How to View EXIF Metadata — Full Guide

Quick Answer: To View EXIF metadata, right-click any image on Windows and open Properties > Details. On Mac, use Preview > Tools > Show Inspector. For full metadata — including GPS, IPTC, and XMP — use a free online tool like Exif Injector's EXIF extractor.

Every digital photo hides data you cannot see. This hidden data is called EXIF metadata. It records your camera settings, the time and date, your GPS location, and much more. Finding this data takes seconds — once you know where to look.

This guide shows you exactly how to find EXIF metadata on any device. No technical skills needed.

Where Is EXIF Metadata Stored?

In brief: EXIF metadata lives inside the image file itself — embedded in the file header, invisible to the naked eye.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. It was standardized in 1995 by the Japan Electronic Industries Development Association (JEIDA). Every modern camera and smartphone writes EXIF data automatically at the moment of capture.

The data sits in a dedicated section of the file called the APP1 marker segment in JPEG files. It is not a separate file. It travels with the image wherever it goes — unless someone strips it out.

Three metadata standards can coexist inside a single image:

1. EXIF — camera technical data (shutter speed, GPS, date)
2. IPTC — editorial data (keywords, captions, copyright)
3. XMP — descriptive and rights data (used by Adobe tools)

Most basic tools only show EXIF fields. To find all three, you need a full-featured EXIF viewer that supports EXIF, IPTC, and XMP.

(Source: IPTC, Photo Metadata Standards, 2024)

Good to know: EXIF metadata is invisible when you view an image normally. You need a dedicated tool — or your operating system's file properties — to find and read it.

How to Find EXIF Metadata on Windows

In brief: Windows lets you find basic EXIF metadata natively — no extra software needed — through the file Properties panel.

Follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer and locate your image.
2. Right-click the image file.
3. Select Properties from the menu.
4. Click the Details tab at the top.
5. Scroll down to find camera settings, date, GPS, and more.

Windows displays around 30 common EXIF fields. These include:

1. Camera make and model
2. Date and time taken
3. Exposure time and aperture
4. ISO speed
5. GPS latitude and longitude
6. Image dimensions and resolution

Limitations of Windows File Properties

Windows hides many advanced fields. You will not find:

1. Full GPS data in decimal degrees
2. IPTC keywords and copyright tags
3. XMP descriptive fields
4. Lens-specific correction data
5. Embedded thumbnail metadata

For complete data, use a dedicated EXIF data extractor. It surfaces every field — EXIF, IPTC, and XMP — in one view.

(Source: Microsoft, File Properties in Windows 11, 2025)

Good to know: Windows may strip some EXIF fields when you email photos using the built-in sharing feature. Always verify metadata after sharing if accuracy matters.

How to Find EXIF Metadata on Mac

In brief: Mac's Preview app has a built-in Inspector that lets you find EXIF metadata without any third-party software.

Here is the fastest method:

1. Double-click the image to open it in Preview.
2. Go to Tools in the menu bar.
3. Select Show Inspector (shortcut: ⌘ + I).
4. Click the EXIF tab.

You will see camera settings, GPS coordinates, date, and software fields. Preview shows more data than Windows Properties — but still misses IPTC and XMP fields.

Finding Metadata in the Mac Photos App

If your image is in your Mac Photos library:

1. Open Photos.
2. Select your image.
3. Press ⌘ + I to open the Info panel.
4. Click Show More Info to expand all available data.

Finding Metadata via Terminal (Advanced)

Mac power users can find EXIF metadata using the terminal:

bash

This uses macOS Spotlight metadata. It returns extensive data — but not all EXIF fields. For full extraction, an online EXIF extractor remains the most thorough option.

(Source: Apple Developer Documentation, Image Metadata Reference, 2025)

How to Find EXIF Metadata Online — The Fastest Method

In brief: Online EXIF tools let you find complete metadata from any image — including IPTC and XMP — with no software to install.

Online tools work on any device. They show every metadata field. And they save time, especially for bulk checks.

Using Exif Injector's Free EXIF Extractor

At Exif Injector, our team processes over 200,000 images per month across photography, e-commerce, and stock photo workflows. Our EXIF extractor reads all three standards at once: EXIF, IPTC, and XMP.

Steps to find EXIF metadata online:

1. Visit exifinjector.com/tools/exif-viewer.
2. Drag and drop your image — or click to upload.
3. The full metadata report appears in seconds.
4. Export the data as CSV or JSON if needed.

No account required for basic use. Images are not stored on our servers after processing.

What You Can Find with an Online Tool

For GPS data, our EXIF viewer plots the exact location on an interactive map — directly from the embedded coordinates.

Good to know: If you need to find metadata across hundreds of images at once, use our bulk EXIF editor. It reads and displays metadata for entire image batches in one step.

How to Find EXIF Metadata on iPhone

In brief: iPhone's native Photos app shows limited EXIF data — for full metadata, use a browser-based tool or a dedicated app.

Using the Native Photos App

1. Open Photos on your iPhone.
2. Tap the image you want to check.
3. Swipe up on the photo to reveal the info panel.
4. You will see: date, time, location, camera model, and aperture.

This is quick — but incomplete. IPTC fields, XMP data, and advanced EXIF tags are not shown.

Finding Full EXIF Data on iPhone

For complete metadata on iPhone:

1. Open Safari or Chrome.
2. Go to exifinjector.com/tools/exif-viewer.
3. Upload your photo directly from your Camera Roll.
4. View the full metadata report instantly.

Important privacy note: iOS strips GPS data from photos shared via iMessage and AirDrop by default. If you need to find location data, check the original file — not a shared copy. Read our full guide on removing location from iPhone photos to understand how this works.

(Source: Apple, iPhone Privacy Features, 2025)

How to Find EXIF Metadata on Android

In brief: Android's Gallery app shows basic EXIF data — tap the info icon on any photo to find date, location, and camera details.

Using the Native Gallery or Google Photos App

1. Open Google Photos or your device's Gallery.
2. Tap the image.
3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) or the info icon (i).
4. Select Details or Info.

You will see: date, time, location, camera model, and resolution.

For deeper data — IPTC, XMP, or full EXIF tags — the native app falls short. Use a browser and upload your image to exifinjector.com/tools/exif-viewer instead.

Android Third-Party Apps

Several Play Store apps can help find EXIF metadata:

1. Photo EXIF Editor — reads and edits EXIF tags
2. Exif Viewer by Fluntro — simple tag viewer
3. Metadata Remover — focused on privacy (strips data)

These apps vary in completeness. None of them show all three standards (EXIF + IPTC + XMP) as reliably as a dedicated web tool.

(Source: Google, Supported Media Formats on Android, 2025)

Which Image Formats Support EXIF Metadata?

In brief: Not all image formats support EXIF — the format determines whether metadata can be found at all.

This is a common source of confusion. You may fail to find EXIF metadata simply because the image format does not support it.

If you cannot find EXIF metadata in a PNG or WebP file, the metadata may simply not be there. Convert to JPEG first — or use our EXIF injector to add metadata manually.

(Source: W3C, Image Format Specifications, 2024)

Good to know: HEIC files from modern iPhones carry full EXIF data. But some platforms convert HEIC to JPEG on upload — which can strip or alter the metadata in the process.

What to Do After You Find EXIF Metadata

In brief: Once you find EXIF metadata, you can view it, edit it, remove it, or use it to improve your image SEO.

Finding metadata is just the first step. Here is what you can do next:

Edit Missing or Incorrect Metadata

Found incomplete data? Use our EXIF editor to add or correct any field. This is especially useful for:

1. Adding copyright and author information
2. Fixing incorrect date or timezone
3. Adding keywords for stock photo platforms

Remove Metadata for Privacy

Found GPS coordinates you do not want to share? Use our EXIF remover to strip location data before publishing. This protects your privacy — and the privacy of anyone in your photos.

Optimize Metadata for SEO

Found gaps in your IPTC keywords or XMP descriptions? Our image metadata optimizer and alt text generator help you fill those gaps — and improve your image ranking on Google, Pinterest, and stock platforms.

According to a 2024 Backlinko study, images with complete metadata rank 35% higher in Google Image Search than images missing key fields.

Audit Your Full Image Library

Working with many images? Run a full image SEO audit across your entire library. It finds metadata gaps at scale — so you can fix them fast.

(Source: Backlinko, Image SEO Study, 2024)

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Finding EXIF Metadata

How do I find EXIF metadata on Windows?

Right-click the image in File Explorer and select Properties. Click the Details tab. You will find camera model, date, GPS, and around 30 other EXIF fields. For complete data, use an online EXIF extractor.

How do I find EXIF metadata on a Mac?

Open the image in Preview and go to Tools > Show Inspector. Click the EXIF tab. For IPTC and XMP fields, use a dedicated tool like Exif Injector's extractor.

Where is EXIF metadata stored in a file?

EXIF metadata is embedded directly inside the image file — in the file header. It travels with the image when you copy, share, or upload it, unless it is deliberately removed.

Can I find EXIF metadata online for free?

Yes. Exif Injector's free EXIF extractor lets you upload any image and find its full EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata instantly — no software installation required.

Do all image formats contain EXIF metadata?

No. JPEG and TIFF fully support EXIF. PNG stores limited metadata. WebP has partial support. GIF and SVG do not support EXIF at all. If you cannot find metadata in a file, the format may not support it.

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 →