What is photo metadata, and why remove it?
Digital photos often carry hidden EXIF metadata: GPS coordinates, the date and time a shot was taken, camera or phone model, lens settings, and sometimes serial numbers or editing software names. You do not see this data in the picture itself, but many apps and websites can read it when you upload or attach the file.
That matters when you post online, sell items on a marketplace, message someone you do not know, or publish images on a website. A GPS tag can reveal where you live or work. Cleaning metadata before sharing is a simple privacy step—and this free metadata remover runs locally so you stay in control.
How to remove metadata from a photo (3 steps)
- Add photos. Drag and drop up to 50 images, or choose files. JPEG, PNG, WebP, and some HEIC files are supported.
- Review what is inside. Each file shows location, camera, date, and other EXIF or XMP fields we detect before anything is changed.
- Download clean copies. Remove metadata and save one file, or get a ZIP when you process several photos at once. All work happens in your browser—no upload and no account.
What gets removed / what stays
| Removed from the file | Stays the same |
|---|---|
| GPS and location tags; dates and times; camera or phone make and model; serial numbers in metadata; lens and exposure settings; embedded EXIF thumbnails; JPEG comment (COM) segments; XMP and extended XMP; IPTC/Photoshop APP13 data; PNG text, time, and eXIf chunks (tEXt, zTXt, iTXt, tIME, eXIf). | Visible pixels for JPEG and PNG (lossless); image width and height; the JPEG JFIF header and embedded ICC color profile (which may include the device or printer profile name); Adobe APP14 color transform data when present; PNG transparency (tRNS), color profiles (iCCP/sRGB), gamma/chroma/physical size chunks, and animated PNG frames. When a JPEG needs rotation metadata, only the EXIF Orientation tag may remain so the picture still displays upright. |
JPEG cleaning removes metadata segments losslessly (EXIF, XMP, IPTC, comments, and anything appended after the primary image) while keeping the JFIF header, ICC profile, and Adobe APP14 transform data so colors stay accurate; rotated phone shots keep a minimal Orientation tag only. PNG removes text/time/eXIf chunks only—transparency and color-related chunks stay. WebP is re-saved through the canvas, which removes metadata but may recompress slightly.
Supported formats and limits
JPEG and PNG are cleaned losslessly. WebP is exported again at high quality (about 92%), which removes metadata but can change file size. HEIC/HEIF works only if your browser can decode it—most reliably in Safari—and the tool then gives you a JPEG without embedded tags.
There is no server-side file size cap because nothing is uploaded; very large batches or huge images are limited only by your device memory. You can queue up to 50 files per session. If HEIC cleaning fails, export the photo as JPEG or PNG and try again.
Privacy
Nothing is uploaded, and there is no sign-up. After this page and its scripts load once, you can use the remover offline in the same browser tab. Your originals stay on your device unless you choose to download cleaned copies.
Frequently asked questions
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How do I remove metadata from a photo?
Use the tool at the top of this page: add images, check the listed fields, then click Remove metadata & download. You get a new file (or ZIP) with EXIF, GPS, XMP, and IPTC data stripped in the browser.
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Does removing EXIF data reduce image quality?
Not for JPEG and PNG—the pixel data is untouched. JPEG may keep only Orientation so the image does not flip after cleaning. WebP and HEIC-to-JPEG exports may look slightly different because the browser re-encodes them when metadata is removed.
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How do I remove location from a photo on iPhone or Android?
Prevent new shots from tagging location in your camera settings, or strip location from existing files here before sharing. Open this page in your phone browser, add the photo, confirm GPS fields appear, then download the cleaned version.
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Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing uses JavaScript on your device. Files are not sent to MacPlus or third-party servers for cleaning.
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Can I remove metadata from HEIC photos?
Sometimes, when Safari or another compatible browser can decode HEIC. Otherwise convert to JPEG or PNG first.
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Does Facebook Marketplace or Instagram remove metadata from photos?
Public versions on social networks often drop metadata, but the app may still receive your original file first. Direct messages, email attachments, and many listing uploads can keep GPS and camera tags. Clean locally when privacy matters.
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How can I check if my photo still has EXIF data?
Load the image in the tool without downloading. If metadata remains, it appears in the tables under the thumbnail. Compare before and after by cleaning once and re-adding the downloaded file.
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Does this remove AI-generated image labels?
It removes embedded metadata tags, not visible overlays or pixel content. Labels drawn into the image itself would still show.
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