How to Edit EXIF Metadata? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: You can edit EXIF metadata using tools like Exif Injector, ExifTool, or your OS built-in options. You can change GPS coordinates, dates, camera data, and copyright fields — without affecting image quality.

Every photo you take contains hidden data. That data is called EXIF metadata. It stores your GPS location, camera settings, timestamps, and copyright info. Editing it gives you control over your images.

Whether you're a photographer protecting your rights, an e-commerce seller cleaning sensitive data, or a marketer optimizing images for SEO — this guide covers everything.

What is EXIF metadata and why edit it?

In short: EXIF metadata is hidden data inside image files. Editing it lets you protect privacy, fix errors, optimize SEO, and embed copyright.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. The standard was created by JEIDA in 1995. The current version is EXIF 3.1, published by CIPA in 2026.

There are four main reasons people edit EXIF metadata:

1. Privacy protection — Remove GPS coordinates before sharing photos online
2. Error correction — Fix wrong dates, wrong camera names, or timezone errors
3. SEO optimization — Add keywords and copyright data to improve image rankings
4. Copyright management — Embed your name, website, and license into every file

According to Google Developers, structured image metadata helps search engines understand your photos. That means better visibility in Google Images. Our EXIF metadata optimizer guide covers this in detail.

Chez Exif Injector, we process over 200,000 images per month. We see every use case — from travel bloggers removing GPS to stock photographers embedding licensing data.

Good to know: EXIF metadata editing does not affect image quality. You only modify the hidden data layer. The pixels stay untouched (Source: ExifTool, 2026).

What EXIF fields can you edit?

In short: You can edit dozens of fields — from GPS and dates to copyright and camera info. The exact fields depend on your image format and editing tool.

Here are the most commonly edited EXIF fields:

JPEG, TIFF, and HEIC files support full EXIF editing. PNG files use a different metadata system and do not support the EXIF standard natively (Source: CIPA, 2026).

For stock photo platforms like Adobe Stock or Getty Images, copyright and keyword fields are especially critical. Missing IPTC data can cause rejection at submission.

Good to know: IPTC fields (copyright, creator, caption) are stored separately from EXIF fields inside the same file. A good EXIF metadata editor handles both simultaneously.

How to edit EXIF metadata on Windows

In short: Windows lets you edit basic fields via File Explorer. For GPS, copyright, or bulk editing, you need a dedicated tool.

Method 1 — File Explorer (built-in)

1. Right-click your photo → Properties
2. Click the Details tab
3. Click "Remove Properties and Personal Information" at the bottom
4. Or click any editable field directly to modify it

You can edit: title, subject, rating, tags, author, copyright, and date taken. You cannot edit GPS coordinates or technical EXIF fields this way (Source: Microsoft Support, 2026).

Method 2 — Exif Injector (browser-based)

1. Go to exifinjector.com/en/exif-editor
2. Upload one or multiple images
3. Select the fields you want to edit
4. Enter new values and click Save

This works directly in your browser. No software installation needed. Your files stay on your device — nothing is uploaded to a server (Source: Exif Injector, 2026).

Method 3 — ExifTool (command line)

ExifTool by Phil Harvey is the most powerful free option. Use this command to change the copyright field:

bash

ExifTool supports batch processing and 200+ EXIF fields. It requires basic command-line knowledge (Source: ExifTool Documentation, 2026).

Good to know: On Windows, ExifTool creates a backup file with _original suffix by default. Use -overwrite_original to skip this.

How to edit EXIF metadata on Mac

In short: Mac's Preview app lets you view metadata but not fully edit it. Use Exif Injector or ExifTool for full editing capabilities.

Method 1 — Preview (built-in, limited)

1. Open the image in Preview
2. Go to Tools → Show Inspector (or press ⌘I)
3. Click the EXIF tab

You can view metadata here. But you cannot edit GPS, copyright, or most EXIF fields natively. Preview only allows basic info changes (Source: Apple Support, 2026).

Method 2 — Exif Injector (browser-based)

The fastest option on Mac. Visit exifinjector.com/en/exif-editor in any browser. Works on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. No download. No plugin.

Method 3 — ExifTool on Mac (Terminal)

Install via Homebrew:

bash

Then edit any field:

bash

ExifTool supports all EXIF, IPTC, and XMP fields. It's the gold standard for professionals (Source: ExifTool, 2026).

Good to know: Apple Photos on Mac lets you change dates and locations via right-click on a photo. But changes only sync within Apple's ecosystem — they may not write back to the original file's EXIF.

How to edit EXIF metadata on iPhone and Android

In short: iOS 16+ allows basic GPS and date editing in the Photos app. Android options vary. For full editing on mobile, use a browser-based EXIF editor.

iPhone (iOS 16 and later)

1. Open Photos
2. Select your photo → tap the info icon (ⓘ)
3. Tap Adjust next to the date, time, or location
4. Make your changes and save

You can change the date, time, and location directly. You cannot edit copyright, author, or keyword fields this way (Source: Apple Support, 2026).

Android

Most Android manufacturers include basic metadata options in the Gallery app. Go to: Gallery → Photo info → Edit

Options vary significantly by device brand (Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi). GPS editing is available on most devices running Android 10+ (Source: Android Open Source Project, 2026).

Cross-platform solution: browser-based editor

For full EXIF editing on any mobile device, use Exif Injector in your mobile browser. It supports all fields — GPS, copyright, dates, keywords — without installing an app.

This is the only mobile-friendly option that supports bulk editing as well.

Good to know: Disabling location access in your camera app prevents GPS data from being written to new photos entirely. Go to Settings → Camera → Location Access → Never.

How to edit EXIF metadata in bulk

In short: Bulk EXIF editing lets you update hundreds of images at once. It saves hours for photographers, e-commerce sellers, and content teams.

Editing one image at a time is slow. Most professionals need to update the same fields across dozens or hundreds of files.

Common bulk editing scenarios:

1. E-commerce sellers — Adding copyright to a full product catalog
2. Photographers — Fixing timezone errors after a trip abroad
3. Stock contributors — Embedding keywords for Shutterstock or Adobe Stock submissions
4. Marketers — Cleaning GPS data from a batch of social media images

Option 1 — Exif Injector Bulk Editor

The bulk EXIF editor from Exif Injector lets you:

1. Upload up to 500 images at once
2. Select fields to edit, add, or remove
3. Apply changes to all files in one click
4. Download the processed batch

All processing happens in your browser. Zero data leaves your device (Source: Exif Injector, 2026).

Option 2 — ExifTool batch command

Apply the same change to all JPEGs in a folder:

bash

The -r flag processes subdirectories recursively. Powerful, but requires command-line comfort (Source: ExifTool, 2026).

At Exif Injector, after testing over 140 platforms and workflows, we found that browser-based bulk editing covers 90% of professional needs — without any software to install or update.

Good to know: When embedding IPTC keywords for SEO, separate each keyword with a semicolon (;). Most platforms — including Google Images — parse this separator correctly (Source: IPTC.org, 2026).

Best EXIF metadata editors in 2026

In short: The best tool depends on your needs — beginner vs pro, single file vs bulk, privacy-focused vs SEO-focused.

(Sources: ExifTool Docs, 2026; Exif Injector, 2026; Apple Support, 2026)

For most users, Exif Injector is the fastest option. It works on every device, requires no installation, and supports all EXIF, IPTC, and XMP fields. Use the EXIF viewer first to audit your files, then the EXIF editor to make changes.

For developers and power users needing scripted workflows, ExifTool remains the industry standard.

Good to know: For SEO purposes, the most important fields to edit are copyright (IPTC), keywords (XMP), title, and description. These fields are indexed by Google Images and influence how your photos rank (Source: Google Developers, 2026).

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Editing EXIF Metadata

Can you edit EXIF metadata on a photo?

Yes. Any JPEG, TIFF, or HEIC file supports full EXIF editing. Use a tool like Exif Injector, ExifTool, or your OS built-in options. PNG files use a different metadata system and require a separate approach.

Does editing EXIF metadata affect image quality?

No. EXIF metadata is stored separately from the pixel data. Changing it does not touch the visual layer. Your image quality stays identical before and after editing (Source: ExifTool, 2026).

How do I edit EXIF metadata on Windows?

Right-click the photo → Properties → Details tab. You can edit basic fields there. For GPS, copyright, or bulk editing, use Exif Injector or ExifTool.

How do I edit EXIF metadata on Mac?

Open Preview → Tools → Show Inspector to view metadata. For full editing, use Exif Injector in your browser, or install ExifTool via Homebrew.

Can I edit EXIF metadata on iPhone or Android?

Yes. On iPhone (iOS 16+), edit dates and GPS in the Photos app. On Android, use the Gallery app or a browser-based tool. For full field access on any mobile device, use Exif Injector in your mobile browser.

What EXIF fields can I edit?

You can edit GPS coordinates, date and time, camera make and model, ISO, aperture, copyright (IPTC), keywords (XMP), author, title, and description. The exact fields available depend on the tool you use and the image format.

About Exif Injector Exif Injector is an AI-powered SaaS tool for injecting, viewing, and removing EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata from images — in bulk. Built by NOVA IMPACT LTD (London, UK), it helps photographers, e-commerce sellers, and marketers optimize image visibility across 140+ platforms. Try it free →