Metadata is very useful but it says a lot about us. Sometimes too much. We teach you how to delete the metadata of your photos in the main operating systems.
Metadata is blocks of information in a file, hidden in plain sight, but very useful. In photography, they tell us where you took that photograph , with what camera and other data such as resolution, image size, format, etc. However, these data are sometimes compromising. So it is best to clear the metadata of your photos if you want to prevent someone from tracking that image.
We have previously seen that there are third-party applications to do this task. First, to access that metadata, if you are interested in consulting it. From your computer or from your smartphone. And, secondly, to edit them if you want to correct a mistake. Or, directly, delete those metadata that you do not want to share when posting your image on social networks or on your personal page. You can delete all of them or just the most personal ones, such as the location of the photo .
Next we will see how to delete the metadata of your photos directly with the tools that currently integrate the operating systems of your PC, Mac, iPhone and Android smartphones. You will find it very practical, comfortable and useful when you publish images without leaving a trace of who took them and under what conditions.
Clear metadata from your photos in Windows
Although there are fantastic programs and applications out there to do this arduous task, Windows comes with the same metadata erasure features. So if you don’t want to mess with an external tool, we’ll try our luck directly with Windows. You may not have all the options available, but you do have the most common ones.
To see the metadata of a photo you just have to click with the right mouse button to show the contextual menu. Among the options that you will see in that menu, we are interested in Properties . A new window will open with all the information available about that photo. Specifically, we want to see the Details tab . Once there, you will see the metadata although with different names.
And if you want to delete the metadata of that photo, the fastest way is by clicking on the Remove properties and personal information link . When you press it, a second window will appear for you to choose if you prefer to delete that metadata directly or if you prefer to delete it but save a separate backup. That way you’ll still have that information handy in case you need it in the future. And, at the same time, you’ll be able to share a photo regardless of its metadata .
Remove GPS metadata from photos on macOS
Your Mac’s operating system, macOS, also has the ability to view the metadata of your photos . And allows you to remove some of them. More specifically, those that have to do with the location of the photo, that is, the GPS or location metadata . They are the most compromising and surely the first ones you will want to delete.
Currently, in macOS you can view the metadata of your images in several ways. The one we are interested in has to do with Preview , the all-in-one app that comes by default on your Mac and that will help us view, edit, and perform various retouching tasks on images or PDFs. And if you open an image that contains GPS metadata, you can delete it.
First, we open the image with Preview. Then we click on the information button or use the keyboard shortcut Command + i to show the Inspector . The Inspector will show us all the metadata and information embedded in that image file. They are divided into categories. The one we are interested in is GPS . To erase the rest of the metadata from your photos in macOS you will need third-party tools. But if you are only interested in location, with Preview you won’t leave a trace by pressing a simple button.
Once inside GPS, you will see the GPS metadata as well as a map showing the approximate location indicated in that metadata. You can even press the Show on Maps button to see the larger map and the location where you took the photo. But if you want to remove that information, just tap on Delete location information .
Edit image metadata from Android
If we talk about Android and photos, we have to talk about the official Photos app . Google Photos or Google Photos in English, is the default application for Android since the latest versions. It acts as a backup for your images and also offers an assortment of photo editing and retouching actions and tools . And it also serves to deal with metadata. Or, at least, in part.
When you open an image or photo from Google Photos, by clicking on the drop-down in the upper right corner you will see a series of actions and information. Mainly, with what camera the image was made and its resolution or quality. That metadata cannot be edited directly. You will not be able to delete the metadata of your photos. But you can see when the photo was taken and/or edit that information if you click on the pencil icon.
It is also possible to edit the location metadata. And in the event that there is no GPS or location information, you will have the opportunity to add it by hand by clicking on the Add location link . You will only have to indicate a population and you will see the suggestions that come close to your search. To edit and delete the other metadata , you will need outside help .
Edit metadata of your photos from iOS
On iOS, the operating system for your iPhone, the go-to app for viewing and editing photos is Apple Photos . Apple Photos in English. With it you have all your images in one place, synchronized with the Apple cloud, iCloud. And you also have editing and retouching tools to edit and fix your photos .
In the case at hand, Apple Photos makes it easy to view and edit metadata. That is, you will not be able to delete all the metadata of your photos, but you can edit some of it, such as the date and location. It’s something. To delete the rest of the metadata, you must go to third-party applications .
To edit the metadata of your photos from iOS, you will have to go into Apple Photos and then view an image. Once that image is open, click on the information button at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see which camera the photo was taken with, the date, and the location . By clicking on Settings you can change the time, day, month and year of the image. Also the location indicating a new address. Suggestions will appear. Choose the one that best suits your search.
