How to Remove Hidden Data & Metadata from Word Files


Microsoft Word® document files (DOCX) can contain a wealth of hidden data & metadata. While hidden data & metadata are useful for finding files and reviewing documents, they pose privacy and confidentiality risks when the files are shared. The hidden data often contains private and sensitive information, that if unintentionally exposed can cause the document creator and his organization embarrassment with possible financial and legal implications.

Types of dangerous hidden data that Word document files might contain include document properties, comments, tracked changes, hidden text and objects, and embedded images hidden data.

The "Remove Properties and Personal Information" feature is not suitable

Windows® has a very limited built-in metadata remover - the "Remove Properties and Personal Information" feature. This feature is completely unsuitable for removing hidden data from Word files. It can only remove a small number of document properties from old Microsoft Word® 2003 files. (files with three letter extension - DOC) If Microsoft Office® 2007 or above is installed on the computer, this feature can also remove some properties from Microsoft Word® 2007-2024 files. (files with four letter extension - DOCX) In either case, this feature cannot remove at all other types of dangerous Word hidden data, including comments, tracked changes, hidden text and objects, and embedded images hidden data.

The "Document Inspector" feature is decent for a single document at a time

Microsoft Word® has a built-in hidden data & metadata remover - the "Document Inspector". This tool has a decent coverage of hidden data types that it can remove. The Document Inspector can remove a few hidden data types, and can only warn for the presence of a few others. There are some hidden data types that the Document Inspector cannot detect, such as embedded image hidden data & metadata. Notable disadvantages of this tool are the many steps required to remove hidden data with it, as well as the lack of batch hidden data removal capability for cleaning multiple documents at once.

Removing hidden data & metadata from multiple Word documents at once

BatchPurifier™ can permanently remove hidden data & metadata from multiple files at once. It supports multiple types of document, image, and media file formats, including Microsoft Office® Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, OpenDocument Text, Spreadsheet, and Presentation files, and PDF files. It's an offline privacy-oriented desktop application for Windows®, and has a broad-spectrum of supported hidden data types.

Related White Papers