What is EXIF metadata?

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is technical data automatically embedded inside image files by digital cameras and smartphones. It can contain camera model, lens settings, exact timestamp, and precise GPS latitude and longitude coordinates.

Why is embedded GPS metadata a privacy risk?

Photos taken on smartphones typically embed exact GPS coordinates. Sharing unscrubbed photos online can inadvertently expose your home address, workplace, or travel routes to strangers and scrapers.

Can this tool strip EXIF metadata?

Yes! The tool includes a built-in 'Scrub Metadata' button that generates a pristine, sanitized copy of your image with all EXIF, GPS, camera serials, and tracking tags permanently removed.

Can it detect AI-generated images?

Yes. It inspects metadata tags, software markers (e.g. Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion), and structural patterns to identify synthetic and AI-generated imagery.

Is my image uploaded to any server?

No. All EXIF parsing and scrubbing runs 100% locally in your browser using binary ArrayBuffer inspection. Your pictures never leave your computer.

What file sizes and formats can I analyze with this metadata viewer?

You can analyze images up to 500 MB in JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, BMP, TIFF, SVG, or HEIC format.

How does Photo Metadata Viewer compare to the AI Image & Video Detector?

Photo Metadata Viewer is built for deep photography EXIF/IPTC/XMP analysis, GPS map inspection, and complete one-click metadata stripping for still photos. For C2PA Content Credentials manifests, cryptographic digital signatures, video container analysis (MP4/MOV), and multi-provider generative AI forensics, use our dedicated AI Image & Video Detector (/ai-media-detector).

What is the difference between EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata?

EXIF holds camera hardware settings (aperture, exposure, shutter speed, GPS). IPTC holds journalistic and copyright data (creator, caption, keywords). XMP is Adobe's extensible XML standard that stores editing history, Lightroom adjustments, and AI generation prompts.

Does scrubbing metadata alter or recompress the visual image pixels?

No. Metadata scrubbing strips header bytes (EXIF, IPTC, XMP app markers) without re-encoding or re-compressing pixel data for JPEG and lossless formats, preserving 100% of your visual image quality.

image-file-tools100% Client-Side Local

Photo Metadata Viewer & EXIF Inspector

Inspect hidden photo metadata and safeguard your digital privacy directly in your browser — no file uploads, 100% free. Extract deep EXIF, IPTC & XMP tags, reveal exact GPS location coordinates with one-click Google Maps viewing, inspect camera & lens specifications (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, serial numbers), detect AI-generated image signatures (Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion), calculate an automated Privacy Risk Score, and scrub all metadata with instant clean photo download for JPEG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC files.

Privacy Guarantee: EXIF metadata inspection and tag stripping occur 100% locally in your browser. Your photos, GPS coordinates, and camera serials are never sent to any server.

Select Photo for Metadata Inspection

Inspect hidden GPS coordinates, camera model, timestamps, and AI watermarks. 100% private in browser.

Choose a photo or drag & drop here

Supports JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, BMP, TIFF, SVG, HEIC (Max 500MB)

100% Private Local Processing

Note: All image processing, metadata extraction, and cleanup is done locally within your browser. Your photo data is never uploaded, saved, stored, or sent to any server.

⚠️ Responsible Use Notice

This tool is intended for privacy, file cleanup, compatibility, and metadata management purposes only.

Do not use this tool to remove AI-related metadata, Content Credentials, SynthID markers, AI labels, watermarks, or other provenance information for the purpose of misleading others about the origin of content.

If you publish, distribute, or share AI-generated content, you are responsible for complying with applicable laws, platform policies, and disclosure requirements. Many platforms may require users to disclose when content is AI-generated.

By using this tool, you agree not to use it for fraud, impersonation, misinformation, deception, or any unlawful activity.

About Photo Metadata Viewer

Free Image Metadata Checker & Viewer including EXIF Cleaner, Detect GPS, Device & EXIF Information including AI Generated Image Detection.

Photo / Image Metadata Viewer is a privacy-first tool designed to help you regain control over your digital footprint. Every digital image contains hidden "EXIF" data—a fingerprint of when, where, and how you took the photo.

Our mission is to provide a zero-knowledge tool that reveals this data and scrubs it clean without ever uploading your personal files to a server.

Key Capabilities & Features

EXIF, IPTC & XMP Extraction: Deep binary header scanning revealing dozens of hidden metadata tags
GPS Coordinates & Maps: Detects latitude, longitude, altitude, and links directly to Google Maps with one-click copy
Hardware & Lens Profiles: Inspect camera make, model, lens specs, focal length, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
AI-Generated Image Detection: Identifies signatures and models (Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Firefly)
Privacy Risk Scoring: Real-time assessment (High, Medium, Low, Safe) of personal data exposure risks
One-Click Metadata Scrubbing: Clean and strip EXIF data via clean canvas reconstruction without damaging pixels
Wide Format Support: Full inspection & cleaning for JPEG, PNG, WebP, and modern HEIC/HEIF files up to 500MB
100% Client-Side Privacy: Operates entirely in your browser memory — zero bytes uploaded, stored, or tracked

Why Privacy Matters

A single photo can leak more information than a social media profile.

GPS Leakage

Photos often store exact coordinates of your home or office, visible to anyone you share the file with.

Device Fingerprinting

Serial numbers and unique hardware IDs can be used to track your activities across different platforms.

AI Labeling

AI signatures can cause platforms to shadowban or auto-label your creative work as 'AI Generated'.

How It Works

Binary Parsing

We use the exifr library to scan the binary headers of your image for EXIF, IPTC, and XMP tags.

Canvas Reconstruction

To 'clean' the image, we draw it onto a clean HTML5 canvas and re-export it as a new blob.

Zero Uploads

Since the browser handles all operations, your photo never travels over the network.

Local-Only Processing

AI Detection & Privacy Risk Notes

Reading your detection results

AI Provenance SignalsWe scan for C2PA Content Credentials, IPTC synthetic labels, and generator fields. In client-side analysis, detecting these markers shows unverified metadata claims, not cryptographic proof of origin.
No AI Markers FoundIf the image contains no AI training markers, prompts, or Content Credentials signatures, we report it as organic — this is not a guarantee the image is real, as metadata can be stripped.
Messages Stripped in Transit⚠️ If this image was shared via WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, or Instagram before reaching you, metadata may have been stripped during re-encoding. Direct downloads preserve headers.
Canvas ReconstructionNote: Professional scrubbing (Canvas method) removes 100% of headers for maximum safety. Metadata detection depends on what the camera or app embedded, so always verify cleaned images by re-uploading.

How to interpret your Privacy Risk Score

Direct Camera PhotosDirect camera photos often contain full GPS, device, and timestamp metadata — expect a higher privacy risk score.
ScreenshotsScreenshots contain no camera metadata — they are always clean.
Messaging App PhotosWhatsApp already stripped GPS & device serial from this image. Only basic JFIF headers remain — this is why the risk score is SAFE.
C2PA Credentials PresentC2PA credentials found. Could be AI-generated, edited in creative software, or captured on a C2PA-enabled camera (Sony/Canon/Nikon/Leica). A claim_generator field alone is an unverified metadata string, not cryptographic proof.

Frequently Asked Questions

AI Image & Video Detector (C2PA)

Verify C2PA Content Credentials manifests, AI generation claims, and digital video provenance (MP4, MOV, JPEG, PNG).

Photo & Signature Resizer

Resize, compress, and convert images to exact file sizes. 100% local processing.

Bulk Image Resizer

Resize unlimited images with multiple modes, presets, and ZIP download.

Bulk Image Merger

Combine photos into vertical strips, horizontal layouts, or responsive grids.

ZIP File Size Reducer

Shrink large ZIP files directly in your browser with smart recompression.

100% local processing — your photo never leaves your device

No account required

Free for everyone — forever

⚠️ Disclaimer: Metadata detection depends on what the camera/app embedded. Results may vary. Always verify cleaned images by re-uploading. This tool processes all data locally on your device for maximum privacy. Developed by SPAUL Hub Team.

Companion Guides & Technical Insights

All Guides

Media & FilesMay 2, 2026

How to View and Clean Image Metadata (EXIF Data) Online

Learn how to extract and clean image metadata and EXIF data like GPS coordinates and camera models instantly for 100% privacy.

Read Article

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Photo Metadata Viewer & EXIF Inspector

Select Photo for Metadata Inspection

About Photo Metadata Viewer

Key Capabilities & Features

Why Privacy Matters

GPS Leakage

Device Fingerprinting

AI Labeling

How It Works

Binary Parsing

Canvas Reconstruction

Zero Uploads

AI Detection & Privacy Risk Notes

Reading your detection results

How to interpret your Privacy Risk Score

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Other Image & File Tools

Companion Guides & Technical Insights

How to View and Clean Image Metadata (EXIF Data) Online

Related Tools

Free Photo & Signature Size Reducer – 20KB, 50KB & More

Bulk Image Resizer – Resize Multiple Images Online

Bulk Image Merger – Merge Multiple Images Online

Select Photo for Metadata Inspection

About Photo Metadata Viewer

Key Capabilities & Features

Why Privacy Matters

GPS Leakage

Device Fingerprinting

AI Labeling

How It Works

Binary Parsing

Canvas Reconstruction

Zero Uploads

AI Detection & Privacy Risk Notes

Reading your detection results

How to interpret your Privacy Risk Score

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Other Image & File Tools