Remove hidden metadata such as GPS location, camera model and date from your photos before you share them.
How to use
- Choose one or more photos.
- Press Remove metadata.
- Download each cleaned copy from the list.
Good to know
The cleaned copy is redrawn on a canvas, so EXIF, GPS and other embedded tags are not carried over. Your photos never leave your device. Explore more on the Tools page.
What is EXIF data and why remove it?
Almost every photo taken with a phone or digital camera carries hidden information called metadata. The most common type is EXIF, short for Exchangeable Image File Format. It can include the date and time the photo was taken, the make and model of the device, camera settings such as exposure and focal length, the software used to edit it and, very often, the exact GPS location where the picture was taken. Most social networks remove much of this when you upload, but not every website, forum, chat app or email does. If you send the original file, the person receiving it may be able to see where you were.
This EXIF remover creates a clean copy of each photo without those hidden tags. It works in your browser, so your pictures are not uploaded to any server, and you can use it for as many photos as you like.
What metadata can reveal
- Location: latitude and longitude, which may point to your home, your office or your child's school.
- Time: when the photo was taken, which can reveal routines or when you are away.
- Device: the phone or camera model, and sometimes a serial number.
- Editing history: the software that last saved the file and sometimes the name of the author.
- Thumbnails: a small preview image embedded in the file, which can sometimes show a version of the picture from before you cropped it.
How to remove EXIF data with this tool
- Choose one or more photos from your device.
- Pick a quality setting for JPEG output. The Good setting is a fine balance for most pictures.
- Press Remove metadata. The tool shows a list of cleaned files with the old and new size.
- Download each cleaned copy and share that version instead of the original.
How it works
The tool loads your image into your browser and draws it onto an HTML canvas. A canvas contains only pixels, with no tags attached. It then exports the pixels as a new file. Because the metadata is not part of the pixel data, it is left behind. PNG files are saved as PNG so transparency is kept. Other formats such as JPEG and WebP photos are saved as JPEG. The picture is shown upright, since modern browsers apply the rotation stored in the file before drawing.
Things to keep in mind
- Saving a JPEG again compresses it a second time, so the file may look very slightly different or have a different size. Use a higher quality setting if you want the closest match.
- Colour profiles are normally dropped too. For most casual photos this makes no visible difference, but photographers who need exact colour management should use professional software.
- Large images use a lot of memory when they are drawn on a canvas. Very large panoramas may fail on older phones.
- Animated images are reduced to a single frame.
- Cleaning a photo does not hide what is visible in the picture itself. Street signs, house numbers and reflections can still reveal a place.
When to clean your photos
Remove metadata before you sell something online, post on a forum, send pictures to people you do not know well, publish pictures on a blog or add images to a document you are going to share. If you are a parent, it is also wise to strip location data from photos of children. On phones, you can usually switch off location tagging in the camera settings, which prevents the GPS tag from being added in the first place.
Related image tools
After cleaning, you may want to make the image smaller with the Image Compressor, change its dimensions with the Image Resizer, or switch the format with the Image Converter. The Aspect Ratio Calculator helps you pick sizes that do not distort the picture.
Privacy
The files you choose stay on your device. The tool does not upload, store or log them, and closing the tab clears everything. As a general habit, check a cleaned copy by opening its properties on your computer. The camera and location fields should be empty.
Frequently asked questions
Does removing EXIF data reduce quality?
The picture is saved again, so JPEG files are compressed one more time. At high quality the difference is hard to notice.
Will the photo still be the right way up?
Yes. The orientation is applied while drawing, so the cleaned copy shows the same way as it appears on screen.
Can I clean many photos at once?
Yes. Select several files and each gets its own download link.
Does it remove GPS information?
Yes. The new file has no GPS tags because only pixels are copied.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. All the work happens in your browser.
How to check whether a photo has location data
On Windows, right click the file, open Properties and go to the Details tab, then look for GPS entries. On a Mac, open the picture in Preview and choose Tools, then Show Inspector, and look at the GPS tab. On a phone, the photos app usually shows a map or location label in the info panel. Run the same check on the cleaned copy to confirm that the details are gone.
Turning off location tagging at the source
You can stop location data from being written in the first place. On Android, open the camera settings and switch off location tags or save location. On iPhone, open Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services, then Camera, and choose Never. You can also remove location when sharing, by tapping Options in the share sheet and turning off Location. This tool is still useful for photos you took earlier.
Who should use this tool?
- Sellers who post product photos taken at home.
- Bloggers and journalists who publish original pictures.
- Parents who share photos of children.
- Anyone who sends images to strangers or posts on public forums.
Checklist before you share a photo
- Remove metadata with this tool.
- Look at the picture for signs, plates, badges or documents that show private information.
- Resize it if the original is huge.
- Rename the file so it does not contain your name or address.