How to Remove Metadata from Images on macOS

How to Remove Metadata from Images on macOS

When you take a photo with your iPhone or a digital camera and move it to your Mac, that file contains a lot of "hidden" data. This metadata (EXIF) can include your camera's serial number, the exact date and time, and most importantly, your GPS coordinates.

If you're sharing photos online or with strangers, you should know how to clean this data.

How to View Your Photo's Metadata on Mac

Before removing it, here's how to see what's currently hidden in your file:

1. Open the image in Preview.
2. Go to Tools > Show Inspector (or press Cmd+I).
3. Click the "i" icon in the small window that appears.
4. Look at the tabs for EXIF and GPS. If you see a map or coordinates, your location is embedded in the file.

Method 1: Removing Location Data via Preview

Preview allows you to strip the GPS data specifically while keeping other technical info (like camera settings).

1. Open the image in Preview.
2. Go to Tools > Show Inspector.
3. Click the "i" icon, then click the GPS tab.
4. At the bottom, click Remove Location Information.

Method 2: Removing All Metadata with imgKonvert

If you want to strip everything, including camera serial numbers, software logs, and timestamps, and do it for dozens of photos at once, a dedicated tool is better.

1. Open the imgKonvert Metadata Remover.
2. Select your photos from Finder and drag them in.
3. Our tool processes the files with full privacy protection.
4. The tool automatically creates a "clean" version of your images with all metadata stripped.
5. Download your new, private images.

Why Privacy Matters on Mac

Many Mac users are part of the creative community. When you send a mockup or a photo to a client, you might not want them to see:

• What time of night you were actually working (via timestamps).
• Your home office location (via GPS).
• The exact software and version you used to edit the file.

Summary

macOS gives you some basic tools to hide your location, but for a total "scrub" of all personal data, imgKonvert provides a faster, more thorough, and more secure way to manage your digital footprint. Stay safe out there!