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Delete Image Metadata

Remove EXIF Data

Strip, clear or erase — it is the same job, and the part that matters is proving it worked. Read the tags, remove them, and check the output.

  • .jpg
  • .jpeg
  • .png
  • .webp
Free
No account, no limit on files
0
Files uploaded — processing is local
4 formats
Lossless — pixels never re-encoded
Processed in your browser
Ready

How the common ways of removing image metadata compare

MethodRemoves EXIFRemoves XMP/IPTCKeeps qualityKeeps file private
This tool (container-level)
Taking a screenshot
Re-saving in an editor
Windows “Remove Properties”
Uploading to a social platform
A server-side online cleaner

“Keeps file private” means the image never leaves your device. “Keeps quality” means the pixels are not re-compressed. Partly = depends on the tool, the version or the upload path.

How to check whether EXIF removal actually worked

A surprising number of workflows only appear to remove EXIF. Screenshotting a photo removes it but degrades the image. Emailing a photo to yourself may remove it, depending on the client. Resizing in some editors removes most tags but keeps the software name and a new timestamp. Uploading and re-downloading from a social network may remove EXIF while leaving XMP intact.

The reliable check is to inspect the output file rather than trust the process. This tool does that automatically, and you can repeat it independently: download the clean file, then load that file back into the tool. The field count should be zero, or should list only the orientation flag if you kept it.

EXIF, XMP and IPTC are three different things

People say 'EXIF' to mean all image metadata, but a file can carry three separate standards at once, and removing one does not remove the others.

  • EXIF — a binary TIFF structure written by cameras: device, settings, timestamps, GPS
  • XMP — an XML block written mostly by Adobe software: edit history, creator, rights, ratings
  • IPTC — a legacy newsroom standard in a Photoshop resource block: caption, keywords, credit, source

The order of operations that keeps a photo clean

Clean last. Metadata is written by whatever software touches the file, so a photo cleaned before editing arrives at the sharing stage with a fresh XMP block describing the edit. Export first, clean second, share third.

If you crop or redact something in an image, that also argues for cleaning afterwards: the EXIF thumbnail generated before your edit can otherwise preserve a small copy of the original framing.

What this tool does

  • Independent re-check: load the cleaned file back in to confirm
  • Removes EXIF, XMP and IPTC in a single pass
  • Clear reporting of anything intentionally kept

What it does not do

  • Cannot report on metadata a platform added after you uploaded a file
  • Does not edit individual tags — removal is per file

Remove EXIF Data

Strip, clear or erase — it is the same job, and the part that matters is proving it worked. Read the tags, remove them, and check the output.

Open the tool

Reviewed and updated . Behaviour described on this page is covered by the project’s automated tests.

Frequently asked questions

How can I verify that EXIF data was removed?

Download the cleaned file and load it back into this tool: it will re-parse the file from scratch and report the fields it finds. You can also check the file's properties in Windows Explorer or macOS Preview.

Does taking a screenshot remove EXIF data?

It removes the original camera data, because a screenshot is a new image. But it also re-encodes the picture at screen resolution, so you lose quality and the original dimensions, and the screenshot itself gets new metadata from your device.

Is stripping EXIF the same as erasing it?

Yes — strip, erase, clear, delete and remove all describe deleting the tags from the file. What differs between tools is whether they also remove XMP and IPTC, and whether they re-compress your image while doing it.

Should I remove EXIF before or after editing?

After. Editing software writes its own metadata when it saves, so cleaning first and editing second leaves you with a fresh set of records.

Does removing EXIF data affect printing?

Print size can be affected if you rely on the DPI resolution tags, since those live in the metadata. The pixel dimensions are unchanged, so you can set the print size manually.

How can I be sure the EXIF is really gone?

Load the downloaded file back into the tool: it parses the file from scratch, exactly as if it were new. Your operating system's file properties dialog is a second, independent check.

Does emailing a photo remove its EXIF data?

It depends entirely on the client and whether the image is resized on send. Some strip it, some do not — checking the sent file is more reliable than assuming.

Is stripping EXIF legal?

Removing metadata from your own files is ordinary practice. Removing copyright or credit information from someone else's work to misrepresent authorship is not, and may breach copyright law.

What is the difference between clearing and erasing EXIF?

Nothing — they describe the same operation. What differs between tools is whether they also handle XMP and IPTC, and whether they re-compress your image.

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