How to Read EXIF Data on iPhone (2026)
On iPhone, you can read basic EXIF data right in the Photos app: open a photo and tap the info (i) button to see the camera, lens, exposure, and location. For the complete metadata, every field plus RAW and HEIC support, open ExifGrabber in Safari and drop your photo in. Here's every method.
Method 1: The Photos app (iOS 15+)
Since iOS 15, Apple shows metadata without any app:
- Open the photo in Photos.
- Tap the (i) info button at the bottom, or swipe up on the image.
- You'll see the camera and lens, exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length), the file size and dimensions, and, if the photo is geotagged, a small map with the location.
Tap Adjust next to the location to change or remove it. This is enough for a quick check, but it doesn't show the full raw metadata.
Method 2: The full data in Safari
To see every EXIF field, use a browser viewer:
- Open the EXIF viewer in Safari.
- Tap the drop zone and choose Photo Library or Browse.
- Select your photo, the full metadata appears in organized tabs, including a complete raw dump you can copy.
Everything is processed on your iPhone in the browser; nothing is uploaded.
Understanding HEIC, the iPhone photo format
Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC by default (unless you've switched to "Most Compatible" in Settings). HEIC files are about half the size of JPEG at similar quality and carry the same EXIF: camera, exposure, and, because iPhones geotag by default, usually precise GPS coordinates.
Some apps and Windows PCs struggle to open HEIC, which is why people convert to JPEG just to read the data. You don't have to: ExifGrabber reads HEIC directly. See our dedicated HEIC EXIF viewer for more.
Do iPhone photos contain GPS location?
Usually, yes. iPhones record GPS by default, so most photos include exact coordinates. To check, open the photo's info in Photos and look for the map, or open the GPS-from-photo tool.
If you'd rather your photos not carry location:
- Per share: tap Share, then Options at the top, and turn off Location.
- Remove from an existing photo: tap (i), then Adjust next to the location, then Remove Location.
- Stop it entirely: Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera → Never.
For full metadata removal before sharing, use the EXIF remover and read our guide on removing GPS location data.
New to metadata?
Start with what EXIF data is, then see how to view EXIF on any device for Windows, Mac, and Android.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see EXIF data on my iPhone?
Open the photo in the Photos app and tap the info (i) button, or swipe up. You'll see camera, exposure, and location details. For the complete metadata, open ExifGrabber in Safari and drop the photo in.
How do I view HEIC EXIF on iPhone?
The Photos app reads HEIC natively, so the info button works the same as for JPEGs. For the full raw metadata of a HEIC file, use ExifGrabber's HEIC viewer in Safari, no conversion needed.
Do iPhone photos have GPS location?
By default, yes. iPhones geotag photos when Location Services are on for the Camera. You can see the location in the Photos info panel, or turn geotagging off in Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera.
How do I remove EXIF data from an iPhone photo?
To remove just location, tap the info button, then Adjust next to the location, then Remove Location. To strip all metadata, use a tool like ExifGrabber's EXIF remover on the exported file.
Why does my iPhone photo show no camera info?
It was probably edited, screenshotted, or saved from another app, which can strip EXIF. Screenshots in particular carry no camera metadata because no camera was involved.