How to Remove EXIF Data from Photos (3 Methods)

7 min readUpdated November 2024

Quickest method

Remove EXIF Data from Images — Strip Metadata Online

Strip GPS coordinates, camera info, and all metadata from images before sharing. Private by default.

Use tool →

Method 1: Using PixelForge (fastest)

PixelForge is the fastest way to remove exif data from photos (3 methods) without installing any software.

  1. Select your images in File Explorer or Finder and create a ZIP file.
  2. Go to Remove EXIF Data from Images — Strip Metadata Online.
  3. Drop your ZIP file into the upload zone (or click to browse).
  4. Configure your settings in the settings panel.
  5. Click Process and wait for processing to complete.
  6. Click Download ZIP to save your processed images.

Best for: Anyone who wants results in under a minute without writing code or buying software.

Method 2: Using Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop's Image Processor (File → Scripts → Image Processor) lets you batch-process images with full quality control, but requires a Photoshop license.

  1. Open Photoshop and go to File → Scripts → Image Processor.
  2. Select the folder containing your source images.
  3. Choose your output folder and format settings.
  4. Click Run to process all images.

Best for: Users who already have Photoshop and need precise control over color profiles and metadata.

Method 3: Python (Pillow/PIL)

Python with the Pillow library gives you full programmatic control and is free, but requires coding knowledge.

from PIL import Image
import os

input_dir = "./images"
output_dir = "./output"
os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)

for filename in os.listdir(input_dir):
    if filename.lower().endswith(('.jpg', '.jpeg', '.png', '.webp')):
        img = Image.open(os.path.join(input_dir, filename))
        # Add your processing here
        img.save(os.path.join(output_dir, filename), quality=80)

print("Done!")

Best for: Developers who need to automate image processing as part of a larger workflow or CI/CD pipeline.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to remove EXIF data?

Yes — you can remove metadata from your own photos. Note that some copyright metadata (like IPTC fields) may be legally protected in certain jurisdictions when modifying images you don't own.

Does removing EXIF data delete the photo location permanently?

Yes — once removed, the GPS coordinates cannot be recovered from the image file. However, if the original file still exists (e.g., on your phone), the metadata remains there.

Do all photos contain GPS data?

Only if location services were enabled on the device when the photo was taken. GPS data is stored by most smartphones by default, but not by most digital cameras unless they have built-in GPS.

How do I bulk-remove EXIF from hundreds of photos?

PixelForge's 'Remove EXIF' tool strips all metadata from every image in your ZIP in one batch. It's the fastest web-based option for bulk EXIF removal with no software installation.

Try the PixelForge tool