diff --git a/lib/livebook/live_markdown/export.ex b/lib/livebook/live_markdown/export.ex
index 34ae21299..5c5f57138 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/live_markdown/export.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/live_markdown/export.ex
@@ -26,9 +26,15 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Export do
     name = ["# ", notebook.name]
     sections = Enum.map(notebook.sections, &render_section(&1, notebook, ctx))
 
+    metadata = notebook_metadata(notebook)
+
     [name | sections]
     |> Enum.intersperse("\n\n")
-    |> prepend_metadata(notebook.metadata)
+    |> prepend_metadata(metadata)
+  end
+
+  defp notebook_metadata(_notebook) do
+    %{}
   end
 
   defp render_section(section, notebook, ctx) do
@@ -54,19 +60,21 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Export do
     |> prepend_metadata(metadata)
   end
 
-  defp section_metadata(%{parent_id: nil} = section, _notebook) do
-    section.metadata
+  defp section_metadata(%{parent_id: nil} = _section, _notebook) do
+    %{}
   end
 
   defp section_metadata(section, notebook) do
     parent_idx = Notebook.section_index(notebook, section.parent_id)
-    Map.put(section.metadata, "branch_parent_index", parent_idx)
+    %{"branch_parent_index" => parent_idx}
   end
 
   defp render_cell(%Cell.Markdown{} = cell, _ctx) do
+    metadata = cell_metadata(cell)
+
     cell.source
     |> format_markdown_source()
-    |> prepend_metadata(cell.metadata)
+    |> prepend_metadata(metadata)
   end
 
   defp render_cell(%Cell.Elixir{} = cell, ctx) do
@@ -74,9 +82,11 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Export do
     code = get_elixir_cell_code(cell)
     outputs = if ctx.include_outputs?, do: render_outputs(cell), else: []
 
+    metadata = cell_metadata(cell)
+
     cell =
       [delimiter, "elixir\n", code, "\n", delimiter]
-      |> prepend_metadata(cell.metadata)
+      |> prepend_metadata(metadata)
 
     if outputs == [] do
       cell
@@ -98,10 +108,18 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Export do
       |> put_unless_implicit(reactive: cell.reactive, props: cell.props)
       |> Jason.encode!()
 
+    metadata = cell_metadata(cell)
+
     "<!-- livebook:#{json} -->"
-    |> prepend_metadata(cell.metadata)
+    |> prepend_metadata(metadata)
   end
 
+  defp cell_metadata(%Cell.Elixir{} = cell) do
+    put_unless_implicit(%{}, disable_formatting: cell.disable_formatting)
+  end
+
+  defp cell_metadata(_cell), do: %{}
+
   defp render_outputs(cell) do
     cell.outputs
     |> Enum.reverse()
@@ -125,7 +143,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Export do
 
   defp render_output(_output), do: :ignored
 
-  defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source, metadata: %{"disable_formatting" => true}}),
+  defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source, disable_formatting: true}),
     do: source
 
   defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source}), do: format_code(source)
diff --git a/lib/livebook/live_markdown/import.ex b/lib/livebook/live_markdown/import.ex
index a8d2f13d2..2d6f38d52 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/live_markdown/import.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/live_markdown/import.ex
@@ -200,29 +200,31 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Import do
 
   defp build_notebook([{:cell, :elixir, source, outputs} | elems], cells, sections) do
     {metadata, elems} = grab_metadata(elems)
+    attrs = cell_metadata_to_attrs(:elixir, metadata)
     outputs = Enum.map(outputs, &{:text, &1})
-    cell = %{Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir) | source: source, metadata: metadata, outputs: outputs}
+    cell = %{Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir) | source: source, outputs: outputs} |> Map.merge(attrs)
     build_notebook(elems, [cell | cells], sections)
   end
 
   defp build_notebook([{:cell, :markdown, md_ast} | elems], cells, sections) do
     {metadata, elems} = grab_metadata(elems)
+    attrs = cell_metadata_to_attrs(:markdown, metadata)
     source = md_ast |> Enum.reverse() |> MarkdownHelpers.markdown_from_ast()
-    cell = %{Notebook.Cell.new(:markdown) | source: source, metadata: metadata}
+    cell = %{Notebook.Cell.new(:markdown) | source: source} |> Map.merge(attrs)
     build_notebook(elems, [cell | cells], sections)
   end
 
   defp build_notebook([{:cell, :input, data} | elems], cells, sections) do
-    {metadata, elems} = grab_metadata(elems)
     attrs = parse_input_attrs(data)
-    cell = %{Notebook.Cell.new(:input) | metadata: metadata} |> Map.merge(attrs)
+    cell = Notebook.Cell.new(:input) |> Map.merge(attrs)
     build_notebook(elems, [cell | cells], sections)
   end
 
   defp build_notebook([{:section_name, content} | elems], cells, sections) do
     name = MarkdownHelpers.text_from_ast(content)
     {metadata, elems} = grab_metadata(elems)
-    section = %{Notebook.Section.new() | name: name, cells: cells, metadata: metadata}
+    attrs = section_metadata_to_attrs(metadata)
+    section = %{Notebook.Section.new() | name: name, cells: cells} |> Map.merge(attrs)
     build_notebook(elems, [], [section | sections])
   end
 
@@ -242,7 +244,8 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Import do
   defp build_notebook([{:notebook_name, content} | elems], [], sections) do
     name = MarkdownHelpers.text_from_ast(content)
     {metadata, []} = grab_metadata(elems)
-    %{Notebook.new() | name: name, sections: sections, metadata: metadata}
+    attrs = notebook_metadata_to_attrs(metadata)
+    %{Notebook.new() | name: name, sections: sections} |> Map.merge(attrs)
   end
 
   # If there's no explicit notebook heading, use the defaults.
@@ -279,13 +282,48 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.Import do
     end)
   end
 
+  defp notebook_metadata_to_attrs(_metadata) do
+    %{}
+  end
+
+  defp section_metadata_to_attrs(metadata) do
+    Enum.reduce(metadata, %{}, fn
+      {"branch_parent_index", parent_idx}, attrs ->
+        # At this point we cannot extract other section id,
+        # so we temporarily keep the index
+        Map.put(attrs, :parent_id, {:idx, parent_idx})
+
+      _entry, attrs ->
+        attrs
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp cell_metadata_to_attrs(:elixir, metadata) do
+    Enum.reduce(metadata, %{}, fn
+      {"disable_formatting", disable_formatting}, attrs ->
+        Map.put(attrs, :disable_formatting, disable_formatting)
+
+      _entry, attrs ->
+        attrs
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp cell_metadata_to_attrs(_type, _metadata) do
+    %{}
+  end
+
   defp postprocess_notebook(notebook) do
     sections =
       Enum.map(notebook.sections, fn section ->
         # Set parent_id based on the persisted branch_parent_index if present
-        {parent_idx, metadata} = Map.pop(section.metadata, "branch_parent_index")
-        parent = parent_idx && Enum.at(notebook.sections, parent_idx)
-        %{section | metadata: metadata, parent_id: parent && parent.id}
+        case section.parent_id do
+          nil ->
+            section
+
+          {:idx, parent_idx} ->
+            parent = Enum.at(notebook.sections, parent_idx)
+            %{section | parent_id: parent.id}
+        end
       end)
 
     %{notebook | sections: sections}
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook.ex
index 55cc1268a..2857a2ef4 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook.ex
@@ -13,19 +13,16 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook do
   # A notebook is divided into a number of *sections*, each
   # containing a number of *cells*.
 
-  defstruct [:name, :version, :sections, :metadata]
+  defstruct [:name, :version, :sections]
 
   alias Livebook.Notebook.{Section, Cell}
   alias Livebook.Utils.Graph
   import Livebook.Utils, only: [access_by_id: 1]
 
-  @type metadata :: %{String.t() => term()}
-
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{
           name: String.t(),
           version: String.t(),
-          sections: list(Section.t()),
-          metadata: metadata()
+          sections: list(Section.t())
         }
 
   @version "1.0"
@@ -38,8 +35,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook do
     %__MODULE__{
       name: "Untitled notebook",
       version: @version,
-      sections: [],
-      metadata: %{}
+      sections: []
     }
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell.ex
index 90c5e5289..fec0ec961 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell.ex
@@ -12,16 +12,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell do
 
   @type id :: Utils.id()
 
-  @typedoc """
-  Arbitrary cell information persisted as part of the notebook.
-
-  ## Recognised entries
-
-    * `disable_formatting` - whether this particular cell should
-      not be automatically formatted. Relevant for Elixir cells only.
-  """
-  @type metadata :: %{String.t() => term()}
-
   @type t :: Cell.Elixir.t() | Cell.Markdown.t() | Cell.Input.t()
 
   @type type :: :markdown | :elixir | :input
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/elixir.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/elixir.ex
index f9a7aef73..6143daf82 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/elixir.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/elixir.ex
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Elixir do
   # It consists of text content that the user can edit
   # and produces some output once evaluated.
 
-  defstruct [:id, :metadata, :source, :outputs]
+  defstruct [:id, :source, :outputs, :disable_formatting]
 
   alias Livebook.Utils
   alias Livebook.Notebook.Cell
 
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{
           id: Cell.id(),
-          metadata: Cell.metadata(),
           source: String.t(),
-          outputs: list(output())
+          outputs: list(output()),
+          disable_formatting: boolean()
         }
 
   @typedoc """
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Elixir do
   def new() do
     %__MODULE__{
       id: Utils.random_id(),
-      metadata: %{},
       source: "",
-      outputs: []
+      outputs: [],
+      disable_formatting: false
     }
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/input.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/input.ex
index 447e1ff9a..29c131b25 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/input.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/input.ex
@@ -6,14 +6,13 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Input do
   # It consists of an input that the user may fill
   # and then read during code evaluation.
 
-  defstruct [:id, :metadata, :type, :name, :value, :reactive, :props]
+  defstruct [:id, :type, :name, :value, :reactive, :props]
 
   alias Livebook.Utils
   alias Livebook.Notebook.Cell
 
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{
           id: Cell.id(),
-          metadata: Cell.metadata(),
           type: type(),
           name: String.t(),
           value: String.t(),
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Input do
   def new() do
     %__MODULE__{
       id: Utils.random_id(),
-      metadata: %{},
       type: :text,
       name: "input",
       value: "",
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/markdown.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/markdown.ex
index f5adfaadd..baf25754e 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/markdown.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/cell/markdown.ex
@@ -6,14 +6,13 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Markdown do
   # It consists of Markdown content that the user can edit
   # and which is then rendered on the page.
 
-  defstruct [:id, :metadata, :source]
+  defstruct [:id, :source]
 
   alias Livebook.Utils
   alias Livebook.Notebook.Cell
 
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{
           id: Cell.id(),
-          metadata: Cell.metadata(),
           source: String.t()
         }
 
@@ -24,7 +23,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Cell.Markdown do
   def new() do
     %__MODULE__{
       id: Utils.random_id(),
-      metadata: %{},
       source: ""
     }
   end
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/export/elixir.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/export/elixir.ex
index 68167973b..bf30c51bd 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/export/elixir.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/export/elixir.ex
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.Elixir do
   defp comment_out(""), do: ""
   defp comment_out(line), do: ["# ", line]
 
-  defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source, metadata: %{"disable_formatting" => true}}),
+  defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source, disable_formatting: true}),
     do: source
 
   defp get_elixir_cell_code(%{source: source}), do: format_code(source)
diff --git a/lib/livebook/notebook/section.ex b/lib/livebook/notebook/section.ex
index 84f8449a7..c80ede3b0 100644
--- a/lib/livebook/notebook/section.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook/notebook/section.ex
@@ -10,20 +10,18 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Section do
   # a branching section. Such section logically follows its
   # parent section and has no impact on any further sections.
 
-  defstruct [:id, :name, :cells, :parent_id, :metadata]
+  defstruct [:id, :name, :cells, :parent_id]
 
   alias Livebook.Notebook.Cell
   alias Livebook.Utils
 
   @type id :: Utils.id()
-  @type metadata :: %{String.t() => term()}
 
   @type t :: %__MODULE__{
           id: id(),
           name: String.t(),
           cells: list(Cell.t()),
-          parent_id: id() | nil,
-          metadata: metadata()
+          parent_id: id() | nil
         }
 
   @doc """
@@ -35,8 +33,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Section do
       id: Utils.random_id(),
       name: "Section",
       cells: [],
-      parent_id: nil,
-      metadata: %{}
+      parent_id: nil
     }
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/livebook_web/live/session_live/elixir_cell_settings_component.ex b/lib/livebook_web/live/session_live/elixir_cell_settings_component.ex
index 2943e0749..f134e0d93 100644
--- a/lib/livebook_web/live/session_live/elixir_cell_settings_component.ex
+++ b/lib/livebook_web/live/session_live/elixir_cell_settings_component.ex
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ defmodule LivebookWeb.SessionLive.ElixirCellSettingsComponent do
 
   @impl true
   def update(assigns, socket) do
-    metadata = assigns.cell.metadata
+    cell = assigns.cell
 
-    assigns =
-      Map.merge(assigns, %{disable_formatting: Map.get(metadata, "disable_formatting", false)})
+    socket =
+      socket
+      |> assign(assigns)
+      |> assign_new(:disable_formatting, fn -> cell.disable_formatting end)
 
-    {:ok, assign(socket, assigns)}
+    {:ok, socket}
   end
 
   @impl true
@@ -39,21 +41,13 @@ defmodule LivebookWeb.SessionLive.ElixirCellSettingsComponent do
   end
 
   @impl true
-  def handle_event("save", params, socket) do
-    metadata = update_metadata(socket.assigns.cell.metadata, params)
+  def handle_event("save", %{"disable_formatting" => disable_formatting}, socket) do
+    disable_formatting = disable_formatting == "true"
 
     Session.set_cell_attributes(socket.assigns.session_id, socket.assigns.cell.id, %{
-      metadata: metadata
+      disable_formatting: disable_formatting
     })
 
     {:noreply, push_patch(socket, to: socket.assigns.return_to)}
   end
-
-  defp update_metadata(metadata, form_data) do
-    if form_data["disable_formatting"] == "true" do
-      Map.put(metadata, "disable_formatting", true)
-    else
-      Map.delete(metadata, "disable_formatting")
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/test/livebook/live_markdown/export_test.exs b/test/livebook/live_markdown/export_test.exs
index 810745444..c3e8ce27b 100644
--- a/test/livebook/live_markdown/export_test.exs
+++ b/test/livebook/live_markdown/export_test.exs
@@ -8,17 +8,14 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ExportTest do
     notebook = %{
       Notebook.new()
       | name: "My Notebook",
-        metadata: %{"author" => "Sherlock Holmes"},
         sections: [
           %{
             Notebook.Section.new()
             | name: "Section 1",
-              metadata: %{"created_at" => "2021-02-15"},
               cells: [
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:markdown)
-                  | metadata: %{"updated_at" => "2021-02-15"},
-                    source: """
+                  | source: """
                     Make sure to install:
 
                     * Erlang
@@ -28,7 +25,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ExportTest do
                 },
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir)
-                  | metadata: %{"readonly" => true},
+                  | disable_formatting: true,
                     source: """
                     Enum.to_list(1..10)\
                     """
@@ -85,23 +82,17 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ExportTest do
     }
 
     expected_document = """
-    <!-- livebook:{"author":"Sherlock Holmes"} -->
-
     # My Notebook
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"created_at":"2021-02-15"} -->
-
     ## Section 1
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"updated_at":"2021-02-15"} -->
-
     Make sure to install:
 
     * Erlang
     * Elixir
     * PostgreSQL
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"readonly":true} -->
+    <!-- livebook:{"disable_formatting":true} -->
 
     ```elixir
     Enum.to_list(1..10)
@@ -355,7 +346,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ExportTest do
     assert expected_document == document
   end
 
-  test "does not format code in Elixir cells which explicitly state so in metadata" do
+  test "does not format code in Elixir cells which have formatting disabled" do
     notebook = %{
       Notebook.new()
       | name: "My Notebook",
@@ -366,7 +357,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ExportTest do
               cells: [
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir)
-                  | metadata: %{"disable_formatting" => true},
+                  | disable_formatting: true,
                     source: """
                     [1,2,3] # Comment\
                     """
diff --git a/test/livebook/live_markdown/import_test.exs b/test/livebook/live_markdown/import_test.exs
index 75ccf803b..350d6d2eb 100644
--- a/test/livebook/live_markdown/import_test.exs
+++ b/test/livebook/live_markdown/import_test.exs
@@ -7,23 +7,17 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
 
   test "acceptance" do
     markdown = """
-    <!-- livebook:{"author":"Sherlock Holmes"} -->
-
     # My Notebook
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"created_at":"2021-02-15"} -->
-
     ## Section 1
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"updated_at":"2021-02-15"} -->
-
     Make sure to install:
 
     * Erlang
     * Elixir
     * PostgreSQL
 
-    <!-- livebook:{"readonly":true} -->
+    <!-- livebook:{"disable_formatting": true} -->
 
     ```elixir
     Enum.to_list(1..10)
@@ -56,14 +50,11 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
 
     assert %Notebook{
              name: "My Notebook",
-             metadata: %{"author" => "Sherlock Holmes"},
              sections: [
                %Notebook.Section{
                  name: "Section 1",
-                 metadata: %{"created_at" => "2021-02-15"},
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Markdown{
-                     metadata: %{"updated_at" => "2021-02-15"},
                      source: """
                      Make sure to install:
 
@@ -73,13 +64,12 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
                      """
                    },
                    %Cell.Elixir{
-                     metadata: %{"readonly" => true},
+                     disable_formatting: true,
                      source: """
                      Enum.to_list(1..10)\
                      """
                    },
                    %Cell.Markdown{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      This is it for this section.\
                      """
@@ -89,23 +79,19 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
                %Notebook.Section{
                  id: section2_id,
                  name: "Section 2",
-                 metadata: %{},
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Input{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      type: :text,
                      name: "length",
                      value: "100",
                      reactive: true
                    },
                    %Cell.Elixir{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      IO.gets("length: ")\
                      """
                    },
                    %Cell.Input{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      type: :range,
                      name: "length",
                      value: "100",
@@ -115,11 +101,9 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
                },
                %Notebook.Section{
                  name: "Section 3",
-                 metadata: %{},
                  parent_id: section2_id,
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Elixir{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      Process.info()\
                      """
@@ -152,10 +136,8 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
              sections: [
                %Notebook.Section{
                  name: "Section 1",
-                 metadata: %{},
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Markdown{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      Line 1.\\
                      Line 2.
@@ -213,7 +195,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
                  name: "Probably section 1",
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Markdown{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      ### Heading
 
@@ -226,7 +207,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
                  name: "Probably section 2",
                  cells: [
                    %Cell.Markdown{
-                     metadata: %{},
                      source: """
                      **Tiny heading**\
                      """
@@ -330,7 +310,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.LiveMarkdown.ImportTest do
 
     assert %Notebook{
              name: "My Notebook",
-             metadata: %{"author" => "Sherlock Holmes"},
              sections: [
                %Notebook.Section{
                  name: "Section",
diff --git a/test/livebook/notebook/export/elixir_test.exs b/test/livebook/notebook/export/elixir_test.exs
index 5ac8d5c7b..b0c3f1aa4 100644
--- a/test/livebook/notebook/export/elixir_test.exs
+++ b/test/livebook/notebook/export/elixir_test.exs
@@ -8,17 +8,14 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.ElixirTest do
     notebook = %{
       Notebook.new()
       | name: "My Notebook",
-        metadata: %{"author" => "Sherlock Holmes"},
         sections: [
           %{
             Notebook.Section.new()
             | name: "Section 1",
-              metadata: %{"created_at" => "2021-02-15"},
               cells: [
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:markdown)
-                  | metadata: %{"updated_at" => "2021-02-15"},
-                    source: """
+                  | source: """
                     Make sure to install:
 
                     * Erlang
@@ -28,15 +25,14 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.ElixirTest do
                 },
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir)
-                  | metadata: %{"readonly" => true},
+                  | disable_formatting: true,
                     source: """
                     Enum.to_list(1..10)\
                     """
                 },
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:markdown)
-                  | metadata: %{},
-                    source: """
+                  | source: """
                     This is it for this section.\
                     """
                 }
@@ -46,7 +42,6 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.ElixirTest do
             Notebook.Section.new()
             | id: "s2",
               name: "Section 2",
-              metadata: %{},
               cells: [
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:input)
@@ -57,8 +52,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.ElixirTest do
                 },
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir)
-                  | metadata: %{},
-                    source: """
+                  | source: """
                     IO.gets("length: ")\
                     """
                 },
@@ -74,13 +68,11 @@ defmodule Livebook.Notebook.Export.ElixirTest do
           %{
             Notebook.Section.new()
             | name: "Section 3",
-              metadata: %{},
               parent_id: "s2",
               cells: [
                 %{
                   Notebook.Cell.new(:elixir)
-                  | metadata: %{},
-                    source: """
+                  | source: """
                     Process.info()\
                     """
                 }
diff --git a/test/livebook/session/data_test.exs b/test/livebook/session/data_test.exs
index 1269936f7..68a3b619d 100644
--- a/test/livebook/session/data_test.exs
+++ b/test/livebook/session/data_test.exs
@@ -2782,14 +2782,13 @@ defmodule Livebook.Session.DataTest do
           {:insert_cell, self(), "s1", 0, :elixir, "c1"}
         ])
 
-      metadata = %{"disable_formatting" => true}
-      attrs = %{metadata: metadata}
+      attrs = %{disable_formatting: true}
       operation = {:set_cell_attributes, self(), "c1", attrs}
 
       assert {:ok,
               %{
                 notebook: %{
-                  sections: [%{cells: [%{metadata: ^metadata}]}]
+                  sections: [%{cells: [%{disable_formatting: true}]}]
                 }
               }, _} = Data.apply_operation(data, operation)
     end
diff --git a/test/livebook/session_test.exs b/test/livebook/session_test.exs
index f76b4e720..80af863d5 100644
--- a/test/livebook/session_test.exs
+++ b/test/livebook/session_test.exs
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ defmodule Livebook.SessionTest do
       pid = self()
 
       {_section_id, cell_id} = insert_section_and_cell(session_id)
-      attrs = %{metadata: %{"disable_formatting" => true}}
+      attrs = %{disable_formatting: true}
 
       Session.set_cell_attributes(session_id, cell_id, attrs)
       assert_receive {:operation, {:set_cell_attributes, ^pid, ^cell_id, ^attrs}}