5 Easy Steps to Remove Hidden Properties and Personal Information in Excel
Have you ever wondered why your Excel file size is larger than expected or why your personal information is being shared without your knowledge? By default, Excel files contain hidden properties and personal information like author name, company name, comments, and revision history. These properties can be used to track the document’s history or hide sensitive information that can be accessed by unauthorized personnel.
Therefore, it’s crucial to remove these hidden properties and personal information from your Excel files before sharing them with others, especially if they contain sensitive or confidential data. In this article, we’ll walk you through five easy steps to remove hidden properties and personal information in Excel.
Step 1: Click File and go to Info
Click on the “File” tab located at the top left corner of your Excel window to open the File menu. From there, click on “Info” to open the Info menu.
Step 2: Check for Inspect Document and click on it
Under the Info menu, look for the “Check for Issues” button, and click on the “Inspect Document ” option. This tool will scan your Excel file for any hidden properties or personal information that can be removed.
Step 3: Check all the boxes for Document Properties and Personal Information
After clicking on “Inspect Document,” a new window will open showing all the options that can be inspected. Check all the boxes for “Document Properties and Personal Information” to scan for all hidden properties and personal information in your Excel file.
Step 4: Click on Inspect
Click on the “Inspect” button to initiate the scanning process. The tool will scan your Excel file for any hidden properties and personal information.
Step 5: Click on Remove All to delete all the hidden information and properties
After scanning is complete, a summary report will be displayed showing all the detected hidden properties and personal information. Click on the “Remove All” button to delete all the hidden properties and personal information from your Excel file.
In conclusion, Excel files contain hidden properties and personal information that can lead to privacy concerns if not removed before sharing. By following the five easy steps mentioned above, you can easily remove all hidden properties and personal information from your Excel files. Always remember to inspect your documents before sending them to avoid any privacy-related issues.
