How to remove metadata from photos before sharing

A photo can quietly carry your location, your device, and the exact time you took it. Here is how to strip that data on every major platform — and how to check that it worked.

Last updated: July 2026

Before you send a photo to a stranger, list an item for sale, or post an image publicly, it is worth removing its metadata. As we explain in what is EXIF data, the hidden block inside a photo can include the coordinates where it was taken. Stripping it takes seconds once you know where to look.

iPhone (iOS 16 and later)

  1. Open the Photos app and select the image.
  2. Tap the share button (the square with an arrow).
  3. Near the top of the share sheet, tap Options.
  4. Turn All Photos Data off, or switch to a version without location.
  5. Alternatively, open the info panel (swipe up or tap the ⓘ) and choose Adjust or Remove Location.

Turning off All Photos Data when sharing sends the image without its EXIF, keeping the picture but dropping the metadata.

Android

Steps vary slightly by manufacturer, but the Google Photos path works on most devices:

  1. Open the photo in Google Photos.
  2. Swipe up or tap the info button to see location and camera details.
  3. Tap Edit or the location entry, then Remove location.
  4. To strip more, use a dedicated tool such as your gallery app's “remove metadata” option, or share via an app that omits EXIF.

Windows

  1. Right-click the image file and choose Properties.
  2. Open the Details tab.
  3. Click Remove Properties and Personal Information at the bottom.
  4. Choose Create a copy with all possible properties removed, or select specific fields to clear, then click OK.

Windows creates a clean copy so your original stays intact — useful if you still want the metadata for your own archive.

macOS

The built-in Preview app can remove location data:

  1. Open the image in Preview.
  2. Choose Tools → Show Inspector, then the GPS tab.
  3. Click Remove Location Info.

Preview strips GPS but may leave other EXIF fields. For a full wipe, export through an app that omits metadata or use a command-line tool such as exiftool -all= photo.jpg.

Does posting online remove metadata for me?

Sometimes — but do not rely on it. Large social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X generally strip EXIF when they re-encode your upload. However, this does not apply everywhere: images sent as file attachments, shared in cloud storage, listed on marketplaces, or posted to smaller sites frequently keep their metadata intact. Because the behavior is inconsistent and can change without notice, the safe habit is to remove the data before you upload.

Confirm the metadata is actually gone

Never assume — verify. Drop the cleaned file into MetaLens and check the result. If the embedded metadata panel shows None and no GPS map appears, the sensitive data has been removed. If fields are still present, repeat the steps above or use a dedicated stripping tool. Checking takes a few seconds and is the only way to be sure the copy you are about to share is clean.

A note on keeping your originals

Metadata is genuinely valuable for organizing and remembering your own library — capture dates, camera settings, and locations all help. The goal is not to destroy it everywhere, but to share copies that omit it. Keep your originals; sanitize what leaves your device.

Ready to inspect your own image?

MetaLens reads your photo's metadata in your browser session and never stores the file.

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