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What Is EXIF Data, and How Do You Remove It?
EXIF is the hidden information a camera writes into every photo. Some of it is useful, and some of it reveals more than you might expect.
Last reviewed November 2026
What EXIF means
EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. It is a standard way of storing technical details inside JPG, HEIC, and some other image files, created so that cameras and software could read each other's information.
What it can contain
| Field | What it reveals |
|---|---|
| Make and model | The brand and model of your phone or camera |
| Date and time | When the photo was taken, often to the second |
| GPS coordinates | Where it was taken, if location was on |
| Exposure settings | Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and lens |
| Software | The app or firmware that last saved it |
| Serial numbers | On some cameras, an ID for the body or lens |
| Orientation | Which way up the picture should be shown |
| Thumbnail | A small preview, which may not match later edits |
The thumbnail is easy to overlook. If an editor changes the main image without updating the preview, the small copy can still show what was cropped out.
When EXIF is worth keeping
- Your own archive. Dates and places make a photo library searchable.
- Photography. Settings help you learn from a shot and can support a claim of ownership.
- Evidence and records. Insurance claims, journalism, and legal matters may depend on original files.
Remove it from the copy you share, not from the only copy you own. Don't strip copyright or ownership details from work that belongs to someone else.
How to view and remove EXIF
Open the Metadata checker to see which blocks a file contains. It reads the file on your device and doesn't change it. To remove them, switch to the Image cleaner and download a clean copy. The tool applies the photo's rotation first, so the picture stays the right way up after the orientation tag is gone.
Worried mainly about location? See how to remove GPS from photos, including built-in phone and computer options.
Related formats you may also see
EXIF is one of several kinds of metadata. XMP is often used by editing software, IPTC holds captions and credits, and Content Credentials record how an image was made. The glossary explains each one.
Common questions
Do PNG files have EXIF data?
They can. PNG added an official way to store EXIF, though many PNG files use text blocks instead, and those can hold comments or software settings.
Does a screenshot have EXIF data?
Usually very little, and normally no GPS location. It can still include details such as the device, software, or time, depending on how it was created.
Is it safe to remove EXIF data?
Yes, as long as you keep the original when it matters. Removing it does not harm the picture, but a clean copy can no longer show when or where it was taken.
Check your own photo
See what your file carries. Nothing is uploaded.