

PDF metadata is a set of embedded information that describes a document’s attributes and features. This includes details like creation date, author, title, subject, keywords, and software version, helping to organize and manage PDF files more effectively.

How to view the metadata of a PDF?

PDFgear PDF editor allows you to easily view and edit PDF metadata. Just open a PDF file in PDFgear, right-click anywhere on the PDF page, select Document Properties, and view the PDF metadata information in the pop-up window.

How to change PDF title using Preview on Mac?

The Preview app built-in Mac only lets you view PDF metadata but doesn’t allow you to edit the title. To change the PDF title, you can download PDFgear, open the PDF file, and modify the title in the document properties.

How can I check if the metadata was updated successfully?

After updating the metadata, you can reopen the document and check the properties or metadata section to ensure the changes have been applied correctly.

Conclusion

Metadata doesn’t show up in the document itself but is important for managing and finding files. With the method above, you can change key PDF metadata like the title, author, subject, and keywords.

For a simple tool to view and edit PDF metadata, PDFgear is a free and powerful choice. Download PDFgear software and give it a try.