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How to remove EXIF data and location on iPhone & iPad

Step-by-step guide to removing photo metadata and GPS coordinates on iOS, using built-in Photos settings, Shortcuts, and private browser tools.

Updated

Every photo taken with an iPhone or iPad embeds precise metadata by default: the exact GPS coordinates where you stood, camera lens specifications, capture timestamps, and your device model.

If you are sharing photos via AirDrop, Messages, email, or uploading to websites, here is how to strip that information on iOS.

Method 1: Remove location before sharing (iOS 15+)

Apple provides a built-in toggle in the iOS Photos app to strip location when sharing:

  1. Open the Photos app and select the image you want to share.
  2. Tap the Share button in the bottom-left corner.
  3. At the very top of the share sheet, tap Options (next to the thumbnail preview).
  4. Under the Include section, toggle Location off.
  5. You can also toggle off All Photos Data to strip edit history and captions.
  6. Tap Done and proceed to send your photo.

The limitation:

This only works when sharing through the native iOS share sheet. If you upload photos directly to a website via Safari, or transfer them to a computer, the original EXIF metadata remains intact.

Method 2: Adjust location inside the Photos app

You can also strip the GPS tag directly from an individual photo:

  1. Open the photo in Photos.
  2. Swipe up or tap the (i) Info icon below the image.
  3. Look for the map thumbnail showing where the photo was taken.
  4. Tap Adjust in the bottom-right corner of the map.
  5. Tap No Location at the top.

The GPS coordinates will be removed from that photo in your library. Note that camera settings, date/time, and device identifiers are still preserved.

Method 3: Stop camera location geotagging completely

To prevent your iPhone from tagging location in future photos:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Navigate to Privacy & Security → Location Services.
  3. Tap Camera.
  4. Select Never.

Future photos will contain no GPS tags, though existing photos in your camera roll still have their historical coordinates.

Method 4: Strip all metadata losslessly in Safari

If you want to strip all metadata — including camera serial numbers, lens info, timestamps, and embedded thumbnails — without transferring files to a desktop or downloading an app:

  1. Open Safari and go to Metadata Remover AI (or the dedicated EXIF remover).
  2. Tap Drop a file to begin and select your photo from your Photo Library or Files.
  3. Because the tool runs client-side JavaScript, the file is parsed directly on your iPhone. Nothing is uploaded to any server.
  4. Review the detected EXIF, GPS, and camera tags.
  5. Tap Remove metadata.
  6. Tap Download clean file.

The resulting image retains 100% of its visual pixel data without re-compression, but leaves behind zero personal metadata. For format-specific details, see our guides on HEIC metadata removal and iPhone MOV video metadata removal.

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