Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read with the browser’s own FileReader and parsed in JavaScript on your device. There is no server call in this tool at all — you can open your network tab and watch it stay empty, or load the page, go offline, and it still works.
What is EXIF, exactly?
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a block of metadata that cameras and phones write into the image file alongside the pixels. It records how the photo was taken — shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focal length — and often much more: the device model, its serial number, the software that last edited the file, the exact timestamp, and GPS coordinates.
Do social networks already strip this?
Most large platforms strip EXIF when you upload — Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X and WhatsApp all re-encode images server-side. But it is not universal, it does not apply to files you send directly (email attachments, cloud links, AirDrop, Slack, Discord), and platforms change this behaviour without announcing it. If a file matters, check it rather than assume.
Does removing EXIF reduce my image quality?
Not the way this tool does it. It removes the metadata segments from the JPEG byte stream and copies the compressed image data across unchanged, so the pixels are identical to the original. Exporting from a photo editor to "strip metadata" usually re-compresses the JPEG, which does cost a generation of quality.
Why can I see GPS coordinates but no address?
EXIF stores raw latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes and seconds — it does not store a street address. Converting a coordinate to an address needs a geocoding service, which would mean sending your location to a third party. This tool links the coordinate to a map instead and leaves that choice to you.
The tool found nothing. Does that mean the photo is safe?
It means there is no EXIF block, which is the main thing people are worried about. It does not prove the file carries no information at all: the pixels themselves may show identifying detail, and some formats can hold XMP or IPTC blocks that this tool does not display. For a JPEG, the "Download clean copy" button also removes those.