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How to see the hidden information in a photo on iPhone

Besides the picture, a photo file can hold information called metadata (EXIF). You cannot see it in the picture, but it goes with the file when you send it.

Updated

What a photo can carry

  • Location: where the photo was taken
  • Date and time: when it was taken
  • Device: the phone or camera model
  • Camera details: the lens, shutter speed, and other settings

Your iPhone saves this automatically when you take a photo.

See it in the Photos app

  1. Open the Photos app and tap a photo.
  2. Swipe up, or tap the Info button (ⓘ).
  3. Look at the device, the date and time, the camera details, and the map.

If there is no map, the photo has no saved location.

Find every photo with a location

  1. In Photos, tap Collections.
  2. Tap the Map collection below Pinned.

The map shows only the photos and videos that have a saved location. The date, time, and device are not shown there.

What these details can reveal

  • A location can point to your home, your school, or places you visit often.
  • Dates and times can show your daily routine.
  • The device model shows which phone you use.

One photo may not say much. Several photos taken in the same place can say a lot more.

Check your whole library with PixelGuard

PixelGuard shows at a glance which photos still carry hidden information, and what each photo contains. Everything happens on your iPhone.

  • See which photos still carry hidden details
  • Open a photo to see its location, date and time, and device
  • Remove it all in one tap and save a clean copy
  • Checking photos is free
Download on the App Store

Questions

Can the people I send a photo to see this information?

If the file still contains it, yes. Anyone with the file can read it with common apps. Remove it before you send the photo.

Where does this information come from?

Your iPhone saves it when you take a photo. The location is saved when Location Services is on for the Camera.

Should I remove it from every photo?

Not necessarily. It helps Photos sort your pictures by date and place. It matters when a photo leaves your iPhone, so remove it from the copies you share.