About the Image Metadata (EXIF) Viewer tool
Inspect the hidden EXIF metadata inside your photos — camera make and model, exposure settings, ISO, and timestamps. Parsing happens locally, so your private photo data stays private.
This runs entirely on your device. Photos often carry more private information than people realize, so keeping them off a server is the sensible default.
How to use it
- Add your photo.
- Read the full metadata table.
- Use Remove EXIF if you want to strip it before sharing.
What your photos are quietly carrying
EXIF metadata is written by the camera at the moment of capture. It typically includes the exact date and time, camera make and model, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO — and on a phone, frequently GPS coordinates accurate to a few meters.
That last one is the reason this matters. A single holiday photo posted publicly can reveal a home address if it was taken in the garden.
Where the metadata survives, and where it does not
Most large social platforms strip EXIF when you upload — but not all, and not consistently. Files sent by email, messaging apps that send 'as document', cloud links and direct downloads generally keep it intact.
The safe assumption is that any file you hand over directly still carries everything.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every platform strips location data. Several do not.
- Checking the copy after upload rather than the original you are about to send.
- Removing EXIF from your archive copies, which destroys genuinely useful photographic records.
Questions people ask
Does EXIF contain my location?
Often yes, if location services were enabled when the photo was taken. Check the GPS fields.
Do social networks remove it?
Most of the big ones do on upload, but email attachments and direct file transfers usually do not.
Should I always strip it?
Strip before sharing publicly. Keep it on your archive copies, where the camera settings and dates are valuable.