How to remove EXIF and GPS metadata before sharing photos

What can be embedded in an image?

EXIF is a common form of image metadata that may include camera details, capture time, exposure settings and GPS. Not every photo contains these fields; location data depends on capture and saving settings. Consult the ExifTool EXIF field documentation and GPS field documentation for common capture and location fields.

Messaging and editing software sometimes remove some fields, but sharing a file once does not prove its metadata is gone. Inspect the actual file you are about to share.

Create a clean sharing copy

1. 1Open the image metadata cleaner and select one or more JPG, PNG or WebP files. Each input is limited to 80 MB and 40 million pixels.
2. 2Check the listed dimensions and size, then re-encode. The original is not overwritten; you receive a new export.
3. 3Download one result or a ZIP and choose a filename that distinguishes the sharing copy.
4. 4Use local file properties or a trusted metadata viewer to check common capture and location fields. Open the image and inspect orientation, color and detail.

Re-encoding can change file size and pixel encoding. Keep originals. This entry is not intended to preserve animated content.

Review the visible image too

• Addresses, signs, badges, license plates and screen notifications remain in the picture.
• A filename may contain a person, client or location name. Check it before sharing.
• People, buildings and surroundings can reveal identity or location. Removing GPS does not make the scene unidentifiable.
• Use appropriate cropping or privacy editing for visible sensitive content, and inspect the final export instead of relying only on reversible annotations.

Verify the final file, not the original

Find the new downloaded file, check its fields and use that copy as your actual attachment. Sample several files in a batch. For strict requirements, inspect all metadata with an independent tool.

Decoding, re-encoding and ZIP packaging for this tool occur in your browser. Local processing reduces the need to send photos to a conversion service, but does not replace checks on the exported file and sharing context.

If sharing also requires format conversion, check the PNG, JPG and WebP selection guide. For HEIC inputs, use the HEIC-to-JPG guide and inspect metadata again on the final sharing file.