What hidden data your photos carry
Most phone and camera photos contain metadata, usually in the EXIF format. It can include the camera make and model, the exact date and time the photo was taken, the software used and, if location was switched on, GPS coordinates precise enough to point at your home. When you send the original file by email, upload it to a website or share it through a cloud link, that data can travel with it.
Some platforms strip metadata when you upload, but not all do, and their behavior can change. It is safer to clean photos yourself before sharing. Our guide on what EXIF is goes into more detail.
How to use it
- Add your photos. JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC and other formats are accepted.
- Review what the tool found in each file: camera make and model, date taken, whether there is a GPS location, software and comments.
- Decide about the color profile (ICC). It is kept by default; tick the checkbox to remove it as well.
- Download the cleaned photos one by one or as a ZIP.
Everything happens in your browser, so the photos and their location data are never uploaded.
How each format is cleaned
JPG. The tool cuts the metadata blocks (EXIF, XMP, IPTC and comments) out of the file without re-compressing the image. The picture data is untouched, so the quality is exactly the same as before.
PNG. Text, time and EXIF chunks are removed. This is also lossless.
WebP and other formats. These are re-encoded into a new file, which leaves all metadata behind. Because the image is encoded again, this is the case where the pixels themselves are rewritten.
The color profile and the orientation tag
The ICC color profile tells programs how to display the colors correctly. It does not contain your location or the date, and removing it can make some photos, especially from newer phones, look duller or slightly off on certain screens. That is why it is kept by default. Remove it only if you want the file completely bare.
Phones often store photos sideways and add an EXIF orientation tag that tells viewers to turn them. Simply deleting that tag would make the photo appear on its side. When the tool finds such a photo, it rotates the actual pixels so the picture stays upright. In this one case the JPG is re-encoded at quality 95, and the tool tells you so.
Frequently asked questions
Does removing EXIF reduce image quality?
For most JPG and PNG files, no: only the metadata is cut out. The exceptions are JPGs that need rotating, which are re-encoded at quality 95, and formats such as WebP, which are re-encoded.
Do social media sites remove location data anyway?
Many large platforms remove it from the public image, but practices differ and change, and files sent as email attachments or through cloud links usually keep it. Cleaning the file yourself means you do not have to rely on anyone else.
How can I check whether a photo has location data?
The tool shows it before cleaning. For a full list of every tag, use the EXIF viewer.
Can I hide faces or license plates too?
Removing metadata does not change what is visible in the photo. To hide parts of the picture itself, use Blur & redact.