Remove EXIF & Photo Metadata
Strip supported EXIF metadata from JPG, PNG, and WebP photos. Remove detected camera settings, GPS coordinates, device info, and timestamps locally in your browser.
What Is EXIF Data?
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is metadata automatically embedded in photos by your camera or smartphone. It includes GPS coordinates, camera make/model, lens info, exposure settings, timestamps, orientation, color space, and sometimes a thumbnail of the original image.
Common EXIF Fields We Remove
- GPS Latitude & Longitude
- Camera Make & Model
- Lens Information & Focal Length
- Exposure Settings (ISO, Shutter, Aperture)
- Date/Time of Capture
- Device Serial Number
- Software & Firmware Version
- Embedded Thumbnails
- IPTC & XMP Metadata
Technical dimensions, orientation and color profiles may remain for correct display
Who Should Remove EXIF Data?
- Anyone posting photos on social media, forums, or dating apps
- Online sellers with product photos on Etsy, eBay, or Amazon
- Journalists and whistleblowers protecting source identity
- Parents sharing children's photos with location data
- Stock photographers preparing submissions
- Anyone selling items online with photos taken at home
Posting the photo? See what sharing apps do to photo metadata, then use the before-you-share checklist to check the exact copy you send.
BeforeShare practical guide · TuliAI
A photo can keep its appearance and lose its personal tags
Illustrative example: a portrait JPEG contains GPS coordinates, an Artist name, an embedded thumbnail, an Orientation value of 6 and an ICC color profile. Removing every byte called “metadata” would risk rotating the photo or changing its colors. BeforeShare separates personal tags from display information.
| Data | What it means | What to do or expect |
|---|---|---|
| GPS latitude / longitude | Where the photo was taken | Removed from the clean copy |
| Artist and embedded thumbnail | An identity and a second copy of the picture | Removed from the clean copy |
| Orientation = 6 | The viewer needs to rotate the picture | Kept as a minimal JPEG orientation tag |
| ICC profile | How a viewer interprets the colors | Kept when present |
A remaining orientation tag does not mean GPS removal failed. Compare the actual fields, then open the downloaded image. JPG, PNG and WebP cleanup copies the supported image data without re-encoding; HEIC, RAW and video need a different workflow. Renaming a HEIC file to .jpg does not convert it.
How to check the result independently
Use ExifTool to inspect both files: exiftool -G1 -a -s original.jpg clean.jpg. Look for GPS, artist, date and software fields. Technical dimensions and a retained color profile are expected. Our image experiment below publishes exact inputs and measured pixel comparisons; it is a small test, not a guarantee for every camera.
See test files, results and limits →
Sources and scope
Reviewed on . Examples explain the supported cleaner behavior; measured results are in the linked experiment. To report an error, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing EXIF reduce image quality?
No. BeforeShare removes metadata segments at the container level and copies the compressed image data unchanged, so JPG, PNG, and WebP pixels and quality stay identical. A color profile and orientation flag are kept when present so the photo displays the same.
Which EXIF fields are removed and which are kept?
Supported EXIF, GPS, XMP, IPTC, embedded thumbnails, comments, and provenance containers are removed. Technical display data such as the ICC color profile, JFIF density, and the EXIF orientation flag are kept because they change how the image renders, not who made it or where.
Is the photo uploaded to a server?
No. Inspection and cleaning run in your browser and the cleaned copy is created locally. The receipt reinspects the output and reports whether supported removable fields remain.
Can I remove EXIF from HEIC, TIFF, or RAW files?
Not yet. Supported inputs are JPG, PNG, and WebP images plus PDF and DOCX documents. Export or convert HEIC, TIFF, or RAW to JPG or PNG first, then clean the converted copy.
How do I remove metadata from a photo on iPhone or Android?
Open this page in Safari, Chrome, or another current mobile browser, tap to choose the photo from your library or Files, then save the clean copy. BeforeShare removes supported EXIF, GPS, and camera fields from JPG, PNG, and WebP images in the browser. If your phone gives you a HEIC file, save it as JPG first. Your phone may already drop some fields when you pick the photo; the result shows what the chosen copy contains.