How to Know If Your Photos Have Metadata

Quick answer: Every digital photo contains hidden metadata — also called EXIF data. You can check it in seconds by right-clicking the file, using your phone's info panel, or using a free online viewer like Exif Injector.

Last updated: April 2026

Your photos carry more data than you think. Behind every image is a hidden layer of information — your camera model, GPS location, lens settings, and more. This data is called metadata, and it is attached to your file automatically.

Knowing how to check it matters. It can affect your privacy, your image SEO, and your rights as a photographer.

In this guide, you will learn exactly how to find and read the metadata in your photos — on any device, in minutes.

What Is Photo Metadata?

In brief: Photo metadata is hidden data embedded inside your image file. It is created automatically when you take a photo.

There are three main types:

1. EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format): camera settings, GPS, date and time
2. IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council): keywords, copyright, captions
3. XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform): editing history, star ratings, color labels

Most smartphone and camera photos contain EXIF data by default. IPTC and XMP fields are often added later — by photographers, editors, or SEO tools.

According to the IPTC organization, photo metadata standards have existed since 1991. They are now used by every major image format: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC, and RAW.

Good to know: Even if you cannot see metadata on screen, it is still there. It travels with your file when you share, upload, or send it — unless you actively remove it.

How to Check Metadata on Windows

In brief: On Windows, you can view basic photo metadata without any extra software.

Here is how to do it:

1. Right-click your photo file.
2. Select Properties.
3. Click the Details tab.

You will see fields like camera model, aperture, focal length, date taken, and GPS coordinates (if location was enabled).

This method is fast. But it only shows a limited set of fields. For a complete view of all metadata — including IPTC and XMP — you need a dedicated tool.

Good to know: Windows does not display IPTC keywords or XMP data in the Details tab. Use an EXIF viewer online to see the full picture.

(Source: Microsoft Support, 2025)

How to Check Metadata on Mac

In brief: On macOS, you can read photo metadata directly in Finder or Preview — no extra software needed.

Method 1 — Finder:

1. Select your photo.
2. Press Command + I (or right-click → Get Info).
3. Scroll to the "More Info" section.

Method 2 — Preview:

1. Open your photo in Preview.
2. Go to Tools → Show Inspector.
3. Click the EXIF tab.

Preview shows camera model, exposure settings, date, and GPS data. It does not display IPTC or XMP fields.

For full metadata access on Mac, a browser-based tool gives you far more detail. Our EXIF extractor reads all three metadata formats in one view.

(Source: Apple Support, 2025)

How to Check Metadata on iPhone or Android

In brief: Both iOS and Android let you see basic photo metadata inside the native Photos app.

On iPhone (iOS 16+):

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap a photo.
3. Swipe up or tap the ⓘ info icon.

You will see the date, time, location on a map, and camera details.

On Android:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Tap a photo.
3. Tap the three dots → Details.

You get similar data: date, location, file size, and device model.

Both methods show a simplified view. They do not reveal IPTC keywords, copyright fields, or XMP tags. If you need those — especially for stock photography or e-commerce — use a full photo metadata viewer in your browser.

Good to know: iPhone photos taken with location services ON contain precise GPS coordinates. Anyone who receives your photo can see exactly where it was taken — unless you strip that data first.

(Source: Apple Privacy Documentation, 2024)

How to Check Metadata Online — The Fastest Method

In brief: An online EXIF viewer lets you check any photo's metadata instantly — no software, no installation, any device.

This is the most complete method. It reads EXIF, IPTC, and XMP fields in a single upload. Here is how to use Exif Injector's free viewer:

1. Go to exifinjector.com/en/exif-extractor.
2. Upload your photo (drag and drop or click to browse).
3. Read every metadata field — camera, GPS, copyright, keywords, and more.

You can also view your photo's GPS location on a map using our EXIF map viewer.

At Exif Injector, we process over 200,000 images per month. We see every type of metadata — from travel photos with GPS data to product shots with blank IPTC fields. The online method catches what desktop tools miss.

(Source: Exif Injector internal data, 2026)

What Metadata Fields Should You Look For?

In brief: The most important metadata fields fall into three categories — privacy, copyright, and SEO.

Privacy Fields

These fields reveal personal information:

1. GPS Latitude / Longitude — your exact location when the photo was taken
2. Date & Time — when and sometimes where you were
3. Device serial number — unique identifier for your camera or phone

If you share photos online, these fields can expose your location history. According to a 2023 study by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, most users are unaware that GPS data travels with their photos by default.

Copyright and Authorship Fields

These fields protect your work:

1. Creator / Artist — your name or brand
2. Copyright Notice — your rights statement
3. IPTC Keywords — tags that describe your image
4. Caption / Description — context for the image

Photographers who sell on Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, or Getty Images must fill these fields correctly. Missing IPTC data can lower your ranking on stock platforms.

SEO and Discoverability Fields

These fields affect how search engines and platforms read your image:

1. Title — the image title (XMP)
2. Alt Text (where embedded) — describes the image for accessibility
3. Subject / Keywords — what the image shows

Our image SEO audit tool checks all three categories at once and tells you what to fix.

Good to know: Google can read EXIF and IPTC metadata. Well-filled metadata helps your images appear in Google Image Search. (Source: Google Search Central, 2024)

Should You Remove Your Photo Metadata?

In brief: It depends on your goal. Remove metadata for privacy. Keep it — or improve it — for SEO and copyright protection.

Here are the two main scenarios:

Remove metadata when:

1. You share personal photos on social media
2. You send photos by email to people you do not fully trust
3. You want to protect your location data
4. You are selling a photo and do not want your device info exposed

Keep or improve metadata when:

1. You sell images on stock platforms
2. You run an e-commerce store on Etsy, Shopify, or Amazon
3. You want better image SEO rankings
4. You need to prove ownership of your images

You can remove metadata with our free EXIF remover tool. You can add or edit metadata with our EXIF editor. Both tools work in your browser — no download needed.

According to a 2024 study at Princeton (published at KDD), adding structured metadata to images increases their discoverability by 30 to 40% on search-indexed platforms.

FAQ — Questions About Photo Metadata

How do I know if my photo has metadata?

Right-click the file and open Properties → Details (Windows) or press Command+I (Mac). You will see fields like camera model, date, and GPS. For a complete view, use a free online tool like Exif Injector's viewer.

What metadata does a photo contain?

Most photos contain EXIF data (camera settings, GPS, date), IPTC data (keywords, copyright, caption), and XMP data (editing history, ratings). Together, these three formats store dozens of data fields per image.

Can I check photo metadata on my iPhone?

Yes. Open the Photos app and tap the info icon (ⓘ) below any image. You will see the date, location, and camera details. For a full metadata report, use a browser-based viewer like Exif Injector.

Does a screenshot have metadata?

Screenshots have very limited metadata. They usually contain a creation date and device type, but no GPS data or camera settings. They are much simpler than photos taken with a camera or smartphone.

How do I remove metadata from a photo?

Use Exif Injector's free EXIF remover tool. Upload your image, select the fields to delete, and download the cleaned file — no software needed.

About Exif Injector Exif Injector is an AI-powered SaaS tool that lets you inject, view, and remove EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata from your 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 →