Removing the author name from a Word file’s properties is a good step, but the largest leaks in a document are usually inside the text itself: deleted sentences still stored as tracked changes, comments that were never resolved, hidden text and old versions. The Document Metadata Remover reports these instead of deleting them, because they are content. This guide shows how to deal with each in Word.
Tracked changes
With Track Changes on, deleted text stays in the file, marked as a deletion with the name of the person who deleted it. A document that looks clean when markup is hidden can still contain every earlier sentence. In Word, open the Review tab and set the view to All Markup to see them, then choose Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking (or reject what you do not want) before you send the file.
Comments
Comments carry the commenter’s name and the date. In the Review tab, use Delete, Delete All Comments in Document. If you need to keep a comment, check that it says what you want the recipient to read.
Hidden text and other hidden content
- Hidden text: text formatted as hidden does not show on the page but is in the file. The Document Inspector finds it.
- Headers, footers and text boxes can hold old notes that are easy to forget.
- Document variables and custom properties can hold client codes.
- Embedded objects and attachments keep their own metadata.
Run the Document Inspector on a copy
- Save a copy of the file under a new name.
- Choose File, Info, Check for Issues, Inspect Document.
- Tick everything, choose Inspect, then Remove All for the groups that show findings.
- Read what was found. Anything you did not expect is a reason to look closer.
Finish with a metadata cleaner
The inspector handles content and properties but does not clean the metadata of pictures inside the document. A final pass with the Document Metadata Remover removes the author, company, thumbnail, editing IDs and the GPS and camera data of embedded photos, and tells you if comments or tracked changes remain.