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Sanitize PDF Online Free — PrivaTools

TL;DR: Upload a PDF and download a sanitized copy with JavaScript, embedded files, forms, and annotations removed — defends against malicious PDFs.

Aggressively sanitize PDF documents online — remove hidden data, JavaScript, embedded files, and metadata layers for maximum security before sharing or publishing.

Sanitize PDF runs on the same privacy-first stack as every PrivaTools utility: files enter an isolated Docker container, are processed in temporary memory, and are unlinked the moment your download begins. No account, no watermark, no daily quota.

How to Sanitize PDF with PrivaTools

  1. Upload a PDF — Drop a PDF up to 500 MB containing potentially risky elements.
  2. PrivaTools removes risky content — Strips embedded JavaScript, executable links to external apps, embedded files marked for auto-launch, and hidden 'flash' (deprecated SWF) content.
  3. Download the sanitized PDF — Visible content is preserved; security-risky elements are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sanitization protecting against?

Malicious PDFs that exploit reader vulnerabilities through embedded scripts or auto-launching attachments. Most modern readers are hardened against these, but defense in depth is wise.

Does this remove form fields?

No — form fields are kept (just JavaScript actions on them are stripped). Use Flatten or Delete Annotations to remove form structure.

Are hyperlinks removed?

Plain http/https links are kept. Links using non-web URI schemes (file:, mailto: with auto-execute, etc.) are stripped.

Last reviewed 2026-05-01 by the PrivaTools maintainers. Source code on (MIT-licensed, self-hostable).

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