How to Remove EXIF Data From Photos
Updated 2026-06-21
To remove EXIF data from a photo, open the image in a metadata tool, review the hidden tags it contains, and export a cleaned copy with the metadata stripped out. With EXIF Viewer & Stripper the whole process happens inside your browser — the photo is never uploaded to a server, so even GPS coordinates stay on your device.
What EXIF data is — and why it matters
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a block of metadata that cameras and phones embed in JPEG and many other image files. It can include the date and time a photo was taken, the camera make and model, exposure and lens settings, and — most sensitive of all — GPS latitude and longitude pinpointing where the shot was captured.
That location data is the real risk. A casual photo posted online can quietly reveal your home address, a child's school, or your daily routine. Stripping EXIF before you share removes that trail.
How to remove EXIF data step by step
- Open EXIF Viewer & Stripper and drag a photo onto the page (or click to choose a file).
- Review the metadata it reveals — look especially for any GPS fields and the original capture timestamp.
- Choose to strip the metadata and export a clean copy of the image.
- Save the cleaned file and use that copy when you post or send the photo.
The exported image looks identical to the eye. Only the invisible metadata is gone, so quality is untouched.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Screenshots aren't always clean. A screenshot of a photo usually drops EXIF, but re-saving from some apps can re-add metadata. Verify, don't assume.
- Editing apps can preserve GPS. Many photo editors keep the original EXIF block when you crop or adjust, so the location often survives basic edits. Strip metadata as the last step before sharing.
- Social platforms vary. Some networks strip EXIF on upload and some don't — and you can't rely on which. Removing it yourself first guarantees the result.
- Keep your original. Stripping is one-way. Export a separate clean copy and keep the untouched original if you still want the date and camera details for your own records.
When you actually want to strip it
Reach for this whenever a photo leaves your control: listing an item for sale, posting to a public forum or dating profile, emailing an image to someone you don't fully trust, or submitting a picture with a complaint or report. In each case the recipient could read the embedded location and timestamp unless you remove them first.
Because EXIF Viewer & Stripper runs entirely client-side, you can inspect and clean even sensitive images without sending them anywhere. Drop a photo in, check what it was hiding, and download a metadata-free copy before you hit share.