An EXIF viewer that shows what your photos reveal
Every photo from a phone or camera carries hidden information called EXIF metadata: the camera and lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, the exact date and time, the software used — and, very often, the GPS coordinates of where it was taken. This free EXIF viewer reads all of it, including IPTC captions and XMP editing data, and lays it out clearly.
If the photo contains a location, you get a prominent warning and a map link so you can see exactly what others would see. One click on “Remove metadata” then saves a clean copy that is safe to share. The file is read on your device, so even sensitive photos never leave it.
How to use the EXIF Viewer
- Drag a photo onto the drop area or click to choose one. Use the original file from your camera or phone, not a copy sent through a messaging app.
- Read the summary: camera, lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focal length, date taken, software, orientation and dimensions.
- Check the yellow warning box. If GPS data is present, open the OpenStreetMap link to see the location stored in the file.
- Browse or filter the full tag table, or press “Copy all tags” to paste every value into a spreadsheet.
- Press “Remove metadata” to download a clean copy without EXIF, GPS, IPTC or XMP data.
EXIF Viewer features
Full EXIF, GPS, IPTC and XMP
Powered by the exifr library, it reads JPEG, HEIC, TIFF, PNG and WebP metadata blocks, not just the basics.
Readable photography summary
Shutter speeds appear as 1/250 s, apertures as f/2.8, and focal length with its full-frame equivalent where available.
Location warning with map
Embedded GPS coordinates are converted to decimal degrees and shown on OpenStreetMap so you understand the privacy risk.
One-click metadata removal
The image is redrawn on a canvas and saved as a fresh file, then re-checked to confirm no metadata remains.
Searchable tag table
Filter hundreds of tags instantly by name or value, and copy everything as tab-separated text.
Nothing uploaded
Unlike many metadata sites, the photo is never sent to a server — important when the data you are checking is private.
Why photo metadata is a privacy risk
Smartphones record GPS coordinates in photos by default when location access is allowed for the camera. A picture of your new car on the driveway, a child in a school uniform or an item listed for sale can reveal a home address to within a few metres. Date and time stamps show routines, and the camera serial number or software can link photos to the same person.
Big social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and X strip most EXIF data from public uploads, and WhatsApp compresses photos sent normally. But email attachments, cloud-drive links, online marketplaces, forums, “send as document” in chat apps and your own website usually keep the original file intact — metadata included.
- iPhone: in the Share sheet tap “Options” and turn off “Location” before sending, or disable location for the Camera in Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
- Android: open the Camera app settings and turn off “Location tags” (the name varies by brand); Google Photos can also remove the estimated location from a photo.
- Any device: run the photo through this viewer and download the clean copy before posting it publicly.
Understanding the camera settings
| Tag | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Shutter speed (ExposureTime) | 1/250 s | How long the sensor was exposed; fast speeds freeze motion |
| Aperture (FNumber) | f/1.8 | Size of the lens opening; small numbers blur the background |
| ISO | ISO 200 | Sensor sensitivity; high values brighten dark scenes but add noise |
| Focal length | 26 mm (full-frame) | Field of view: wide (under 35 mm) to telephoto (over 70 mm) |
| Orientation | Rotate 90 CW | How viewers should rotate the stored pixels |
| DateTimeOriginal | 2024-05-01 10:30:00 | When the shutter was pressed, in the camera’s local time |
How “Remove metadata” works
The tool draws the visible pixels onto an HTML canvas and encodes a brand-new JPG, PNG or WebP file from them. Because only pixels are copied, none of the EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP or thumbnail blocks survive. The photo is rotated upright automatically, so it still displays correctly without an orientation tag.
Re-encoding a JPG at 95% quality is visually lossless, though the file size may change slightly. Colour profiles are converted to standard sRGB. If you also want a smaller file, follow up with the Image Compressor, which strips metadata too; iPhone HEIC photos can be cleaned and converted in one step with HEIC to JPG.
EXIF Viewer FAQ
How can I see where a photo was taken?
Open the original photo in this EXIF viewer. If the camera recorded GPS data, a warning box shows the coordinates and a link that opens the exact spot on OpenStreetMap. If no location appears, the file does not contain GPS metadata.
Why does my photo show no EXIF data?
Many apps remove metadata when you share or export: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, screenshots and most editing apps. Check the original file from the camera or phone gallery instead of a forwarded copy.
Does removing metadata reduce photo quality?
The clean copy is re-encoded at 95% JPEG quality (or lossless for PNG), which looks identical to the original in normal viewing. Pixel dimensions are unchanged.
Is it safe to check private photos here?
Yes. The metadata is read by JavaScript running in your own browser, and the photo is never uploaded. Only the open-source exifr library is downloaded from a public CDN.
Can I edit EXIF data, such as the date?
This tool views and removes metadata; it does not edit individual tags. Removing everything is the most reliable way to protect your privacy before sharing.
Which formats are supported?
JPEG, HEIC/HEIF, TIFF, PNG, WebP and AVIF files can be inspected. Clean copies can be made for any format your browser can display — JPG, PNG and WebP everywhere, and HEIC in Safari.