Do you upload my selected files?
No. The site's built-in file operations use the browser's local file APIs and do not intentionally send selected file contents to our server. Your browser still requests website assets, and added advertising or verification code may contact third-party services. Review our privacy policy.
Will metadata removal make me anonymous?
No. It may remove recognized hidden fields but cannot remove identifiable faces, objects, text visible in pixels, your account identity or information held by recipients and cloud services. See our metadata limitations page.
Are the original files changed?
No. Our tools create an output in browser memory for you to download. The source file on your device is not overwritten. If you manually save over the original filename, your browser or operating system may replace a local copy, so verify the destination.
Why does a file fail validation?
A damaged header, malformed chunk, invalid JSON, encoding mismatch or unsupported feature can make safe cleanup impossible. We prefer rejecting uncertain input over producing a result described as clean when we cannot verify it.
Is a PDF check a full PDF sanitizer?
No. The PDF feature looks for selected readable metadata clues. It does not clean embedded data, annotations, hidden layers, attachments, revisions, or all compressed objects. Use dedicated document redaction software for sensitive PDFs.
Can the tracking URL cleaner break a link?
Yes. Some sites rely on parameters that appear promotional but are actually required for navigation. Compare the cleaned address with the original, verify its destination, and never assume a shorter URL is safer by itself.
Does the site guarantee protection from leaks?
No. The tools provide bounded local checks, not a security guarantee. For confidential or regulated content, combine software checks with manual inspection and approved organizational procedures.
Can I use PrivacyClean on my phone?
Many modern browsers support local file selection and downloads. Large batch operations and some file types may be constrained by memory or browser permissions. If a task fails, try a smaller batch and check the result before sharing.