How do you remove EXIF and location data from a photo?
Clean GPS, device, and capture metadata before sharing by re-encoding through canvas.
A browser-based way to remove EXIF location data is to draw the decoded pixels to a canvas and create a new JPEG or PNG. The new file does not copy the original EXIF block, but color profiles and JPEG quality can change, so inspect the result.
What changed in this update?
Metadata removal and the side effects of image re-encoding are now explained together.
What information can EXIF contain?
Camera model, capture time, orientation, exposure, software, and device location can appear in EXIF or XMP blocks. Not every photo includes every field, and social platforms handle metadata differently.
What does the canvas method do?
The browser decodes the image, draws only its pixels to a new canvas, and encodes a new file. Original metadata blocks are not copied; visible details such as documents, signs, or license plates remain.
How should the clean file be checked?
Keep the original, inspect the cleaned copy with a metadata viewer, confirm dimensions and orientation, then share. For sensitive images, also inspect visible content instead of relying only on metadata removal.
Frequently asked questions
Does taking a screenshot remove metadata?
A screenshot usually does not copy the original EXIF, but it changes resolution and quality; inspect the output instead of treating it as a guarantee.
Can PNG contain metadata?
PNG can contain metadata chunks; re-encoding normally omits most of them.