How do I open an ARW file to view EXIF?

Drop the .arw file into the tool above. ExifGrabber reads the Sony RAW metadata and extracts the embedded preview in your browser, with no Imaging Edge or Lightroom needed.

Does a Sony ARW show shutter count?

No. Sony doesn't write shutter actuations into photo metadata, so it won't appear in an ARW. Verify a used Sony via the serial number and physical condition instead.

Do ARW files contain GPS data?

Only if location was supplied, for example via the Sony phone app during capture. Standalone Alpha bodies don't have built-in GPS. Any coordinates present show on the map in the GPS tab.

ARW EXIF viewer: read Sony ARW metadata

Open a Sony .arw RAW file to read its EXIF metadata, camera, lens, exposure, and GPS, plus the embedded preview, right in your browser. Free, private, and nothing uploaded.

Drop an image here or click to browse

JPG · PNG · HEIC · DNG · CR2 · CR3 · NEF · ARW · ORF · RAF · RW2

What is ARW?

ARW is Sony's RAW format, used across the Alpha lineup, the a7, a9, a1, and a6000-series bodies. It's a TIFF/EXIF-based container.

Recent Sony bodies offer compressed, uncompressed, and lossless-compressed RAW options; all of them use the .arw extension and carry the same metadata structure.

What metadata ARW files carry

ARW files include standard EXIF plus Sony's MakerNotes, covering lens model, focus data, and shooting settings. ExifGrabber lays out the common fields and exposes everything in the raw dump.

Sony does not expose shutter actuation count in photo metadata, so a used-Sony check relies on the serial number and overall condition rather than a count from the file.

Where ARW files come from

Sony a7, a7R, a7S mirrorless
Sony a9 and a1 flagships
Sony a6000-series APS-C bodies

Want to remove the metadata?

Metadata removal for ARW isn't supported yet, RAW and HEIC files store metadata woven into the file structure. You can still view everything here. To strip metadata from a JPEG, PNG, or WebP, use the EXIF remover.

Related viewers

ExifGrabber reads every major format. Explore the full EXIF viewer, find the GPS location from a photo, or open another format: HEIC, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, RW2, ORF, RAF, PNG, WebP.

How to view ARW EXIF data

1
Open the ARW viewer
Load this page, no install, no account, no upload.
2
Drop your ARW file
Drag a .arw file onto the drop zone, or click to browse. ExifGrabber parses it and extracts the embedded preview in your browser.
3
Read the metadata
Browse the Camera, Exposure, GPS, and Date tabs, or open the raw data dump for every field. Copy or download it as JSON.