BASALT · JOURNAL
How to remove embedded files from a PDF on Mac
A PDF can carry attachments that do not appear on the page: spreadsheets, source documents, images, emails, and older drafts. Those files may contain more sensitive information than the visible report.
Inspect the attachment tree
Look for file attachments, portfolio entries, embedded files, comments, and links to local paths. Review filenames and file types as well as the visible content. A PDF assembled from a document-management system may retain source material by default.
Remove what the recipient does not need
Keep an embedded file only when it is explicitly part of the deliverable. Otherwise remove it, along with comments and hidden form data. If a recipient needs a spreadsheet, send a reviewed copy separately rather than leaving an unreviewed original inside the PDF.
Confirm the output is self-contained
Export a new copy, reopen it, and inspect the attachment panel in a second viewer. Search the visible and hidden text for confidential values. Check the file size and metadata for clues that a large source file remains embedded.
Frequently asked questions
Can embedded files be invisible in a PDF viewer?
Yes. Some viewers show attachments only through a panel or paperclip icon, and some do not make them obvious at all.
Does deleting an attachment change the visible pages?
Usually not. It removes the extra file while leaving the rendered pages intact, but verify the output.
Should I remove all attachments?
Remove attachments that are not required. Retain documented deliverables when the recipient explicitly needs them and they have been reviewed.
Doing it in Basalt
Basalt exposes and removes embedded files locally, then verifies the output PDF so hidden source material is not accidentally delivered. Download Basalt.
Redaction that proves itself
Basalt destroys the content you mark, then re-opens the file it wrote and proves the content is gone before it saves anything. Your documents never leave your Mac.