Exclude location when sharing from Photos
Apple documents a location control in the Photos share sheet. The controls shown can vary with your software and sharing method.
Choose the photo and open Share
In Photos, select the photo you want to share and tap the Share button.
Turn off Location in Options
Tap Options in the share sheet, then turn off Location. Confirm the options if your interface asks you to.
Choose the sharing method
Return to the share sheet and select the intended sharing method. Check the resulting copy when the information it contains matters.
This is a sharing choice, not a reason to discard your original. Do not assume the same choice applies when another app selects an original file, or that every third-party sharing route behaves identically.
Inspect, clean, then check
Clean a separate image file in your browser
If you need to remove supported metadata beyond location, inspect an image file with the browser tool. A phone or photo library may provide a different format when exporting or selecting a picture, so review the format reported by the tool.
Keep the original and select a file
Keep your original photo. Open EXIF Cleanup in your browser, select Choose a photo, and pick the image file you want to inspect. Make sure it is available on your device.
Review what is detected
Look at the detected location, capture time, camera, software, and embedded thumbnail when available. The viewer does not display every possible metadata field.
Clean a separate copy
Select Clean metadata and wait for processing to finish. Select Download clean copy and save the result. The selected original is not overwritten.
Check the saved result
Open the downloaded file, compare its colors and orientation with the original, and inspect its metadata again. Use an independent local reader if a more thorough check matters. Review the filename and visible image, then share the checked copy.
Know the limits before you share
- Local processing: EXIF Cleanup does not upload the selected image. Ordinary site request information may still reach the hosting provider.
- Output changes: JPEG, PNG, and WebP image payloads are not re-encoded. Supported HEIC/HEIF and supported single-page TIFF become PNG; HEIC support depends on your browser. Color profiles are removed, which can change appearance.
- Format limits: animated PNG/WebP, multi-page/tiled/compressed TIFF or unsupported TIFF sample layouts, malformed files, and some HEIC orientation cases are rejected. The 200 MiB cap does not mean every device can handle that size.
- Not a complete audit: minimal orientation data can remain. The cleaner does not hide visible people or places, erase existing shared copies, or guarantee anonymity or AI undetectability.
This preview has not completed real-device browser acceptance. File pickers, download locations, and supported formats can vary by browser and operating system. If processing fails, keep your original and do not treat the failed attempt as a cleaned file.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off Location remove every EXIF field?
No. Treat this control as location exclusion for the selected share, not full metadata cleaning. Check the actual shared file for other information.
Do I need to delete the original from Photos?
No. Keep the original. EXIF Cleanup offers a separate download and does not overwrite the photo you selected.
Will a HEIC photo stay HEIC after cleaning?
No. When the browser supports it, this preview converts a HEIC/HEIF still to PNG. Color handling, file size, and appearance can change, and some orientation cases are refused.
Is the complete Safari-to-Photos workflow verified?
Not yet. Real iPhone Safari acceptance remains pending. Check where the browser saved the download, open that file, and verify it before sharing.
Official references
- Apple: Share photos and videos on iPhone
- Apple: Personal Safety User Guide, location metadata in Photos
These references describe the named platform features. They do not verify this preview on your device.