How to View EXIF Metadata on Your Smartphone

Quick answer: You can view EXIF metadata on your smartphone using your built-in Photos app, a free third-party app, or an online tool like Exif Injector's EXIF viewer.

Every photo you take stores hidden data. This data is called EXIF metadata. It includes your location, camera model, and shooting settings. Knowing how to view EXIF metadata on your smartphone helps you manage your privacy, improve your photography, and protect your images.

This guide covers all methods. It works for both iPhone and Android.

What Is EXIF Metadata?

In brief: EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is data your camera or phone saves inside every photo file automatically.

EXIF metadata is invisible. It does not change how your photo looks. But it stores a lot of information about how and where the photo was taken.

Here is what a typical EXIF record contains:

EXIF is part of a wider set of image metadata. This also includes IPTC (keywords, captions, copyright) and XMP (extended Adobe metadata). To learn more, read our guide on what EXIF data is.

(Source: CIPA DC-X008-2019 EXIF Standard, Camera & Imaging Products Association, 2019)

Good to know: According to a 2023 study by the University of Edinburgh, over 75% of smartphone users are unaware that their photos contain GPS data by default.

How to View EXIF Data on iPhone

In brief: iPhones running iOS 16 or later show basic EXIF data natively in the Photos app.

You do not need a third-party app for basic data. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap on any photo.
3. Swipe up on the photo.
4. You will see the date, location, camera, and aperture.

What iOS Shows Natively

iOS shows a limited set of EXIF fields. You get the date, location name, camera type, and lens info. You do not get shutter speed, ISO, or raw GPS coordinates.

For Full EXIF Data on iPhone

Use a dedicated app or an online viewer. We cover the best options below.

Good to know: On iOS, you can also tap Adjust in the Photos app to see the lens and exposure summary. But this is not the full EXIF record.

(Source: Apple Support — View photo information, support.apple.com, 2025)

How to View EXIF Data on Android

In brief: Most Android phones show basic photo details in the Gallery or Google Photos app under "Details" or "Info."

Steps for Google Photos (Android):

1. Open Google Photos.
2. Tap on a photo.
3. Tap the three dots (top right).
4. Select Details.

You will see the file name, size, date, location, camera, and some shooting settings.

Samsung Gallery (One UI)

On Samsung devices:

1. Open Gallery.
2. Tap a photo.
3. Tap the Info icon (the lowercase "i").
4. Scroll to see all available data.

Samsung's built-in viewer shows more fields than Google Photos. But it still does not show every EXIF tag.

For Complete EXIF Access on Android

Use a dedicated EXIF app or an online tool. Android does not expose all metadata natively.

(Source: Google Photos Help Center, support.google.com, 2025)

Good to know: GPS data may not appear in Google Photos' Details view if the app strips location info for privacy. Always use a dedicated EXIF reader to check the full record.

Best Apps to View EXIF Metadata on Mobile

In brief: Several free apps give you full EXIF access on both iOS and Android.

Here is a comparison of the top options in 2026:

What to Look for in an EXIF App

Choose an app that:

1. Shows GPS coordinates with a map view
2. Displays all IPTC and XMP fields, not just EXIF
3. Lets you export or copy the metadata
4. Works offline for privacy-sensitive use cases

(Source: App Store and Google Play Store ratings, April 2026)

Good to know: Most paid EXIF apps charge between $2 and $5 USD. The free tiers often limit the number of photos you can inspect per day.

How to View EXIF Data Online — Any Device

In brief: Online EXIF viewers work on any device, including smartphones, without installing anything.

This is the fastest option. You just upload a photo and view its full metadata in seconds.

Exif Injector's free EXIF viewer is one of the best options. It runs in your browser. It works on iOS, Android, and desktop. And it shows all EXIF, IPTC, and XMP fields in one clear view.

How to Use the Exif Injector Viewer on Mobile

1. Open your browser on your phone.
2. Go to exifinjector.com/en/exif-extractor.
3. Tap Upload Image.
4. Select a photo from your gallery.
5. View all metadata instantly.

You can also see GPS data on an interactive map using our EXIF map viewer.

At Exif Injector, we process more than 200,000 images per month. Our team sees firsthand how many photos contain sensitive location data that users never knew was there.

(Source: Exif Injector internal analytics, Q1 2026)

Good to know: Online EXIF viewers are ideal for quick checks. If you need to inspect photos in bulk — for a product catalog or stock submission — use our bulk EXIF editor instead.

What EXIF Data Reveals — and Why It Matters

In brief: EXIF metadata can expose your precise GPS location, daily routine, and device details to anyone who receives your photo.

This is a real privacy risk. A photo posted online still contains its full EXIF record by default — unless the platform strips it.

Here is what your EXIF data can reveal:

1. Your home address (if you took the photo at home)
2. Your daily schedule (timestamps across multiple photos)
3. Your phone model (useful for targeted phishing)
4. Your camera settings (less sensitive, but still traceable)

Which Platforms Strip EXIF Data?

Platforms that strip EXIF data protect your privacy by default. But when you send photos by email or upload them to a marketplace, your EXIF data travels with the file.

According to a 2022 ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity) report, image metadata leakage is one of the top 10 unintentional personal data exposures.

If you need to remove GPS data before sharing, use our EXIF remover. You can also read our full guide on how to remove location data from iPhone photos.

Good to know: The GDPR (EU General Data Protection Regulation) classifies GPS location data as personal data. Sharing photos with embedded GPS data of other people may raise legal concerns (Source: GDPR Article 4, European Commission, 2018).

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Viewing EXIF Metadata

Can I view EXIF metadata directly on my iPhone?

Yes. Open the Photos app, tap a photo, and swipe up to see basic EXIF data. For full metadata including raw GPS coordinates and all camera settings, use a dedicated app or the free Exif Injector viewer.

How do I view EXIF data on Android?

Open Google Photos or your Gallery app, tap a photo, and select "Details" or "Info." For complete metadata, use a third-party EXIF app or visit exifinjector.com/en/exif-extractor in your mobile browser.

What information is stored in photo EXIF metadata?

EXIF metadata stores camera model, lens type, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, GPS coordinates, date and time, and the software used to edit or take the photo. It may also include copyright data and IPTC keywords.

Is viewing EXIF data free?

Yes. Many free tools let you view EXIF data. Exif Injector offers a free online EXIF viewer that works on any device with no installation required.

Can someone track my location using photo EXIF data?

Yes. If GPS data is embedded in your photo, anyone with the file can see your location. Remove GPS metadata before sharing photos online using our EXIF remover tool.

About Exif Injector Exif Injector is an AI-powered SaaS tool to inject, view, and remove EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata from your images in bulk. Developed by NOVA IMPACT LTD (London, UK), it helps photographers, e-commerce sellers, and marketers optimize their image visibility across 140+ platforms. Try it free →