Check the file-properties removal option
Microsoft’s official description below is an archived Windows 7 guide, not verification of current Windows versions. Use these steps only if your version offers the same controls.
Open the photo’s properties
In File Explorer, right-click a local image file and open Properties.
Review the Details controls
Look for the Details tab and Remove Properties and Personal Information. If these are unavailable for the file, use a separately verified method instead.
Choose a copy, not an original edit
If offered, choose Create a copy with all possible properties removed. Confirm and inspect the new file. Avoid the option that removes selected properties from the original unless you intend to modify it.
The archived Microsoft guide describes file-type-dependent removal and notes that the picture’s content is unaffected. Do not treat a missing property, an unavailable checkbox, or an error as successful removal.
Inspect, clean, then check
Clean a separate image file in your browser
If file-property removal is unavailable or you want another check, select the local photo in EXIF Cleanup. A photo stored only in a cloud account may need to be made available locally before your browser can read it.
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
Are these built-in steps verified for my current Windows version?
No. The linked Microsoft instructions are historical Windows 7 documentation. The page makes no claim that every current version or format has the same controls.
Why can some properties remain?
Windows property support depends on the file type and available handlers. A viewer can also display file-system information separately from metadata stored inside the image. Inspect the output rather than relying only on the panel.
Can EXIF Cleanup remove metadata from RAW camera files?
RAW camera formats are not supported by this preview. Supported inputs are JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC/HEIF, and supported single-page TIFF, with the limitations shown above.
How do I keep my original?
Use a separate-copy option when available. EXIF Cleanup creates a download without overwriting the input. Keep the original in a clearly separate location so you share the intended file.
Official references
- Microsoft Learn: Remove personal metadata, archived Windows 7 guidance
- Microsoft Learn: Image metadata and format-dependent properties
These references describe the named platform features. They do not verify this preview on your device.