Cameras and phones write a block of information into every photo: the device model, the settings used, the date and time and, if location services were on, the exact place where the picture was taken. This data is called EXIF metadata. You cannot see it in the image, but anyone who receives the original file can read it.
There are two good reasons to look. Photographers use it to learn which settings produced a good shot. Everyone else should check it before sharing, because a home address can hide in the GPS coordinates. The file is read in your browser and is not uploaded.
How to use it
- Drop a JPG, TIFF, WebP or PNG file onto the page.
- Read the grouped tables: Camera (make, model, lens), Shot (exposure time, aperture, ISO, focal length, flash), Date (taken, modified), Location (latitude, longitude, altitude) and Image (dimensions, orientation, color space, software).
- If the photo has coordinates, you can open the point on OpenStreetMap in a new tab. This happens only when you click the button, and only then are the coordinates sent to OpenStreetMap.
- Use Show all tags to expand the full raw list.
- To clean the file, follow the link to Remove EXIF and location.
Reading the shot settings
The Shot table explains a lot about why a photo looks the way it does:
- Exposure time, such as 1/250 s, is how long the sensor collected light. Handheld photos at 1/15 s or slower are often blurred by camera shake.
- Aperture, such as f/1.8, is the size of the lens opening. A smaller number means a wider opening, more light and a more blurred background.
- ISO is the sensor's sensitivity. Higher values brighten dark scenes but add grain and noise.
- Focal length describes the zoom. Phones often report the real, very short focal length of their tiny lenses, for example a few millimeters; some files also store a 35 mm equivalent value in the full tag list.
- Flash tells you whether the flash fired.
Compare a sharp photo with a blurry one from the same evening and the difference is usually right there in the exposure time and ISO.
Why some data is missing
An empty or short table does not mean the tool failed. Common reasons:
- The photo passed through an app or website. Many social networks and messaging apps remove metadata when you upload or send a photo, so downloaded copies often have none. Do not rely on this when sharing originals, though; behavior differs between services.
- It is a screenshot or an exported edit. Screenshots rarely contain camera data, and editing programs may drop some tags.
- Location was off. GPS coordinates are only written when the camera app has location access.
- It is a HEIC file. HEIC metadata is not read in this version. On an iPhone, the info panel in the Photos app can show the camera and location details.
Metadata can also be edited with ordinary software, and a camera clock can be set wrong. Treat dates and places as helpful hints, not proof. The What is EXIF guide covers the privacy side in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my photo show no EXIF data?
It was probably stripped by an app or website, or the image is a screenshot or an export from an editor. Original files straight from the camera or phone usually contain the most data.
Can I trust the date and location in EXIF?
They are usually accurate for untouched originals, but anyone can edit them and camera clocks can be wrong. Use them as hints rather than evidence.
Is my photo sent anywhere when I check it?
No. The file is read in your browser. The only exception is the map button: if you click it, the coordinates are opened on OpenStreetMap in a new tab.
How do I remove the location before sharing?
Use Remove EXIF and location. For JPG files it removes the metadata without re-compressing the image, so quality stays the same.