How to Remove Metadata from LibreOffice Files

LibreOffice documents often store hidden metadata, including author names, editing time, revision history, operating system details, and printer information. Sanitizing this data is essential for preserving privacy and preventing sensitive information leaks before sharing files. This article outlines the primary methods to inspect, sanitize, and permanently remove personal metadata from LibreOffice files using built-in application settings, export options, and external utilities.

Method 1: Clear Document Properties Manually

You can directly view and remove metadata stored within an individual document’s properties.

1. Open your document in LibreOffice.
2. Go to File > Properties.
3. Under the General tab, look for user-related data (such as author name, creation date, and total editing time).
4. Click the Reset Properties button to clear the editing time and modification dates.
5. Uncheck the Apply user data box to prevent LibreOffice from recording your name in future edits.
6. Click the Custom Properties and Description tabs to manually delete any remaining titles, subjects, keywords, or custom fields.
7. Click OK and save the document.

Method 2: Enable Automatic Metadata Removal on Save

LibreOffice includes a built-in security feature that strips personal metadata automatically whenever a document is saved.

1. Navigate to Tools > Options (on macOS: LibreOffice > Preferences).
2. Expand the LibreOffice section on the left and select Security.
3. Under Security options and warnings, click the Options… button.
4. Check the box labeled Remove personal information on saving.
5. (Optional) Check Warn if document contains recorded changes, versions, or hidden information to receive alerts before sharing.
6. Click OK, then Apply.

Once configured, LibreOffice will strip author names, timestamps, and version histories each time you save.

Method 3: Remove User Data from LibreOffice Preferences

If you do not want your personal details associated with any newly created documents, you can remove your global user profile data.

1. Go to Tools > Options > LibreOffice > User Data.
2. Clear the fields for First/Last name, Initials, Company, and other identifying details.
3. Click Apply and OK.

New documents will no longer automatically inherit personal profile data.

Method 4: Sanitize Tracked Changes and Comments

Metadata often hides within version histories, comments, and tracked changes.

• Accept or Reject Changes: Go to Edit > Track Changes > Manage… to accept or reject all tracked edits, ensuring deleted text and editor names are fully erased.
• Delete Comments: Right-click individual comments to delete them, or navigate to View > Comments to review and purge all annotations before distribution.

Method 5: Export as a Sanitized PDF

If the recipient only needs to read the file, exporting to PDF allows you to strip document information during export.

1. Go to File > Export As > Export as PDF….
2. Under the General tab, uncheck Export document properties and Export bookmarks.
3. Click Export to generate a clean PDF file without ODF-specific metadata tags.

Method 6: Use External Metadata Removal Tools

For high-security workflows or batch operations, external tools offer comprehensive sanitization.

• MAT2 (Metadata Anonymisation Toolkit): A command-line tool capable of cleaning .odt, .ods, and .odp files by stripping all metadata tags.
• Manual XML Editing: Because LibreOffice formats (such as .odt) are standard ZIP archives, you can rename the file extension to .zip, extract the archive, and delete or edit the meta.xml file directly before repackaging it.