How to Check and Remove Location Data (EXIF) Before Sharing Photos

Photos from your phone carry hidden information called EXIF metadata: the date and time, the camera model and, if location services were on, the GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken.

If you post a photo taken at home on a marketplace or share pictures of your children, that data can reveal where you live. Many social networks strip location data on upload, but email, file sharing and some forums pass the original file along unchanged.

iPhone: remove location when sharing

To stop saving location in new photos, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera and choose “Never”.

1. In Photos, select the photo and tap Share.
2. Tap “Options” at the top of the share sheet.
3. Turn off “Location”, tap Done, then send.

Windows: remove it in file properties

1. Right-click the photo and open Properties.
2. On the Details tab, check whether GPS fields are present.
3. Click “Remove Properties and Personal Information” to create a clean copy or delete those fields.

Mac: remove it in Preview

1. Open the photo in Preview.
2. Choose Tools → Show Inspector.
3. If there is a GPS tab, click “Remove Location Info”.

Converting removes location data too

Bart Tools converters redraw the image in your browser and save a new file, so the converted image does not include the original EXIF data such as location. If you need to change the format anyway, you clean up the metadata at the same time, and your photo never leaves your device.

Remember that visible clues such as street signs, the view from a window or a shipping label stay in the picture regardless of metadata, so check the image itself before posting.