PureTools
EXIF Viewer
View camera model, GPS location, exposure settings and all metadata hidden inside your photos. Strip it all in one click, no re-encoding, no quality loss, no watermark.
Drop your photo here
or click to browse from your device
JPG · TIFF · PNG · WEBP · HEIC, max 50 MB
How to use the EXIF Viewer
- Drop a photo onto the zone above or click to pick a file from your device. JPEG, TIFF, PNG and WEBP files are supported up to 50 MB.
- The viewer instantly reads the embedded metadata and displays it in organized sections: Camera & Lens, Capture Settings, File & Image, GPS Location and Other.
- If GPS coordinates are found, a View on map link opens the exact location in OpenStreetMap. A privacy warning reminds you to strip before sharing publicly.
- Click Strip & Download to download a clean copy with all hidden data removed. The image itself is untouched, there is absolutely no quality loss.
- Use Copy as JSON or Copy as text to export the full metadata for documentation, research or archiving.
Why EXIF metadata is a privacy risk
Every photo taken by a modern smartphone or camera embeds a detailed data record inside the file. This record can include the exact GPS coordinates where the shot was taken, the date and time down to the second, and the make and serial number of the device used. When you share a photo file directly, by email, file transfer or on platforms that preserve original files, anyone can extract this data with a free tool in seconds.
The most sensitive field is GPS. A single photo shared from your home can reveal your address. A photo shared from a hotel, school or workplace does the same. Stripping metadata before sharing is a simple step that protects your location, your routine and your device information from strangers.
What does stripping do differently here?
Most online metadata removers re-export the image as a new file, which degrades quality. This tool removes only the hidden data portion of the file without touching the image itself, preserving 100% of the original quality at the same file size. If you copy the metadata as JSON, the JSON Formatter can help you read and inspect it.
Frequently asked questions
What is EXIF metadata?
EXIF is a hidden block of information stored inside most photo files. It records details about when, where and how a photo was taken, including the camera make and model, shutter speed, brightness settings, and the GPS location where the photo was captured. This data is written automatically by cameras and smartphones and travels silently with every photo you share.
Can this tool remove hidden metadata?
Yes. After viewing your metadata, click Strip & Download to get a clean version of your photo with all hidden data removed. The tool removes only the metadata without touching the image itself, so the original quality and file size are fully preserved. No watermark is added. After removal, you can download the cleaned copy and reopen it in the viewer to confirm the EXIF fields are gone before sharing the image publicly.
Does my photo contain my location?
If GPS was enabled on your phone or camera when you took the photo, the EXIF data includes the precise latitude, longitude and sometimes altitude of where the picture was taken. This tool extracts those coordinates and shows a map link so you can see exactly where the location points. If your photo contains GPS data, we recommend stripping the metadata before posting it publicly on social media, forums or any platform where strangers can access the file directly. You can also blur sensitive areas before sharing with the Image Blur tool.
What image formats are supported?
The viewer reads EXIF metadata from JPEG and TIFF files, which are the formats that carry EXIF most reliably. It will also accept PNG, WEBP, HEIC and HEIF files, however, PNG images rarely embed EXIF data, and browser support for HEIC parsing varies. If no metadata is found in a file you upload, the tool will tell you clearly rather than showing an empty result. The strip operation works on JPEG files and preserves the original quality without re-encoding.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. Everything happens entirely inside your browser. Your photo is read and processed locally, it is never sent to any server or third party. PureTools has no backend and no database. When you close the tab, the browser clears everything instantly and nothing is left on your device. The file is read with browser APIs inside the current tab, so closing the tab or clearing the image removes the temporary object URL and preview. Your data is never used to train AI models or improve machine learning systems.
Why does my image show no EXIF data?
Several situations can result in no EXIF data being found. First, the metadata may have already been stripped, social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter automatically remove EXIF before storing photos to protect user privacy. Second, screenshots and screen-captured images contain no camera EXIF since they were not taken by a camera. Third, PNG files rarely embed EXIF even when shot on a phone. Finally, some editing apps remove or rewrite EXIF during export.
Why doesn't stripping reduce the image quality?
Most online metadata removers work by re-exporting the photo as a brand-new image file, a process that degrades quality each time it is applied. This tool works differently: it removes only the hidden data section from the file without touching the image itself. The visual content, compression level and file size remain identical to the original. You get a clean file at full original quality with no watermark.
Can I copy the metadata to use elsewhere?
Yes. Two copy options are available after loading a photo. Copy as JSON exports all metadata in a structured format that is easy to store or process programmatically. Copy as text exports a readable plain-text summary organized by section, useful for documentation, reports or pasting into a spreadsheet. Both include all detected information including GPS data if present.
What is the GPS map link?
When a photo contains GPS coordinates, the tool converts them into a direct link to OpenStreetMap centered on that location. Clicking View on map opens the map in a new tab so you can see exactly where the photo was taken. OpenStreetMap is used because it is free, open, and does not require any account or tracking.
Are there any file size limits?
The maximum file size is 50 MB per image. This limit exists to protect your browser's memory, very large files can slow down or crash the tab. In practice, the hidden metadata inside a photo is tiny, so reading it is fast regardless of image size. The 50 MB limit is consistent across all PureTools image tools.