What is EXIF metadata?
Short answer
EXIF (Exchangeable image file format) is structured metadata embedded inside a photo. It can include the camera or phone model, exposure settings, the date and time, and the exact GPS coordinates where the picture was taken.
What EXIF stores
EXIF is a metadata standard maintained by the camera industry (CIPA/JEITA). When a camera or phone saves a photo, it writes a block of tags alongside the pixels. Common tags include:
- Camera or phone make and model
- Date and time the photo was taken
- Exposure settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focal length
- Orientation, which tells viewers how to rotate the image
- GPS latitude and longitude, when location services were enabled
Which formats carry EXIF
EXIF originated with JPEG and TIFF, which is why photos straight from a camera are the most common carriers. PNG and WebP can also store metadata in their own chunks, but screenshots and graphics usually contain far less. Most social platforms strip some metadata on upload, but messaging apps, email attachments, and cloud links often pass the original file through untouched.
How to remove EXIF
The most reliable way to strip embedded metadata is to redraw the image. When pixels are decoded onto a fresh canvas and exported as a new file, the original EXIF block is left behind. This keeps the picture identical while dropping the location, device, and timestamp tags.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every site removes metadata. Many do not, especially direct file links and messaging apps.
- Cropping or rotating in some editors re-saves the file but keeps the EXIF block.
- Sharing a screenshot of a map or document does not remove EXIF from the original photo you also attached.