Meaning amounts of hidden data are recorded whenever you lot take a picture with a digital camera or a smartphone. Almost every digital image holds secrets most a photo, detailing where and when information technology was taken, what device took information technology, and more. This information fifty-fifty includes particular photography details such as lens size and exposure settings.

This data is called EXIF metadata, and accessing information technology varies from device to device. While there are built-in options for viewing it on macOS and Windows devices, you'll need to install an app to view it on Android or iOS. If you desire to view EXIF metadata on whatsoever of these platforms, here's what you need to do.

What Is EXIF Metadata?

They say a photo is worth a chiliad words—a statement that certainly has some truth when you consider digital photos. EXIF metadata is hidden technical data saved with photos taken on cameras, smartphones, and other imaging devices.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format and acts as a common standard for technical image data. When you accept a photograph on a photographic camera or smartphone, data is stored as role of the image file itself, including the GPS location showing where the photo was taken (if your device has the ability to record that).

Information technology also includes the make and model of the camera, the image resolution, as well as various photographic information including exposure and shutter speed. Photo editing tools like Photoshop tin immediately admission this data to permit you to quickly change certain image settings, for instance.

EXIF data is usually simply available for JPEG or TIFF image files, although like metadata is besides bachelor for other types of image files, including RAW image files.

How To Admission EXIF Metadata On iPhone

Third-party apps exist to allow you to view EXIF metadata for images on iOS devices like your iPhone. We recommend the imaginatively-titled Exif Metadata, although alternatives similar EXIF Viewer by Fluntro are available too.

The Exif Metadata app is gratuitous to use, with paid in-app purchases available to remove ads and allow you to edit the metadata. You tin can install it from the iOS App Store.

  1. Download and install Exif Metadata for your iOS device. One time installed, open the app and requite it permission to view your photos by pressing OK.
  1. Tap the + (plus) icon to begin selecting a photo to view in the app. In the Photo Albums carte that appears, locate a photo, then tap on it to open it in the app.
  1. Once you lot open a photo, data is immediately available, with geolocation data, epitome size, and other detailed EXIF metadata. Whorl through to view the information y'all want, then printing Back once you're finished.

How To Access EXIF Metadata On Android

Because of Android'due south fragmented nature, there isn't a default photo or file view app that every device has access to, so you'll need to install a suitable app to view EXIF metadata on Android devices.

With over 500 thousand downloads, one of the most popular apps on Android for this purpose is Photo Exif Editor.

  1. To start, download and install Photo Exif Editor on your Android device from the Google Play Shop. Once installed, open the app and tap Photos or Scan to find and select a suitable prototype on your device.
  1. When you select a file to view in the Photo Exif Editor app, the EXIF metadata for that file will appear. Scroll through the list to view a total set of data, including the camera model, exposure and colour balance settings, image resolution, and more.

How To Admission EXIF Metadata On macOS

The macOS Finder app allows you to quickly view any file metadata, showing you

when the file was created or accessed, likewise equally whatever other available technical information.

  1. Some of the more than basic EXIF metadata is available by correct-clicking an paradigm and pressing Become Info to get started.
  1. This brings upward the Info window for a file, where you can view basic information about information technology. You may be able to view some EXIF data under the More Info tab—click on this category if information technology isn't visible.
  1. To view the full EXIF metadata for an image file, you'll need to use the Preview app. Right-click the image and press Open up With > Preview to begin using it.
  1. Once Preview is open, press Tools > Show Inspector from the toolbar menu.
  1. In the Inspector window, press the info icon (shaped similar the letter of the alphabet i), then click on the EXIF tab to view the full EXIF metadata for your prototype file.

Additional image data may also be available in the tabs on either side of the EXIF tab, depending on your camera model or paradigm file type.

How To Admission EXIF Metadata On Windows

Using Windows File Explorer, information technology's possible to view technical information most a file from the Properties window. This surface area likewise displays EXIF metadata for images, offer a quick overview without installing tertiary-party software to do so.

  1. To admission this data, right-click an image file in Windows File Explorer and press Properties. In the Properties window, click on the Details tab. You'll exist able to view some information virtually the image here, including epitome resolution and size, along with some additional details, including the camera model and settings.

While Windows File Explorer should requite yous a good overview of EXIF metadata, you tin can likewise use third-party tools to view it in more depth. Many of these tools are now outdated for use on Windows, but one tool that notwithstanding works well is ExifDataView.

  1. Download ExifDataView for Windows to begin and unzip the file using Window'south built-in unzipping tool. Once unzipped, double-click to run the ExifDataView executable file.
  1. To view EXIF data using ExifDataView, press File > Open File to open a suitable epitome file. Your EXIF data volition appear every bit diverse rows in the ExifDataView window.

Using or Removing EXIF Metadata

EXIF metadata tin can aid you locate where a photograph was taken, or help you hone your photography skills by adjusting your photographic camera settings. If you lot want to upload photos to the spider web without revealing your secrets, yous can remove EXIF data from your photos entirely.

Saved EXIF data or not, yous tin can only capture your favorite memories if you keep your photos in a safe place. If you lot have an extensive photo collection, you should consider storing your photos in the cloud to go along them safe for future generations.

Do you lot make apply of saved EXIF metadata on images? We'd love to hear your utilize cases in the comments section below.