EXIF Privacy Checker
Check file metadata for GPS location, personal information and device fingerprinting clues before sharing. Review findings ranked from the highest privacy concern to general file properties.
- Free · no account
- No file uploads
- Processed in your browser
Choose a file to check
Drag and drop a photo, video, document or another file.
Any file type · one file at a time · maximum 250 MB
Metadata reading depends on the actual format.
Choose a file to check its metadata privacy risks.
Metadata privacy report
Fingerprinting here means linking files through metadata. This is not a browser fingerprint, a malware scan or a measure of how unique your device is.
No uploads. No file storage.
How to check EXIF metadata for privacy risks
Choose your file
Select a JPEG, RAW photo, PDF, MP4 or another file. It stays on your device.
Review risk badges
Check location, identity and device identifiers first. Findings are sorted by severity.
Clean and recheck
Remove unwanted fields using a metadata remover. Check the saved copy before sharing.
Which metadata can affect privacy?
EXIF, XMP, IPTC and other metadata can carry information you did not intend to share. This checker uses transparent field-name rules; severity indicates a review priority, not a confirmed attack or a probability of identification.
| Badge | Typical fields | What to review |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | GPS coordinates | Potentially precise locations, such as a home or workplace. |
| High | Device serial numbers, owner names, contact details, location names | Persistent device links or information about a person or place. |
| Medium | Timestamps, document IDs, history, comments, embedded previews, combined clues | Timeline, related copies, workflow details and text needing review. |
| Low | Camera model, lens, software, counters | Context that can support other clues without proving a unique source. |
| Info | General properties or unclassified tags | No specific rule matched. Review custom fields yourself. |
Can EXIF metadata fingerprint a camera or file?
A camera or lens serial number is a stronger linking clue than a model name. An image or document ID can connect copies and editing history, but does not automatically identify a device. Several equipment and software fields together may form a recognizable pattern; this tool cannot determine whether that pattern is unique.
Field names and values are based on the ExifTool EXIF tag reference and XMP reference. Risk classifications are this tool's own rules, not an ExifTool security rating.
Check photo, video and document metadata
The file picker accepts any file type. The bundled ExifTool engine reads supported JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF, RAW, PDF, MP4, MOV, audio and document formats. Support varies by format, encryption and file condition; unsupported files show an error instead of a privacy verdict.
Embedded stream metadata is inspected where supported. Undecoded previews, older PDF revisions, private vendor tags or other information may remain undetected. Files are never modified by this checker.
EXIF privacy checker FAQ
Are my files uploaded?
No. JavaScript and WebAssembly read your file locally. The app holds metadata temporarily to display your report. Clear the file or leave the page to release its references. The server only delivers the tool's static assets.
Does a critical badge mean someone knows where I live?
No. It means a coordinate field was detected and should be reviewed first. The checker does not identify an address, validate that coordinates are accurate or send them to a map service.
Is a file with no findings safe to share?
No findings means no specific rule matched the readable metadata. It is not a security certificate. Private information can remain in unrecognized tags, filenames, visible content, document text or older revisions.
Can metadata identify me personally?
Author names, owner fields and contact information may identify a person. Device identifiers can link files to equipment, but do not establish who owns it without additional information.
Does this remove metadata?
No. This tool checks and explains metadata. Use a metadata remover to create a cleaned copy, then select that copy here to check what remains.
How are findings sorted?
Critical comes first, followed by high, medium, low and informational findings. Within each level, tag names are sorted alphabetically. You can filter by a badge level. Metadata values are always shown.