EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard for saving extra information inside an image file. Your iPhone adds it to every photo it takes.
What’s in it
| Detail | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 40.74844, -73.98566 | Can reveal your home, work or where you were |
| Date and time | Mar 1, 2026, 10:42:13 PM | Shows exactly when you were there |
| Device | iPhone 16 Pro, back camera | Links photos to the same phone |
| Camera settings | f/1.8, 1/120 s, ISO 400 | Mostly harmless, but adds to a fingerprint |
| Software | iOS version, editing app | Can show what you edited with |
Videos carry similar information, including location.
Who can see it
Anyone who gets the original file: through AirDrop, email, cloud links, messaging apps that send files, or a USB cable. Websites and apps you upload to can read it even if they don’t display it.
How to check and remove it
- Check a photo: see where a photo was taken, or use our photo location checker.
- Remove location on iPhone: three ways to do it.
- Stop saving it: turn off location for the Camera.
iPhone’s built-in options remove location only. Ghost removes location, camera details and dates from photos and videos when you import them, without re-compressing the picture where possible.