Frequently asked questions
Comprehensive answers about metadata removal, privacy, supported formats, and how CleanFile works.
Privacy & Security
What does CleanFile remove?
CleanFile removes privacy-relevant metadata such as GPS coordinates, camera and software details, author names, timestamps, revision history fields, company information, editing software identifiers, and archive comments when those fields are present in a supported file type. The specific metadata removed depends on the file format — for example, photos have EXIF data while PDFs have an Info Dictionary.
Do my files get uploaded to a server?
No. CleanFile is designed for local, in-browser processing. Your files are processed entirely using JavaScript running in your web browser. No file data is sent to any server at any point during scanning, analysis, or cleaning. The files stay on your device from the moment you select them until you save the cleaned version.
Why should I remove metadata before sharing files?
Files can contain surprisingly sensitive hidden data. A photo taken with your phone may embed your exact GPS location, home address, and device model. A Word document may reveal your full name, company, and editing history. A PDF may expose the software and author details. Removing this metadata before sharing protects your privacy, physical safety, and professional confidentiality.
Is CleanFile really free?
Yes, CleanFile is completely free to use with no hidden fees or premium tiers. Since all file processing happens in your browser, there are no server costs associated with cleaning files. We sustain the project through optional support and advertising.
File Types & Formats
Which file types does CleanFile support?
CleanFile supports a wide range of formats: images (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, TIFF, BMP, HEIC, AVIF, SVG), PDF documents, Microsoft Office documents (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), audio files (MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG, M4A), video files (MP4, MOV), and ZIP archives. We continuously add new formats based on user demand and parser reliability.
Can I clean multiple files at once?
Yes. You can add multiple files to the processing queue, review metadata for each one individually, clean the ones that contain metadata, and download all cleaned results as a single ZIP archive. This batch processing feature is available on the homepage tool.
How does CleanFile handle image quality during cleaning?
Images are re-rendered through the browser's Canvas API. JPEG images are saved at 92% quality, which provides a good balance between file size and visual fidelity. PNG and WebP images preserve their alpha channels and transparency. The quality difference compared to the original is minimal and virtually undetectable for typical sharing use cases.
Does CleanFile remove tracked changes from Word documents?
CleanFile removes the core metadata properties from DOCX files: author name, company, last modified by, revision count, editing time, and timestamps. The comments file is also removed if present. For tracked changes embedded in the document body, we recommend using Word's built-in 'Accept All Changes' feature before cleaning.
How It Works
Will cleaning change the visible content of my file?
The goal is to preserve the visible content while removing only metadata. For PDF and Office documents, only metadata fields are cleared — the layout, text, and formatting remain completely unchanged. For images, the Canvas API re-renders the visual content at high quality (92% for JPEG). Any quality difference is minimal and usually imperceptible to the human eye.
Can I use CleanFile offline?
Yes. CleanFile is a Progressive Web App (PWA). You can install it from your browser by clicking the install prompt. Once installed, it works completely offline because all processing happens locally in your browser — no internet connection is required for file cleaning.
Does CleanFile work on mobile devices?
Yes. CleanFile works on any device with a modern web browser, including smartphones and tablets running iOS or Android. You can also install it as a PWA for a native app-like experience on your mobile device.
Can I verify that metadata was actually removed?
Yes. After cleaning a file, you can re-open the cleaned version in CleanFile to verify that all metadata fields have been removed. The tool will show 'No hidden metadata found' if the cleaning was successful.
Troubleshooting
Why does a file show 'No hidden metadata found'?
That means CleanFile did not detect privacy-relevant metadata fields in the current file. This can happen if the metadata was already stripped (for example, by a social media platform), if the file was created by software that does not embed metadata, or if the specific format variation is not yet supported by our parser.
Is CleanFile a replacement for antivirus or DLP tools?
No. CleanFile is specifically designed for metadata removal. It does not scan files for malware, classify sensitive content, or replace enterprise data loss prevention (DLP) controls. It complements your existing security tools by adding a metadata hygiene step before sharing files.
What should I include when reporting a bug?
Include the file type (e.g., JPEG, PDF, DOCX), the device or application that created the file, which metadata fields you expected to see or remove, and what actually happened. Screenshots of the metadata panel are helpful. This information makes parser fixes much faster.
Still need help?
If your question is not covered here, contact us and we will help review the file type or issue.
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