Every photo from a phone or camera can carry hidden information: the device you used, the time it was taken, and sometimes the GPS location. Most people never see it, but anyone who gets the file can read it. This free EXIF Viewer & Remover shows what is stored in a photo and gives you a clean copy without it. Your photos are processed in your browser and are never uploaded.
Table of Contents
How to Use the EXIF Viewer & Remover
- Add your photos. Drag and drop JPG or PNG files, or click the upload box. You can add up to 30 photos at a time.
- Read the summary. Each photo shows what was found, such as GPS location, camera model or date taken. Photos with a GPS location get a highlighted border.
- Open the details (optional). Click Details to see all readable tags. For GPS, the tool also shows an open map link. Opening it sends those coordinates to Google Maps, so click it only if you are comfortable with that.
- Choose the orientation setting. Keep Keep image orientation ticked if you want portrait JPG photos to stay upright. This option does not apply to PNG files.
- Download the clean copy. Click Download clean copy. The tool adds
-cleanto the file name, so your original is never overwritten. It also scans the new file again and tells you if any metadata is left.
If you change the orientation option, the clean copies update automatically.
What Gets Removed and What Stays
| Format | Removed | Kept |
|---|---|---|
| JPG | EXIF (including GPS), XMP, IPTC, comments, other extra data blocks, and any data stored after the end of the image. | The image itself, the color profile, and the orientation flag if you keep it. |
| PNG | EXIF, text and XMP chunks, and the timestamp chunk. | The image itself and the color profile. |
For JPG, the tool removes the metadata blocks and copies the image data unchanged. The photo is not re-compressed, so the quality does not drop.
What Is EXIF Data?
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard way to store extra information inside an image file. Cameras and phones write it automatically. It is most common in JPG files, and PNG files can carry it in an eXIf chunk. A photo can contain:
- Device details: camera make and model, lens, and sometimes a serial number.
- Capture settings: exposure time, aperture, ISO and focal length.
- Date and time: when the photo was taken.
- GPS location: latitude, longitude and sometimes altitude, if location was enabled for your camera app.
- Other metadata: editing software, an owner or artist name, XMP and IPTC data.
Why Remove EXIF Data?
The main reason is privacy. A photo taken at home can reveal your address through its GPS coordinates, and a serial number or timestamp can show more than you planned to share. Some platforms remove location data when you upload, but you cannot count on that everywhere, so it is safer to clean photos yourself before you publish or send them.
File size is a smaller benefit. Metadata is usually small compared with the image itself, so it will not transform your page speed. For bigger savings, resize and compress your images as described in our Complete Guide to Image Optimization.
A simple rule: clean copies are for sharing, and originals are for your archive. Keep the original, with its date and location, for your own use.
Limitations to Know
- Only JPG and PNG are supported. Other formats, such as WebP and HEIC, are not read by this tool.
- The viewer shows common tags. Some manufacturer-specific data (often called maker notes) is not displayed, although the cleaner still removes it.
- Extra phone data is removed too. Some phones store extra data, such as HDR or motion-photo data, after the main image. The clean copy is a plain photo without it.
- Cleaning does not change what is visible. Faces, street signs, house numbers and watermarks stay in the picture. Check the image itself before you share it.
- File names can reveal information too. Rename files that contain a place or a person's name. Our image SEO guide covers good file names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. The tool reads and cleans your photos in your browser. Your files stay on your device.
Does removing EXIF data reduce image quality?
No. For JPG files, the tool removes the metadata blocks and copies the image data as it is, without re-compressing it. The picture stays identical.
Why does my photo show no EXIF data?
The metadata may already have been removed. Screenshots, images downloaded from social apps and files edited with some tools often have none. The tool then reports that no metadata was found.
Will my photo turn sideways after cleaning?
Not if Keep image orientation is ticked. The tool keeps only the rotation flag for JPG files. If you untick it, a photo that relies on the flag may appear rotated in some apps.
Can I use this tool on WebP or HEIC photos?
Not yet. The tool supports JPG and PNG. For other formats, convert the photo to JPG or PNG first, then clean it.
Final Thoughts
A photo can say more than what you see in it. Before you publish or share a picture, check what it carries, remove what you do not need to share, and keep your original safe. Image compressors and converters often drop metadata, but not always, so check the final file here if privacy matters. For the rest of the workflow, see our guide on how to optimize images in Blogger.