Metadata Cleaner Guide

Photo Metadata Remover

The Photo Metadata Remover is MetaClean's primary tool for stripping EXIF data from images. It supports JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP, and HEIC formats and gives you full control over which metadata fields to remove.

When to Use It

• Before posting photos on social media platforms that preserve metadata
• When sharing photos via email or messaging apps
• Before selling or giving away a device with photos on it
• When publishing photos on a website or blog
• Before submitting photos for a job application or contest

How to Use It

1. Visit the Photo Metadata Remover page on any device with a web browser
2. Drag and drop your photos onto the upload area, or click to browse and select files
3. Review the detected metadata displayed for each photo. You will see GPS coordinates, camera information, timestamps, and other embedded data
4. Choose which metadata to remove. You can selectively remove specific fields or strip everything at once
5. Click "Clean Metadata" and download your cleaned photos

The cleaned photos are visually identical to the originals. Only the hidden metadata is removed — the image data itself is completely untouched.

GPS Remover

The GPS Remover is a focused tool that strips only GPS coordinates from your photos while preserving all other EXIF data. This is ideal for photographers who want to share their camera settings without revealing their location.

When to Use It

• When you want to share camera settings but keep your location private
• For photography communities where EXIF data is valued but location is not relevant
• When you need to quickly strip location data without affecting other metadata fields

How It Differs from the Photo Metadata Remover

The GPS Remover targets only the GPS-related fields in your photo's metadata. Camera model, focal length, aperture, ISO, and other settings are preserved. The Photo Metadata Remover, on the other hand, gives you the option to remove all metadata fields or selectively choose which ones to strip.

PDF Metadata Remover

The PDF Metadata Remover handles metadata embedded in PDF documents. PDFs can contain author names, creation dates, modification history, software versions, and even hidden layers that reveal editing information.

When to Use It

• Before sharing resumes, cover letters, or job applications
• When publishing documents that contain author or organization information
• Before submitting legal or business documents
• When distributing sensitive documents that should not reveal their creation history

How to Use It

1. Visit the PDF Metadata Remover page
2. Upload your PDF by dragging and dropping or browsing
3. Review the detected metadata including author, creator tool, and creation date
4. Click "Clean Metadata" to strip the identified fields
5. Download your cleaned PDF

Batch Metadata Remover

The Batch Metadata Remover lets you process multiple files simultaneously, regardless of format. You can mix photos, PDFs, and text files in a single batch operation.

When to Use It

• When you have a large number of files to clean
• When working with mixed file types (photos and PDFs together)
• For periodic privacy maintenance on your file library
• When preparing files for publication or distribution

How to Use It

1. Open the Batch Metadata Remover page
2. Select multiple files by dragging a folder onto the page or holding Ctrl/Cmd while clicking individual files
3. All files will be processed with the same cleaning options
4. Download all cleaned files at once as a batch

Batch processing is entirely client-side, so it runs as fast as your device's processor allows. There are no file size limits or server-side delays.

EXIF Viewer

The EXIF Viewer is an inspection tool that displays all metadata embedded in your files. It does not remove anything — it simply shows you what is there.

When to Use It

• Before cleaning files, to understand what metadata they contain
• When you want to verify that metadata was successfully removed
• To audit your photo library for privacy risks
• For educational purposes — learning what metadata your devices record

How to Use It

1. Visit the EXIF Viewer page
2. Upload any photo or image file
3. Browse the displayed metadata organized by category
4. Search for specific fields using the search bar
5. Expand and collapse sections to focus on the data you care about

For a complete walkthrough of the EXIF Viewer's features, see our EXIF Viewer Guide .

Privacy Score Tool

The Privacy Score Tool analyzes your files and assigns a privacy rating based on the metadata they contain. It identifies specific privacy risks and recommends actions to improve your score.

When to Use It

• When you want a quick assessment of a file's privacy risk
• Before sharing files, to verify they are safe
• To prioritize which files in your library need cleaning first

How It Works

The Privacy Score is calculated based on the types of metadata present in your file. GPS coordinates receive the highest risk weight, followed by device identifiers, timestamps, and camera information. Files with no metadata receive the highest (safest) score. The tool provides a clear breakdown of what each piece of metadata contributes to the overall risk.

Tips and Tricks

Establish a Pre-Sharing Workflow

Make metadata cleaning a habit before sharing any file. Develop a simple workflow: open MetaClean, upload, clean, and share. This takes only seconds and prevents accidental metadata leakage.

Use the EXIF Viewer First

Before cleaning a file, use the EXIF Viewer to understand what metadata it contains. This helps you decide whether to remove everything or just specific fields. It also helps you understand the privacy implications of what you are sharing.

Check Your Privacy Score

After cleaning a file, run it through the Privacy Score Tool to verify that it has achieved a safe rating. This is especially important when cleaning files that contain sensitive information.

Disable Location Tags for Future Photos

The best metadata is metadata that was never collected. Disable location access for your Camera app to prevent GPS data from being embedded in new photos. See our guides on iPhone and Android privacy for device-specific instructions.

Process Sensitive Files Immediately

Files containing personal information — resumes, legal documents, photos of sensitive locations — should be cleaned as soon as they are created. Do not wait until you are ready to share them.

Verify After Cleaning

After cleaning a file, upload it to the EXIF Viewer to confirm that the metadata was successfully removed. While MetaClean reliably strips metadata, verifying the result gives you peace of mind before sharing.