How to delete location information from photos | iPhone/Android/GPS deletion check before publication

Photos taken with a smartphone may include GPS location information that indicates the location of the photo. Rather than relying on whether or not the posting destination automatically deletes location information, it is safe to check it yourself before publishing or sharing.

Why GPS location matters

Location information (GPS) embedded in photo files may lead to unintended location identification.

• May be a clue to the shooting location: If the latitude and longitude coordinate data remains, simply open it with a dedicated tool or viewer and the location where the photo was taken will be shown on the map.
• Your living area may be inferred: If you collect location information from photos taken on a daily basis around your home, work, school, or frequently used places, your private living area may be inferred.
• Combination with other information: Clues may be strengthened by combining location information with information such as the scenery in the background of the photo or the time and situation described in the post text.

*These do not necessarily mean that you will be identified, but it will give you peace of mind to organize unnecessary information by conducting appropriate checks before publishing.

Photos where GPS is likely to remain

Please be aware that images that are published or shared in the following routes or formats tend to retain GPS location information.

• Original photo data taken with a smartphone (the file itself taken with the camera)
• Photos uploaded directly from your camera roll
• Photos sent and received via email, online storage (cloud), and file sharing services
• Photos uploaded directly to your personal blog or website

*Some SNS and image posting services may have a mechanism that automatically deletes location information on the server side when uploading. However, since the behavior differs depending on the posting route, the version of the app, and changes in the specifications of the service, it is important to take precautions yourself and not be overconfident that it will be deleted automatically.

Two ways to reduce location information

There are two approaches to prevent unnecessary location information from being added or disclosed.

1. Photos to be taken in the future

Review the location information settings of the camera app Open the "Privacy and Security" or "Location Information" menu from the main unit settings of your smartphone (iPhone or Android) and change the settings so that the standard camera app does not acquire or save location information.

2. Photos already taken

Use EXIF removal on export before publishing For photos taken in the past with location information turned on, or original image files that have already been saved, the metadata (EXIF) containing location information will be removed before being shared on the Internet.

Process of creating images for public use with MistSeal

Before publishing, take these steps to efficiently organize location information and clues in your images.

1. Open photo

Load photos into MistSeal using a browser on your PC or smartphone.

2. Check the information in the image

Look for visible location clues in the background of your photos, such as address signs, signs on utility poles, business names, maps, and car license plates.

3. Hide with solid color if necessary

Important information such as characters and maps that are reflected in the image will be completely covered up with an opaque solid cover. Make sure EXIF ​​metadata removal is enabled in the output settings, then export and save as a public image.

What may remain even after deleting GPS

Even if you delete GPS information as file information (metadata), the following items will remain, so you will need to check them individually.

• Address signs, signs, and landmarks reflected in the background of the photo or outside the window
• Maps, current location display, and traffic information shown in screenshots
• Text such as the text of the SNS where the image is posted or the current location written in the profile
• Shooting date and time (sequential number) information included in the photo file name
• Location tags added manually at the time of posting on the destination service## How to delete location information from photos on iPhone/Android

The display name for how to delete GPS location information from photos varies depending on the device and photo app. It's important to consider whether you want to remove location information from the original photo or from the copy you're sharing.

• iPhone: There are two ways to change or delete location information in the Photos app, and one to not include location information only when sharing.
• Android/Google Photos: There may be restrictions on the types of location information that can be edited. If you want to ensure that the GPS information embedded by the camera is removed from the shared data, the surest way is to make a copy with the metadata removed.
• Common: Even if you turn off GPS, you will need to separately check the signboards, maps, nearest stations, distinctive buildings, and location information tags in the photo when posting.

For detailed instructions for each device, see How to delete photo location information on iPhone and How to delete photo location information on Android.

Frequently asked questions

Is GPS information included in all photos?

no. Basically, GPS data is not recorded if the "location information (GPS) setting" of your smartphone or camera is turned off, or in image files such as screenshots (screen captures) and illustrations.

If the SNS I posted to deletes it, do I need to confirm it?

no. The behavior and whether metadata is deleted will vary depending on the posting destination, the app used, and changes in specifications due to updates. To prevent trouble, it is recommended that you do not rely on the processing of other services and get into the habit of checking and deleting your own content before publishing it.

If I turn off GPS, will the address and map in the image also disappear?

No, it won't disappear. GPS deletion is a process that clears the invisible data behind the file. Addresses, maps, station names, etc. that appear directly in the image will not be deleted, so please process them separately using a hiding function (solid color) such as MistSeal.

Check your location and clues in the image before saving.

Is there a difference in how to delete location information from photos on iPhone and Android?

Screen operations and the range of location information that can be edited differ. In both cases, it is safe to distinguish between the operation of deleting location information from the original data and the operation of removing location information only from images to be shared.