Android photos can reveal more than you think

Most Android cameras store EXIF metadata by default. That includes GPS location, device model, timestamps, and camera settings. If you post photos online, that data can leak private details. See real examples in this location‑leak guide.

What metadata is stored in Android photos?

  • GPS coordinates: added when camera location tagging is enabled.
  • Date/time: exact capture time.
  • Device info: phone model and software versions.
  • Camera settings: ISO, exposure, focal length, etc.

Disable location tagging for new photos

Steps vary slightly by brand, but look for these toggles:

  1. Open your Camera app.
  2. Tap Settings (gear icon).
  3. Turn off Save location tags, Location tags, or Geo‑tagging.

This stops new photos from saving GPS data, but existing photos still contain metadata.

Remove location from a single photo (built‑in)

Google Photos and many gallery apps let you remove GPS from one photo:

  1. Open the photo in your gallery.
  2. Tap Info or Details.
  3. Find the location section and choose Remove location or disable it before sharing.

Like on iPhone, this usually removes only GPS, not all EXIF fields.

Strip all EXIF data from Android photos (recommended)

For full privacy, remove all metadata before uploading anywhere. PrivacyStrip runs completely in your browser so your files never leave your Android device.

Step‑by‑step with PrivacyStrip

  1. Open privacystrip.com in Chrome, Samsung Internet, or any browser.
  2. Select your photos from the picker.
  3. Review detected EXIF and GPS data.
  4. Tap Remove All Metadata.
  5. Download the cleaned photos and share those.

Quick privacy check

Upload a photo to see what Android saved, then strip it locally.

Open PrivacyStrip

FAQ

Do messaging apps remove EXIF?

Some apps strip metadata when they compress images, but others keep it. Don’t rely on defaults — remove EXIF yourself first.