Remove location metadata from a photo
EXIF Inspector shows the metadata stored in a photograph, including GPS information when present. Inspect the exact file you intend to share, since other editors can change its metadata.
Open EXIF InspectorInspect the photo
Open it and review location, device, owner, serial number and time fields. A missing GPS field means it is absent from this file, not that the scene reveals no location.
Download a clean copy
Use the cleaning action. JPEG and PNG support lossless cleaning, without recompressing their image pixels. Check the output format for other source types.
Inspect the copy again
Reopen the downloaded file and check that the GPS, owner and device details you intended to remove are gone. Orientation or color-profile information can remain to preserve correct display. Share the cleaned version, and inspect the final export again if you make another edit or conversion.
Metadata is only part of the picture
A street sign, reflection or document visible in the photograph can still reveal information. Metadata removal does not change the scene. Crop or edit visible details separately when needed.
Which metadata should disappear?
Check the fields that reveal information you intended to remove: GPS coordinates, owner names, camera identifiers, serial numbers and capture details. A cleaned JPEG can intentionally retain an orientation-only EXIF record so a portrait stays upright. JFIF density, Adobe display information and a retained color profile are not the same as the removed privacy fields. Zero metadata is not the test of success.
Why keep the color profile?
The Keep color profile option preserves ICC information by default. It helps compatible viewers interpret the image’s colors. Removing it may change the appearance in a color-managed workflow. Leave it enabled unless the receiving workflow gives you a reason to remove it, then compare the downloaded copy in the viewer where it will be used.
Lossless cleaning and other formats
JPEG and PNG have lossless cleaning paths, meaning their image pixels do not need another lossy encoding. Other supported sources are re-encoded instead, so inspect their output format and appearance. Stripping metadata is separate from resizing a picture or obscuring something visible in it. Perform those edits first when practical, then inspect the final file that will actually be shared.