Remove Photo Metadata
Strip location and camera data from photos before you share them, then re-check that nothing is left. Runs in your browser with no upload.
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Remove Photo Metadata: complete guide
Walk through the steps and examples, or jump straight to the topic you need.
At a glance
- Supported formats
- JPG, PNG, WebP. Checked by reading the start of the file, not by the extension.
- At a time
- Up to 30 files, 40 MB each.
- How it works
- It does not recompress; it only takes out the part holding metadata. The pixels stay as they are.
- What is kept
- The color profile (ICC), PNG transparency, and the JFIF and Adobe markers in JPG are kept so colors do not change.
- What is removed
- EXIF, GPS, XMP, IPTC, comments, and PNG text chunks and modification time.
- Orientation
- You can choose whether to keep it. If you do not, a portrait photo may look sideways.
- How to verify
- The cleaned file is read again by the same inspector and the remaining items are shown.
- Where it runs
- Photos are not sent to a server; they are processed only in this browser.
How to use Remove Photo Metadata
Add photos and they are inspected first
You can add several at once. As soon as you add them, each file is read and what it contains is shown in a list. If an unsupported format is mixed in, only that file gets a reason and the rest are processed as usual.
Check what was there
Select a photo in the list and the information found appears on the left. Location information is collapsed by default and is shown only when you turn on show values. Items that were read, such as the shooting device and the time taken, are shown as they are.
Decide whether to keep orientation
Phone photos are often stored sideways and shown rotated using an orientation value. If the orientation value is removed too, the photo may look sideways depending on where it is viewed. By default only the orientation value is kept, and location and device information are removed.
Check the result after cleaning and save
On the right, the result of reading the cleaned file again appears. If there are no items left, that fact is shown. You can save one at a time or get everything as a ZIP, and a marker is added to the file name so the original is not overwritten.
What it’s good for
It first shows you what was inside
Photos taken with a phone store the shooting location, the device name, and the time it was taken. When you add a file, it shows a list of what information was there before removing anything, and location coordinates are collapsed by default. After removal, the result file is read again by the same inspector and the outcome of checking for leftover items is shown with it. You do not have to take the word "done" on faith.
It removes only the information, without touching quality
Recompressing a photo lowers its quality little by little. This tool does not recreate the file; it only takes out the part that holds the metadata, so the pixels stay exactly as they are. To keep colors from changing, the color profile and PNG transparency are kept, and you can choose to keep only the orientation information so a portrait photo does not end up sideways.
Worked examples
A photo that contained a location
A JPG with GPS and shooting information2 items found
Shooting information (EXIF) · Location information (GPS)
Re-inspection after cleaning: 0 itemsWhen orientation is kept
A portrait photo · keep orientation turned onRe-inspection after cleaning: 1 item
Shooting information (EXIF): orientation value onlyWhat is removed and what is kept
Swipe the table sideways to see the rest.
| Item | Handling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Location and shooting information (EXIF/GPS) | Removed | It reveals where and when the photo was taken. |
| Description and editing information (XMP/IPTC) | Removed | It can leave the author or editing history. |
| Color profile (ICC) | Kept | Removing it can make the colors look different. |
| PNG transparency | Kept | The result you see on screen would change. |
When the result isn’t what you expected
The photo looks sideways
This happens when the orientation information was removed too. Turn on keep orientation and add the file again. A file that has already been cleaned must be started again from the original to restore the orientation value.
It says there is nothing to remove
The file has already been cleaned. Photos that passed through a messenger app or some sites can lose their metadata along the way. In that case the file stays as it is and its size does not change.
It says the format is not supported
Only JPG, PNG, and WebP are processed. For HEIC, convert it with the HEIC to JPG tool and then add it. A file whose extension was merely renamed is also filtered out by reading its start.
An address in the photo is still visible
This tool removes only the information written in the file. Hide text or faces captured in the picture with the photo mosaic tool.
Key terms
- EXIF
- Shooting information stored together in a photo file. It includes the device name, the time taken, and settings.
- GPS information
- The coordinates of the place where the photo was taken. It can reveal your home or workplace.
- ICC color profile
- Information that describes how colors should be displayed. Removing it can change the color tone.
- Orientation information
- A value describing how many degrees to rotate the photo for display. Removing it can make the photo look sideways.
Remove Photo Metadata FAQ
Are signs or faces visible in the photo also removed?
No. It removes only the information written in the file. To hide addresses or faces visible in the picture, use the photo mosaic tool as well.
Does quality drop?
No. It does not recompress; it only takes out the part holding the metadata, so the pixels stay as they are.
Which formats are supported?
JPG, PNG, and WebP. It checks by reading the start of the file rather than the extension, and files that are not supported are not treated as a success but reported as they are.
Can I check a cleaned photo again?
Add the saved file to this tool again. If no items remain, it says there is nothing to remove.
Does it work with animated WebP?
It removes only the metadata and keeps the animation information. After saving, please check once that playback is normal.
Why does the file size get smaller?
It shrinks by as much as the metadata took up. The pixels stay as they are, so the reduction is not caused by quality loss.