Tool
Remove GPS Metadata & Photo Geotags
Phone photos often store the exact coordinates where they were taken. MetaRase detects GPS indicators in the file and removes them: lossless stripping keeps JPEG, PNG and WebP pixels unchanged, while other supported formats are rebuilt. Either way, the coordinates do not travel into the cleaned file.
How to use it
- 1Add the photos you want to check.
- 2Look for a GPS indicator in the scan report; coordinates are often paired with a timestamp.
- 3Choose lossless strip for JPEG, PNG or WebP, or rebuild the image without the location block.
- 4Verify the output shows no GPS indicator, then download.
Why location is the risky field
A coordinate can point to a home, a workplace, or a school, and a timestamp narrows it further. It is one of the most sensitive fields a casual photo can carry, and it is invisible when you look at the picture.
Not every photo has GPS
Location is usually added by the camera app only when location services are on. A photo can have EXIF and no GPS, or GPS without much else. Scanning the file tells you what is actually there instead of leaving you to guess.
Where GPS lives by format
The coordinates sit in a format-specific container.
| Format | GPS location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | EXIF GPS block (APP1) | The usual case for phone photos. |
| PNG | eXIf chunk | Possible after editing or conversion. |
| WebP | EXIF chunk | Common for exported images. |
| HEIC / AVIF | ISO-BMFF Exif box | Typical of newer iPhones. |
Location in the picture
If a place name, address, or landmark is visible in the photo itself, removing metadata will not hide it. That is content, not metadata, and it stays in the pixels.
How to verify it is gone
MetaRase scans the cleaned file and shows the result beside the original report. No GPS indicator means the coordinates no longer travel with the image. Check that report before you post or send the file.
Frequently asked questions
Does removing GPS change the image quality?
It depends on the mode. Lossless strip keeps the compressed image data unchanged for JPEG, PNG and WebP, so the pixels are identical. Rebuilding re-encodes the image, so there can be a small quality difference depending on the chosen format and quality setting.
Can I see the coordinates before removing them?
MetaRase reports that a GPS indicator is present without displaying the values. Use a metadata viewer if you need to read them first.
Does it remove location from a screenshot?
Screenshots rarely carry GPS. If the report shows no GPS indicator, there is nothing location-related in the file metadata.
Will turning off location services delete past locations?
No. It only stops new photos from being tagged. Existing files keep whatever they already store.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Detection, cleaning, and verification run in your browser.
Does it remove the timestamp too?
The capture timestamp usually lives in the same EXIF block and is removed along with it.
Sources
Inspect, clean, and verify in your browser
Your image bytes never leave your device. MetaRase rebuilds the image locally, then scans the output again before you download it.
Open the cleanerRelated pages
Results describe supported embedded indicators only and cannot guarantee how a platform will classify an image.