Significant amounts of hidden data are recorded whenever you take a picture with a digital camera or a smartphone. Almost every digital image holds secrets about a photo, detailing where and when it was taken, what device took it, and more. This information even includes particular photography details such as lens size and exposure settings.

This data is called EXIF metadata, and accessing it varies from device to device. While there are built-in options for viewing it on macOS and Windows devices, you'll need to install an app to view it on Android or iOS. If you want to view EXIF metadata on any of these platforms, here's what you need to do.

What Is EXIF Metadata?

They say a photo is worth a thousand words—a statement that certainly has some truth when you consider digital photos. EXIF metadata is hidden technical data saved with photos taken on cameras, smartphones, and other imaging devices.

EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format and acts as a common standard for technical image data. When you take a photo on a camera or smartphone, information is stored as part of the image file itself, including the GPS location showing where the photo was taken (if your device has the ability to record that).

It also includes the make and model of the camera, the image resolution, as well as various photographic data including exposure and shutter speed. Photo editing tools like Photoshop can immediately access this data to allow you to quickly change certain image settings, for instance.

EXIF data is usually only available for JPEG or TIFF image files, although similar metadata is also available for other types of image files, including RAW image files.

How To Access EXIF Metadata On iPhone

Third-party apps exist to allow you to view EXIF metadata for images on iOS devices like your iPhone. We recommend the imaginatively-titled Exif Metadata, although alternatives like EXIF Viewer by Fluntro are available too.

The Exif Metadata app is free to use, with paid in-app purchases available to remove ads and allow you to edit the metadata. You can install it from the iOS App Store.

  1. Download and install Exif Metadata for your iOS device. Once installed, open the app and give it permission to view your photos by pressing OK.
  1. Tap the + (plus) icon to begin selecting a photo to view in the app. In the Photo Albums menu that appears, locate a photo, then tap on it to open it in the app.
  1. Once you open a photo, information is immediately available, with geolocation data, image size, and other detailed EXIF metadata. Scroll through to view the data you want, then press Back once you're finished.

How To Access EXIF Metadata On Android

Because of Android's fragmented nature, there isn't a default photo or file view app that every device has access to, so you'll need to install a suitable app to view EXIF metadata on Android devices.

With over 500 thousand downloads, one of the most popular apps on Android for this purpose is Photo Exif Editor.

  1. To start, download and install Photo Exif Editor on your Android device from the Google Play Store. Once installed, open the app and tap Photos or Browse to find and select a suitable image on your device.
  1. When you select a file to view in the Photo Exif Editor app, the EXIF metadata for that file will appear. Scroll through the list to view a full set of data, including the camera model, exposure and color balance settings, image resolution, and more.

How To Access EXIF Metadata On macOS

The macOS Finder app allows you to quickly view any file metadata, showing you

when the file was created or accessed, as well as any other available technical data.

  1. Some of the more basic EXIF metadata is available by right-clicking an image and pressing Get Info to get started.
  1. This brings up the Info window for a file, where you can view basic information about it. You may be able to view some EXIF data under the More Info tab—click on this category if it isn't visible.
  1. To view the full EXIF metadata for an image file, you'll need to use the Preview app. Right-click the image and press Open With > Preview to begin using it.
  1. Once Preview is open, press Tools > Show Inspector from the toolbar menu.
  1. In the Inspector window, press the info icon (shaped like the letter i), then click on the EXIF tab to view the full EXIF metadata for your image file.

Additional image information may also be available in the tabs on either side of the EXIF tab, depending on your camera model or image file type.

How To Access EXIF Metadata On Windows

Using Windows File Explorer, it's possible to view technical data about a file from the Properties window. This area also displays EXIF metadata for images, offering a quick overview without installing third-party software to do so.

  1. To access this data, right-click an image file in Windows File Explorer and press Properties. In the Properties window, click on the Details tab. You'll be able to view some information about the image here, including image resolution and size, along with some additional details, including the camera model and settings.

While Windows File Explorer should give you a good overview of EXIF metadata, you can also use third-party tools to view it in more depth. Many of these tools are now outdated for use on Windows, but one tool that still works well is ExifDataView.

  1. Download ExifDataView for Windows to begin and unzip the file using Window's built-in unzipping tool. Once unzipped, double-click to run the ExifDataView executable file.
  1. To view EXIF data using ExifDataView, press File > Open File to open a suitable image file. Your EXIF data will appear as various rows in the ExifDataView window.

Using or Removing EXIF Metadata

EXIF metadata can help you locate where a photo was taken, or help you hone your photography skills by adjusting your camera settings. If you want to upload photos to the web without revealing your secrets, you can remove EXIF data from your photos entirely.

Saved EXIF data or not, you can only capture your favorite memories if you keep your photos in a safe place. If you have an extensive photo collection, you should consider storing your photos in the cloud to keep them safe for future generations.

Do you make use of saved EXIF metadata on images? We'd love to hear your use cases in the comments section below.