Remove EXIF in your browser, no upload

How to use this tool

Select an image and review any readable GPS, camera, date, software, and orientation fields found locally.
The browser decodes the image pixels and re-encodes them as a new PNG, then checks that PNG for EXIF tags.
Compare the output size and download the re-encoded PNG using the clean copy name.

Why Remove EXIF Data?

Photos taken with smartphones and digital cameras contain EXIF metadata including GPS coordinates, device make/model, and timestamps. When sharing photos online, this information can reveal your location and equipment. Review the local metadata preview before cleaning so you can see which common fields the parser found; GPS coordinates are shown as text and are never reverse-geocoded or sent to a map service.

What EXIF data can reveal

GPS coordinates: precise latitude and longitude of where the photo was taken - can pinpoint your home, workplace, or travel patterns.
Device model and serial number: reveals the exact make, model, and sometimes unique identifier of your camera or phone.
Timestamps: date and time the photo was taken, which may reveal your schedule or routines.
Software version: editing software and version number, useful for forensic analysis.

Beyond EXIF: XMP and IPTC metadata

EXIF is not the only metadata format embedded in image files. XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) is Adobe's XML-based format used in Photoshop and Lightroom exports. IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) metadata is widely used by news agencies for copyright and caption information. The local preview reports counts for readable EXIF, XMP, and IPTC fields, plus whether an ICC color profile was detected. The exported-PNG status specifically checks for EXIF tags; it does not claim to independently verify every metadata standard.

Use cases

Social media privacy: strip GPS before sharing photos of your home or children online.
Device anonymity: remove device identifiers before posting to forums or public galleries.
Organizational compliance: many organizations require metadata removal before sharing photos externally.
Whistleblowing and journalism: metadata can unintentionally identify the source of a leaked photo.

How It Works

This tool decodes the selected image in your browser, draws the decoded bitmap onto an HTML5 Canvas, and encodes the canvas as a new PNG. That is a PNG re-encoded from decoded pixels, not a copy of the original compressed file. The browser then uses a local metadata parser to check whether EXIF tags are detected in the generated PNG. The image and its metadata stay on your device during these steps.

A useful example is a phone photo you plan to post publicly: its GPS field may identify a home or a source location even when the image itself looks harmless. This tool shows readable GPS, camera, capture date, software, and orientation fields before producing the clean copy. Use the companion EXIF Viewer when you need a deeper inspection of camera and file tags before deciding what to share.

Re-encoding has practical tradeoffs. PNG compression is lossless from the decoded bitmap, but the bitmap has already been decoded from the source format; this does not preserve a JPEG's original compressed pixels or file size. A JPEG can become much larger as PNG, color-profile rendering may look different, and an animated file can be reduced to the frame the browser decoded. Compare the reported byte sizes before downloading, and check a cleaned copy again if your workflow requires verification of metadata standards beyond EXIF.

Frequently asked questions

What metadata is removed?

The browser creates a new PNG from decoded pixels instead of copying the original metadata blocks. This removes the input EXIF and other metadata the browser does not carry into that new PNG. The local post-export check reports whether EXIF tags are detected; it does not verify every metadata standard.

Will the output match the original file?

The output is always PNG, re-encoded losslessly from the decoded bitmap. That does not preserve the original compressed file bitstream: a JPEG input often becomes much larger, color-profile rendering can change, and an animated image may export only the frame the browser decoded. Browsers may also apply EXIF orientation while decoding.