Metadata Remover — Strip EXIF, IPTC, and More
Remove hidden metadata from JPEG, PNG, WebP, MP4, and PDF files before sharing online. Protect location, camera, and author data with one click.
Open the tool →Why removing metadata matters
Most cameras, phones, and editing apps embed information into every file they create — GPS coordinates, device serial numbers, software signatures, capture date, even the author of a Word document re-exported as PDF. When you share that file on social media, in a chat, or by email, you broadcast that data to everyone who receives it. The metadata remover strips this information before sharing.
What gets removed
For JPEG, the remover drops the EXIF segment (APP1), the XMP segment (APP1 with Adobe xap namespace), and the IPTC segment (APP13 with Photoshop 3.0 header). For PNG, it removes all tEXt, zTXt, and iTXt chunks. For WebP, it removes the EXIF chunk. For MP4, it strips the udta atom (which holds iTunes-style metadata) from the moov container. For PDF, it clears the info dictionary fields and zeroes the creation and modification dates.
What gets preserved
The remover never alters the actual pixel data, audio, or document content — only metadata containers are stripped. For images, the JFIF header and ICC color profile are kept so colors render correctly. For MP4, the sample table offsets are re-computed so the video still plays after stripping. For PDF, page content streams stay untouched.
When to strip metadata
Before uploading a photo to a public website, before posting a video to social media, before sharing a PDF report with an external client, before sending screenshots that contain editor metadata. Journalists, researchers, and activists should treat metadata stripping as a default step in any handoff workflow. Even consumer messaging apps embed surprising amounts of metadata in files they relay.
Strip first, then re-inject
A common workflow is to first run files through the remover, then re-inject only the metadata you want using the bulk metadata editor. This gives you a clean baseline file with no private leftovers, plus the SEO and licensing fields you care about. The two tools work well together — strip with the remover, enrich with the bulk editor.
Verifying with the viewer
After stripping, drop the file into the metadata viewer to confirm there is no leftover data. The viewer should show an empty or near-empty result. If you still see fields, the input file probably had non-standard chunks that the remover does not yet target — you can mention this to support so we add it.
Mobile usage
The remover is fully mobile-friendly. Tap the dropzone, select files from your camera roll or files app, and download the cleaned ZIP. Everything happens in your browser — no upload to the server, no waiting on a network round-trip.
Privacy beyond the file level
File metadata is only one privacy layer. Also consider the file name (cameras often name files by date), the file path (if you upload a screenshot, the path can leak username), and the page or message you attach it to. The remover handles the first two attack surfaces; the rest depends on how you share.
Frequently asked questions
- Does removing metadata reduce file size?
- A little. EXIF and XMP segments are typically a few KB on photos. Stripping them removes that overhead but does not re-compress the image, so quality is identical.
- Does this affect image quality?
- No. The remover never touches the pixel data — only the metadata containers around it. Photos stay pixel-perfect.
- Can I undo a removal?
- Not from the stripped file (metadata is gone). Keep the original file as a backup if you might want the metadata back later, or use the [bulk editor](/bulk-editor) to re-inject the fields you want.
- Will my MP4 still play after stripping?
- Yes. The remover re-computes the sample table offsets when the moov atom shrinks, so playback in QuickTime, VLC, and browser players remains intact.
Ready to apply this?
Use MediaMeta's browser-based tools — your files never leave your device.