Image Metadata Remover
Strip EXIF, GPS, camera data and all metadata from images before sharing. 100% client-side. Your photos never leave your device.
When you share a photo, hidden metadata can reveal your location, device, and camera settings. This tool strips all that data by re-rendering the image through a clean canvas.
Strips EXIF, GPS, and camera data in your browser by re-rendering the image. It removes hidden data, not anything visible in the photo itself.
Drop images or click to upload
JPG, PNG, WebP. Batch upload supported
Methodology and sources
Formula or method
Re-renders each image through an HTML Canvas (drawImage, then toBlob). Because the canvas holds only pixels, the re-encoded copy carries no EXIF, GPS, camera, timestamp, software tags, or embedded thumbnail. PNGs re-encode losslessly; other formats are output as JPEG at the quality you choose.
Basis and assumptions
- Strips metadata by re-encoding, so the output is a new copy: JPEG re-encoding is lossy at the chosen quality (default 95%); PNG is lossless.
- Removes image metadata only. It does NOT change the visible picture, so anything shown in the photo (a house, a face, a screen, a document) is still visible.
- Runs entirely in your browser with the Canvas API; images are never uploaded.
What this tool does not decide
- Anonymity of the image content. Removing GPS/EXIF does not hide what the photo actually shows; crop or blur sensitive details separately.
- Whether a platform keeps your data. Some sites strip metadata on upload and some do not; this lets you control it before you share.
- Preservation of your original. Keep the untouched file if you need the metadata (sorting, copyright, camera data) or maximum fidelity.
Sources
- HTML Canvas API (the re-render that drops metadata): drawImage + toBlob (MDN) last accessed 2026-06-07
- EXIF / image metadata standard (CIPA DC-008)
Last checked: 2026-06-07
What Is Image Metadata?
Every photo your phone or camera takes embeds hidden data alongside the visible pixels. This metadata, primarily EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), records the camera model, lens settings, date and time, and often the exact GPS coordinates where the photo was taken.
Most of this data is invisible until someone deliberately checks. But when you share an image online (on your own site, forums, or file sharing), that metadata travels with the file. Anyone who downloads the image can extract your location, device info, and shooting details.
This tool strips all metadata from your images by redrawing them through the Canvas API. The result is a clean image file with zero embedded data. Everything happens in your browser, your photos never leave your device.
What Gets Removed
| Metadata Type | Examples | Privacy Risk |
|---|---|---|
| GPS Location | Latitude, longitude, altitude | High, reveals where you were |
| Date/Time | When the photo was taken, time zone | Medium, reveals when and where |
| Camera Info | Make, model, serial number, lens | Medium, identifies your device |
| Settings | Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, flash | Low, technical info only |
| Software | Editing software, processing history | Low, reveals your tools |
| Thumbnail | Embedded preview (may show original crop) | Medium, may expose cropped-out content |
What this means for you: GPS data is the biggest concern. If you share photos of your home, workplace, or children, stripping location data should be routine before posting anywhere public.
When to Strip Metadata
Sharing on Your Website
Unlike social media, your own site doesn't strip metadata automatically. Any image you upload to your blog, portfolio, or e-commerce store keeps all its embedded data intact.
Selling Photos Online
Buyers don't need your GPS coordinates or camera serial number. Strip metadata before uploading to stock photo sites or marketplaces. Keep originals with metadata for your own records.
Email Attachments
Email preserves all metadata. When you attach a photo, the recipient gets everything, location, device info, timestamps. Strip before sending to anyone you don't fully trust.
Forums & File Sharing
Discord, Slack, forums, and cloud storage all preserve metadata. If you're sharing images in any of these channels, strip first unless you specifically want the data included.
Platforms That Auto-Strip Metadata
| Platform | Strips EXIF? | Strips GPS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Stores location internally but removes from public file | |
| Yes | Yes | All metadata stripped on upload | |
| Twitter / X | Yes | Yes | Stripped since 2014 |
| Discord | No | No | Full metadata preserved, strip before sharing |
| Slack | No | No | Full metadata preserved |
| Your own website | No | No | You must strip manually before uploading |
How to Verify Metadata Is Gone
After stripping, always verify. Use our Image Metadata Viewer to check the cleaned image. You should see zero metadata fields, no GPS, no camera info, no timestamps.
EXIF Viewer shows "No metadata found" or only basic format info (width, height, colour space).
EXIF Viewer shows GPS coordinates, camera model, or timestamps. Run through the remover again or try a different image format.
How the Canvas Method Works (and Its One Trade-off)
Metadata like EXIF and GPS is stored in the file alongside the pixels, not painted into the image. When this tool draws your photo onto an HTML canvas and exports it again, only the pixels are copied across, so every metadata field is left behind. That is why the cleaned file reliably contains no location, device, or timestamp data.
The trade-off is that the output is a fresh re-encode, not your original file. JPEGs are re-compressed at the quality you set (95% by default, visually near-identical), and PNGs are rewritten losslessly. So the cleaned copy is a new file: keep your original if you ever need its metadata back.
The limit worth knowing: stripping metadata removes hidden data, not anything visible. If the photo itself shows your house number, a face, a screen, or a document, that is still in the pixels. Crop or blur those separately.
Common Metadata Mistakes
Assuming every platform is safe
Instagram and X strip metadata, but Discord, Slack, email, and your own website do not. "It was fine on Instagram" does not mean it is fine everywhere.
Sharing the original by mistake
Strip a copy, then double-check you are uploading the "-clean" file, not the untouched original sitting next to it in your folder.
Forgetting scans and exports
Screenshots usually carry little metadata, but scanned documents and images exported from other software can include device and software tags. Check anything you did not shoot on a camera too.
Thinking it hides the picture
Removing GPS does not hide a recognisable street, a name badge, or a reflection in a window. Metadata removal and visual redaction are two separate jobs.
Related Tools
How to use this tool
Drop or select one or more images (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Adjust JPG quality if needed (default 95%)
Click 'Remove Metadata & Download'
Common uses
- Stripping GPS coordinates before sharing photos online
- Removing camera and device info for privacy before selling images
- Cleaning metadata from email attachments before sending
- Preparing images for public websites or portfolios
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Frequently Asked Questions
What metadata does this tool remove?
Does removing metadata reduce image quality?
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
Can I batch-process multiple photos?
Why should I remove metadata before sharing?
Does Instagram strip metadata automatically?
What's the most dangerous metadata?
Does this also strip the embedded thumbnail?
Why does the output file size change?
Can I check what metadata an image contains?
Does converting to WebP also remove metadata?
Should I strip metadata from all photos?
Results are for general informational purposes only and should be checked before use. They are not professional advice. See our Disclaimer and Terms of Service.