To remove metadata from a photo, drop it into the box above and select Remove metadata on its card, or Remove metadata from all (ZIP) for a batch. The tool redraws the image and saves a fresh copy without EXIF, GPS or camera details. The photo's metadata shows on its card as soon as you add it, so you can check it first.
How to remove metadata from a photo
- Add your photos. Drag them onto the drop area or select Select images. You can add up to 500 files or 2 GB at once.
- Check the metadata. The metadata is read as soon as a file is added. Each card shows the camera, GPS position and dimensions, with tabs for Camera & Lens, Exposure, GPS & Location and more.
- Pick the clean format. Clean Export Format starts on Same / Closest, which keeps JPG, PNG and WebP in their own format. Clean Export Quality starts on High.
- Remove the metadata. Select Remove metadata on a card, or Remove metadata from all (ZIP) to get every clean copy in one ZIP file. Each clean copy has
-cleanadded to its name.
What metadata is stored in a photo?
Most cameras and phones write EXIF data into every photo. It's invisible when you look at the picture, but any app that reads the file can see it. A typical phone photo carries:
- Device: camera make and model, lens, and the software or app version.
- Time: the date and time the photo was taken.
- Settings: ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length, flash and white balance.
- Location: GPS latitude and longitude, and sometimes altitude, if location was on.
The GPS tag is the one that matters most for privacy. Coordinates are often precise enough to identify a house. When a photo has them, the viewer converts them to decimal form and adds a Google Maps link so you can see exactly what they point to. Other tags the reader finds, such as editing software details or XMP fields, appear under Raw / Extended.
How the metadata removal works
The cleaner copies the visible pixels onto a blank canvas and saves that as a brand-new image file. Only the picture carries over, so EXIF, GPS, camera details and other embedded tags are left behind. Your original file isn't changed.
Because the image is saved again, keep these points in mind:
- Format. With Same / Closest, JPG stays JPG, PNG stays PNG and WebP stays WebP. Other formats, such as GIF or BMP, are saved as PNG, and an animated GIF keeps only its first frame.
- Quality. JPG and WebP are compressed again. High uses 92% quality, Balanced 82% and Max 100%. PNG is lossless at any setting.
- Browser support. The file must open in your browser to be cleaned. HEIC photos, for example, only work in browsers that can display them. Convert them first with HEIC to JPG.
- Batches. Remove metadata from all (ZIP) puts every clean copy into one file,
toolzylab-clean-images.zip, so there's only one download to allow.
How to remove metadata from photos on iPhone, Windows and Mac
Your device has some built-in options too. They're handy for one photo at a time.
Remove photo metadata on iPhone
In the Photos app, select the photos and tap the Share button. Tap Options at the top of the share sheet and turn off Location. This removes the GPS position from the shared copy only, and you need to do it each time you share. Camera details and the date stay in the file.
Remove metadata on Windows
In File Explorer, right-click the photo and choose Properties, open the Details tab, and click Remove Properties and Personal Information. You can make a copy with all possible properties removed or pick fields to delete from the original. Explorer doesn't show every tag a file can hold, so check the result in the viewer above.
Remove location on a Mac
In the Photos app, choose File › Export and untick Location Information before saving the copy. The exported photo keeps its other EXIF details.
How to check photo metadata before you share
When you have a whole folder to check, the EXIF data viewer's toolbar helps you find the risky files fast. Once the photos are added, set Filter to With GPS to list only photos that reveal a location. The summary bar counts how many files have EXIF, GPS and camera info, and the Search box finds any field, such as a camera model or a date.
Don't be surprised if a photo shows nothing. Screenshots, edited exports and images saved from messaging apps or social networks often have little or no EXIF left. To keep a record of what you found, Export all JSON saves every file's metadata in one file. If you're cleaning photos before posting them online, you may also want to compress the JPGs in the same pass.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove location from a photo?
Drop the photo into the tool at the top of this page and select Remove metadata. The clean copy has no GPS coordinates and no other EXIF data either.
How can I check photo metadata for free?
Add the photo and its metadata appears right away. This photo metadata viewer shows camera, date, exposure settings and GPS location, with every other tag listed in grouped tabs.
Does removing metadata reduce image quality?
PNG files stay lossless. JPG and WebP are saved again at the quality you choose, and the default High setting (92%) looks the same as the original on screen.
Which formats can I clean?
Any image your browser can open, including JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF. JPG, PNG and WebP keep their format, and other formats are saved as PNG unless you pick one.
Can I edit EXIF data instead of deleting it?
No. This EXIF viewer reads and removes metadata but doesn't edit individual fields. Use Windows Properties or a desktop EXIF editor to change a single value.
Why does my photo show no EXIF data?
The app that created or shared it probably removed it already. Screenshots, edited exports and photos saved from chat apps or social media often carry little or none.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. Reading and cleaning happen in your browser, so the photos and their location data never leave your device.