Guide
How to remove GPS location and hidden data from photos before sharing
Photos can reveal where you live. Here is how to check a photo for location data and remove it on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac — before you share it.
Updated 1 October 2026 3 min read
Most phone photos quietly record where they were taken, down to a few metres, along with the date, time and phone model. This hidden information is called EXIF metadata. Post a picture of your new sofa and you may also be posting your home address.
Does every app remove it for you?
No. Some large social networks strip location data when they publish a photo. But many everyday ways of sharing keep the original file intact: email attachments, files sent “as a document” in messaging apps, cloud-storage links, USB drives, or photos uploaded to marketplaces and forums. If the original file travels, its location usually travels with it.
On iPhone
- Open the photo and tap the Share button.
- At the top of the share sheet, tap Options.
- Turn off Location, then share as usual.
To stop recording locations in future photos: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera → Never.
On Android
Settings vary by manufacturer. Open the Camera app's settings and turn off the option called Location tags, Save location or similar. This only affects new photos — existing ones keep their location.
On Windows
- Right-click the photo and choose Properties.
- Open the Details tab and click Remove Properties and Personal Information.
- Choose Create a copy with all possible properties removed.
On Mac
Open the photo in Preview, choose Tools → Show Inspector, open the GPS tab if there is one, and click Remove Location Info. Other details such as the camera model remain.
Remove everything, for many photos at once
The built-in options above remove location, but often leave other details, and handle one photo at a time. A dedicated cleaner removes all metadata — GPS, date, camera, software, comments — from a whole batch, and shows you which photos actually contained a location before you clean them.
How to check a photo yourself
- Windows: Properties → Details, look for a “GPS” section.
- Mac: Preview → Tools → Show Inspector, look for a GPS tab.
- iPhone: open the photo and swipe up — a map means it has a location.
Frequently asked questions
Do screenshots contain my location?
Screenshots are not tagged with GPS coordinates by default on iPhone or Android. Photos taken with the camera usually are, unless location access for the camera is turned off.
Can people see the location just by looking at the photo?
Not on screen. But anyone who saves the original file can read its location with built-in tools such as Windows Properties or Mac Preview, or with free online viewers.
Does removing metadata reduce image quality?
Removing location in the Photos share sheet or Windows Properties doesn't change the pixels. Tools that rebuild the image may re-save JPGs at high quality; at 95% the difference is not visible.