How to remove location data from photos before sharing
Phone photos often store GPS coordinates in hidden EXIF data. What it reveals, how to check for it, and how to export a clean copy with the location removed.
Updated · 2 min read
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Open Blur imageThe short answer
Export a fresh copy of the photo that doesn't carry its original metadata. Open it in Blur image and download it: the new file has no EXIF data, which includes any GPS location. You don't even need to cover anything if location is your only concern.
Many phone cameras record where a photo was taken when location access is turned on. The coordinates sit inside the file, invisible when you look at the picture, and travel with it when you send it as a file or attachment.
What EXIF data can reveal
| Field | What it tells someone |
|---|---|
| GPS latitude and longitude | Where the photo was taken, often down to a building |
| Date and time | When you were there |
| Camera make and model | What phone or camera you use |
| Software | Which app edited the photo |
A single photo taken at home, sent as a file, can be enough to pin down your address. A series of photos can show a routine.
Remove location from a photo
- Open Blur image and drop in the photo, or pick it from your phone's gallery.
- If you only want the location gone, skip straight to download. If there's something visible to hide as well, such as a face, a house number or a document, cover it first.
- Download. The exported image is rebuilt from pixels, so EXIF data, including GPS coordinates, is not carried over.
- Share the downloaded copy, not the original.
To clean several photos at once, add up to 20 and download them as a ZIP of PNGs.
Some websites and apps remove metadata when you upload, and some don't. Sending a photo as a file or document often keeps it. Don't rely on the other side to strip it for you.
The location you can see
Removing EXIF data hides the coordinates, but not what's in the picture. A street sign, a house number, a car's plate or a view from your window can give away where you are just as well. How to blur an address in a photo covers those clues, and How to censor a photo before posting has a full checklist.
Faces are the other big one. Blur face in photo finds them automatically, and the export drops location data at the same time.
Questions
How do I know if my photo has location data?
Most phones and computers can show a photo's details or properties, including location if it was recorded. If you're not sure, export a clean copy anyway; it costs nothing.
Does removing EXIF data change how the photo looks?
No. Only the hidden information is left out. The picture looks the same, apart from anything you chose to cover.
Does a screenshot contain GPS data?
Screenshots usually don't record a location, but they can show one on screen, such as a map or an address. Check what's visible.