Remove Image Metadata (EXIF/IPTC/XMP)

Clean photo metadata without losing quality. Learn CLI commands, batch workflows, and a one-click privacy-first option.

EXIFIPTCXMPPrivacy2025
🔒 Visit MetaRemover.com

Quality Preservation

No pixel change

Risk of artifactsNone

Batch Automation

Folders & subfolders

ScaleHigh

Privacy

Local or in-browser

ExposureMinimal

Why remove image metadata?

Photos and videos often include EXIF/IPTC/XMP data: camera model, software, timestamps, and sometimes GPS coordinates. Removing metadata protects personal info, reduces file bloat, and prevents unintended attribution in public posts.

GPS coordinates

Geotags can reveal home, workplace, or routine routes.

Camera fingerprint

Models/serials may help correlate multiple uploads to the same author.

Editing trail

XMP records from editors may leak presets, software versions, and organization info.

Good news
Removing metadata does not change pixels. Your image quality stays intact.

Two approaches: one-click or CLI

Best for one-offs

No install, instant result

A privacy-first in-browser cleaner removes EXIF/IPTC/XMP without uploading to a server. This is ideal when you just need to post a single photo safely.

  • No CLI skills needed
  • Works on mobile/desktop
  • Zero server exposure
Try a privacy-first cleaner

Install ExifTool

Windows

PowerShell or package manager

# Chocolatey
choco install exiftool# Scoop
scoop install exiftool

Or download from exiftool.org.

Core ExifTool commands for removal

Remove all metadata

Full EXIF/IPTC/XMP wipe

exiftool -all= image.jpg

Batch (overwrite originals):

exiftool -all= -overwrite_original *.jpg

Remove GPS only

Keep other tags

exiftool -gps:all= image.jpg

GPS + overwrite:

exiftool -gps:all= -overwrite_original image.jpg

Keep thumbnails, drop service tags

Maintain visuals

exiftool -all= -tagsFromFile @ -thumbnailimage -overwrite_original image.jpg

Copies relevant visual preview while removing noisy metadata.

Print tags (verification)

Check results

exiftool image.jpg

Add -G1 -a to group and show duplicates: exiftool -G1 -a image.jpg

Safety checklist

  • Back up originals before batch operations.
  • Use -overwrite_original with care.
  • Verify a few files after cleaning.
  • Some editors re-inject XMP/EXIF on export—check final outputs.

Batch workflows

Recursive folder cleanup

Subdirectories included

exiftool -r -all= -overwrite_original /path/to/folder
  • Backup originals
  • Dry-run on a copy (optional)
  • Run command on the main folder
  • Schedule with cron/Task Scheduler

Selective cleanup

Only sensitive fields

exiftool -gps:all= -serialnumber= image.jpg

Remove location and serial while keeping title/keywords.

Tip
Keep copyright fields if needed for licensing; purge only what’s sensitive.

Hybrid approach

Teams often combine both: ExifTool for libraries, a one-click browser tool for single images (e.g., MetaRemover.com).

Verify metadata removal

ExifTool (CLI)

Run again to confirm tags are gone

exiftool image.jpg

EXIF viewer (browser)

Use a viewer that parses locally (no upload)

File properties

Windows: Properties → Details; macOS: Preview → Inspector

Pre-publish checklist

  • GPS coordinates removed
  • Creator/software fields reviewed
  • Random spot-check on final exports
  • Backups stored safely

FAQ

Remove metadata now — no installs needed

For a single image, a one-click browser tool is the fastest and most private route.

Remove Metadata Now → MetaRemover.com

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