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How to remove GPS location from photos before sharing
Short answer
- A phone photo can contain the GPS coordinates of where it was taken, plus the date, time and phone model.
- Remove it before sending photos through channels that pass the original file along: email, cloud links, marketplace listings and “send original” in messaging apps.
- On iPhone, tap Options on the share sheet and switch off Location. For files you already have, use Remove Image Metadata.
What is stored inside a photo?
Besides the picture itself, a photo file carries extra information known as EXIF metadata. What is recorded depends on the camera and its settings, but these are common:
| Field | Example | Why it can matter |
|---|---|---|
| Location (GPS) | Latitude and longitude | Can point to your home, workplace or a child’s school |
| Date and time | 2026-10-15 08:12 | Can reveal routines and when you are away |
| Device | Phone model, lens | Can link several photos to the same person |
| Editing details | App used, embedded thumbnail | A thumbnail can sometimes show a part you cropped out |
When does it actually get shared?
Large social networks generally strip location metadata from the copy they publish. The risk lies in routes that deliver your file unchanged: email attachments, shared cloud folders, some forums and blogs that keep the original, marketplace listings and “send as file” or “original quality” options in messaging apps. Because every service handles this differently and policies change, the reliable habit is to remove location data yourself before a sensitive photo leaves your device.
How to remove it
iPhone
- In Photos, select the photo or photos and tap the Share button.
- Tap Options at the top of the share sheet.
- Switch off Location, tap Done, then share. This applies only to this share.
To stop recording location in the first place, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera and choose Never.
Android
Most camera apps have a setting such as “Location tags” or “Save location”; turn it off and new photos will not be tagged. Some gallery apps, including Samsung Gallery, also offer to remove location when sharing. The exact menu names vary by manufacturer and Android version.
On a computer, or for photos you already have
Add the photos to Remove Image Metadata. It first shows whether location, capture date and device information were found, then creates a copy re-encoded without the original metadata. The photos are processed in your browser and are not uploaded. Select several at once and you can download all the results as a ZIP.
Limitations to know
- Because the image is re-encoded in its original format, file size and quality can change slightly. Keep the original if you need it.
- Some formats cannot be inspected field by field. A result of “unknown” does not mean the data is absent.
- For a photo that really matters, open the result in a separate metadata viewer to confirm the location is gone.