How to remove EXIF and GPS data from a photo
- 1.
Add photos
Drop JPG, PNG or WebP files onto the box above or choose them from your device.
- 2.
Check the report
Under the file list you will see what metadata was found: GPS with coordinates, camera, lens, date taken, software, XMP and IPTC blocks.
- 3.
Download clean files
Download the photos one by one or as a ZIP - they no longer contain any metadata.
What is EXIF data and why remove it?
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is metadata that a camera or phone writes into every photo. It can include:
- exact GPS coordinates - often accurate to a few metres, which can mean your home address,
- the device make and model, lens and sometimes a serial number,
- the date and time the photo was taken,
- exposure settings, the editing software used and a thumbnail of the original frame.
Big social networks usually strip EXIF when you post, but email attachments, messengers sending a “file” instead of a photo, cloud share links, forums and marketplace listings often pass the file on untouched. Clean a photo before you send it to a stranger.
Lossless removal - how it works
Instead of re-compressing the image, the tool cuts the metadata blocks out of the file and copies the image data byte for byte:
| Format | Removed | Kept |
|---|---|---|
| JPG | APP1 (EXIF, XMP), APP13 (IPTC), comments, other APP segments, data appended after the image | JFIF, ICC colour profile, Adobe segment |
| PNG | eXIf, tEXt, zTXt, iTXt, tIME | image, transparency, gamma, colour profile |
| WebP | EXIF, XMP | image, transparency, animation, ICC profile |
One exception: if the photo has an EXIF rotation tag (Orientation other than 1), deleting it would leave the picture lying on its side. In that case the image is re-saved at high quality (95%) and physically rotated, so it still looks right everywhere.
When does metadata survive sharing?
| How you share the photo | Does EXIF/GPS usually survive? |
|---|---|
| Email attachment | yes - the file is sent unchanged |
| Messenger, “send as file/document” | yes |
| Messenger, regular compressed photo | usually not - the app re-saves the image |
| Cloud drive share link | yes - the recipient downloads the original |
| Forums, shops, classifieds | depends on the site - safer to clean the file first |
Screenshots have no GPS but may carry a date and device name. Formats other than JPG, PNG and WebP (such as GIF or BMP) are re-saved as PNG - the new file has no metadata, but an animated GIF keeps only its first frame. Convert iPhone HEIC photos first with the HEIC to JPG converter. The report shows the file before cleaning; load the downloaded copy again to confirm it says “No metadata”.
How to stop your phone saving location
- iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera → “Never”. When sharing, you can also tap “Options” and turn off “Location”.
- Android (Google or Samsung camera): open the Camera app settings and turn off “Location tags” or “Save location”.
Photos you have already taken keep their coordinates, so clean them with this tool before sharing.
Frequently asked questions
Does removing EXIF reduce photo quality?
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How can I check if a photo contains GPS location?
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Do Facebook and Instagram remove EXIF?
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Are my photos uploaded to a server?
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Does it work with HEIC or RAW files?
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Can I clean many photos at once?
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