Remove EXIF data in five steps
Keep your original file
Save the original somewhere you can find it. EXIF Cleanup creates a separate download rather than overwriting the selected file. You may want the original capture details, color profile, or provenance later.
Choose a supported photo
Open the metadata remover and choose a JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC/HEIF, or single-page TIFF. Review the format limitations below. Renaming a file extension does not convert the file.
Review the detected details
Check the displayed location, capture time, camera, software, and embedded thumbnail when available. A field marked “Not detected” is not a complete privacy audit.
Clean and download a separate copy
Select Clean metadata, wait for processing to finish, then select Download clean copy. Processing takes place in your browser. The image file is not uploaded to the site.
Check the download before sharing
Open the downloaded image and check its colors and orientation. Inspect that downloaded file again, using an independent local metadata reader when a more thorough check matters. Review the visible content and rename the download if its filename reveals information. Share the checked copy, not the original.
Know what changes
Formats and output limitations
- JPEG, PNG, and WebP: the image payload is kept without re-encoding. Color profiles are removed, so color-managed appearance can change.
- HEIC/HEIF and supported single-page TIFF: supported conversion produces PNG; HEIC support depends on your browser. This can affect bit depth, file size, color handling, and appearance.
- Orientation: supported orientation is preserved. Minimal EXIF orientation information can remain; some HEIC orientation cases are refused.
- Unsupported cases: animated PNG/WebP, multi-page TIFF, malformed files, and unsupported formats are rejected. The file cap is 200 MiB, with a 40-megapixel HEIC/TIFF conversion limit. Device limits may be lower.
Do not assume a different file extension means the same pixels or appearance. Open the result and compare it with your original.
A privacy step, not a guarantee of anonymity
Metadata removal does not hide faces, street signs, reflections, or text visible in the image. It does not remove copies already posted elsewhere or information a recipient already has.
The viewer displays selected fields and is not an exhaustive audit. Cleaning can remove provenance records, but it does not establish that an image is authentic, non-AI, or undetectable by a platform. Read more about Content Credentials and their limits.
If you only want to exclude location, do not assume a general cleaner preserves every other field. Built-in sharing controls differ across devices and apps. Check what the selected control changes and inspect the resulting shared file.
Files are processed locally in this preview. Ordinary site request information may still reach the hosting provider. See the privacy page for that distinction.
Choose your device
See what the documented built-in controls do, where they stop, and how to check the file you plan to share.
Frequently asked questions
Does this overwrite the original photo?
No. EXIF Cleanup reads the selected file and offers a separate download. Keep the original if you want its capture details or provenance later.
Can I remove only location and keep the date?
The current general cleaner removes supported metadata together. It does not offer a GPS-only mode. Keep the original and use a separately verified selective-editing workflow if you need to preserve other fields.
Will removing EXIF change the image quality?
JPEG, PNG, and WebP image payloads are not re-encoded. Supported HEIC and supported single-page TIFF are converted to PNG; HEIC support depends on the browser. Removing color profiles can change color-managed appearance, so check the output rather than assuming it looks identical.
Is a clean copy guaranteed to contain no EXIF?
No. Minimal orientation metadata can be retained to display the image correctly. The preview removes supported metadata but does not certify the absence of every possible identifying signal.
Do messaging apps remove metadata for me?
Behavior can vary by app, version, format, and whether a file is sent as a photo or an original attachment. Do not assume an app strips every field. Check the actual shared copy when it matters.
Can I use the same workflow on a phone or computer?
The workflow uses a browser file picker, but file selection, downloads, and format support depend on the browser and operating system. Real-device acceptance is still pending for this preview; this is not a promise that every phone or browser has been tested.