How to Remove Metadata from Photos on Windows

Windows has a built-in property removal tool that most people never find, and it works for basic cases — but it leaves some metadata intact. If you need to properly remove GPS coordinates and all other hidden data from photos on a Windows PC, here is every method available, with honest notes on what each one actually removes.

Method 1: Windows Built-In Properties Removal

Windows Explorer includes a simple metadata removal tool that requires no additional software.

1. Right-click the photo file in Windows Explorer
2. Select Properties
3. Click the Details tab
4. At the bottom, click Remove Properties and Personal Information
5. Choose Remove the following properties from this file, then click Select All, or choose Create a copy with all possible properties removed
6. Click OK

What this removes: Most EXIF fields including GPS data, camera model, timestamps, and some software information.

What it may leave: Not all metadata fields are accessible through this tool. XMP metadata — which can contain your name, copyright information, and edit history from programs like Lightroom — is not fully removed. If thorough removal matters, use Method 2 or 3.

Method 2: Remove Metadata Using ExifVoid (Recommended for Complete Removal)

For complete metadata removal — including EXIF, XMP, IPTC, and GPS — ExifVoid is the most thorough option available without installing software.

1. Go to exifvoid.com in any browser on your Windows PC
2. Drag the photo from Windows Explorer into the upload area on the page
3. ExifVoid scans and displays all metadata in the file, including a map if GPS data is present
4. Click Remove All Metadata
5. Download the cleaned file

ExifVoid re-encodes the image from scratch in your browser, producing a new file with no embedded metadata of any kind. The original file is untouched.

Method 3: Remove Metadata from Multiple Photos at Once

The Windows built-in tool can handle multiple files simultaneously:

1. Select multiple photos in Windows Explorer (hold Ctrl and click each one, or Shift-click a range)
2. Right-click the selection
3. Select Properties → Details → Remove Properties and Personal Information
4. Select all properties and click OK

This batch approach works well for large numbers of files when the built-in tool's limitations are acceptable.

Method 4: Use Paint to Re-Encode the Image

Opening a photo in Microsoft Paint and saving it as a new file strips most metadata through re-encoding:

1. Right-click the photo and select Open with → Paint
2. Go to File → Save as and save as a new filename
3. The saved copy will have significantly less metadata than the original

Limitations: Paint does not guarantee complete metadata removal, and saving through Paint may reduce image quality more than ExifVoid's 95% quality re-encoding. This method is a quick fallback, not a reliable solution.

How to Check What Metadata Your Windows Photos Contain

Before removing metadata, you can inspect what is embedded:

Using Windows Explorer: 1. Right-click the photo → Properties → Details tab 2. Scroll through the list of properties including GPS latitude, GPS longitude, camera model, and date taken

Using ExifVoid: Drag the photo into ExifVoid for a complete breakdown of all metadata including any GPS map, threat assessment, and fields that Windows Explorer does not display.

Does Windows Photos App Remove Metadata?

No. Opening and viewing a photo in the Windows Photos app does not modify the file. Editing a photo (cropping, brightness, etc.) in Windows Photos and saving it may strip some metadata as a side effect, but this is not reliable or complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Windows 11 remove metadata differently from Windows 10?

The built-in properties removal tool works the same way on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The interface is slightly different but the functionality is identical.

Does emailing a photo from Windows remove its metadata?

No. Email clients attach and send the original file. The recipient receives the full metadata including GPS data. Strip metadata before attaching to email.

Can I remove metadata from RAW files on Windows?

The Windows built-in tool does not work reliably with RAW files (CR2, NEF, ARW). ExifVoid works with JPEG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC. For RAW files, ExifTool (command line) or dedicated RAW processing software like Lightroom offers metadata management.

Why does Windows show GPS coordinates in Explorer but other tools say there is no GPS?

Different tools read metadata differently. The Windows Explorer Details tab reads EXIF GPS fields directly. Some tools may fail to find GPS in certain formats or encoding variations. ExifVoid reads all three metadata standards (EXIF, XMP, IPTC) and shows the most complete picture.