EXIF Data on iPhone Photos: How to See and Remove It
EXIF data is hidden information saved inside a photo file. It records when and how a photo was taken, and often where. iOS can show it and can remove the location without any app.
The location is the part that matters most. Apple says people you share a photo with may be able to see where it was taken.
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What do I need to know?
- Location travels with the photo. If Camera has Location Services on, coordinates are saved in each shot.
- You can drop location per share. The share sheet has a switch for it, one share at a time.
- You can stop it at the source. Set Camera's location access to Never.
What is in an iPhone photo's EXIF data?
EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. It is a standard set of fields stored inside the image file.
On an iPhone photo it holds the date and time and camera details. If Location Services is on for Camera, it also holds location coordinates. Apple says these come from cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth signals.
How do I see EXIF data on iPhone?
These are Apple's steps for iOS 16 and later:
- Open Photos and tap a photo.
- Swipe up, or tap the Info button.
- Read the details, including a map if the photo has a location.
How do I remove location from a photo?
To remove it from the photo itself (iOS 16 and later):
- Open the photo in Photos.
- Tap the More button, then Adjust Info.
- Tap Adjust Location, then No Location.
To share without location, leaving the original alone:
- Select the photos and tap the Share button.
- Tap Options at the top.
- Turn off Location. You will see "Location Not Included".
- Share as normal.
Apple's location metadata guide covers these steps and the Mac version.
How do I stop the camera saving location?
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera, then tap Never. New photos will have no coordinates. Photos you already took keep theirs until you remove them.
Does removing location remove all EXIF data?
No. Apple's steps deal with location. They do not describe removing the date or camera details. For most people, location is the field worth removing.
What happens to EXIF data in a vault?
A vault that encrypts whole files encrypts the metadata with them. In Cryptile, every file is encrypted with AES-256-GCM. A copy of the vault reveals neither the picture nor where it was taken.
Cryptile's in-app camera has a GPS on/off button. With it off, no location is added to the photo. Date and camera details are kept, as with the built-in camera.
If you save a copy to Photos or share it, the file leaves the vault with its EXIF data. Use the share sheet's Location switch then too.
What this doesn't protect against
Removing location does not hide what is in the picture. A street sign, a window view or a school logo can give a place away. Other apps may also strip or keep metadata in their own ways, so check before you post somewhere public.
Do it with Cryptile
Take sensitive photos inside Cryptile with GPS off. They are encrypted as they are saved and never enter your Photos library.
Cryptile is free for up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos. Plus removes the limits and adds search and the panic pattern. It costs $19.99 a year (7-day free trial) or $39.99 once.