Cleaning tool · EXIF
EXIF cleaner
Camera body, lens, serial number, capture time, GPS — the diary a camera keeps. This page removes only that; XMP and C2PA are left alone.
Body, lens, serial/Time and GPS/XMP / C2PA kept/No upload
Drop images here, or click to choose
JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIC · 15 MB each · up to 30 per batch
You can also paste a screenshot with ⌘V / Ctrl+V
Cleaning options
What EXIF usually contains
| Group | Typical tags | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Device | Make, Model, BodySerialNumber | Device fingerprint |
| Lens | LensModel, LensMake, LensSpecification | Low |
| Exposure | ExposureTime, FNumber, ISO, ExposureBias | None |
| Time | DateTimeOriginal, DateTimeDigitized | Reveals daily routine |
| Location | The entire GPS block | Pinpoints a building |
| Software | Software, ProcessingSoftware | Exposes the editor or generator |
| Attribution | Artist, Copyright, CameraOwnerName | Identity |
| Thumbnail | Embedded JPEG preview in IFD1 | May retain the uncropped frame |
The last row is easy to overlook: many cameras store a small preview inside EXIF. If you cropped the photo, that preview can still show exactly what you cut out.
How EXIF relates to AI labels
EXIF on its own is usually not the basis for an AI decision — every camera writes it. What causes trouble is the Software field: if it says Adobe Photoshop, Midjourney or some AI editor, certain platforms treat it as evidence of AI assistance.
So cleaning EXIF does little for the AI problem and a great deal for privacy. If the goal is removing an AI label, C2PA and XMP are where to look.
Common questions
Does deleting EXIF affect the photo's rotation?
This is a real issue. The Orientation tag lives in EXIF as well, so older software may show the image sideways once it is gone. Modern browsers and system galleries handle it, but keep this in mind if files are delivered into an old environment.
Why do some photos still display the right way after cleaning?
Because many phones already bake the rotation into the pixels. The metadata is only relied on when Orientation is 6 or 8.
What is the point of cleaning EXIF but keeping XMP?
Asset management and rights: you keep ratings, keywords and copyright in XMP while dropping the device and location fields.
Can the embedded thumbnail be removed?
Yes. Removing the whole EXIF block takes the IFD1 thumbnail with it.
Why not offer “delete GPS only, keep the rest of EXIF”?
It is technically possible but requires rebuilding the entire IFD structure, and one miscalculated offset invalidates the whole block. Removing it whole is more reliable and easier to explain.