# Remove EXIF and GPS location data from photos

**Use case:** 

Strips EXIF, GPS location, XMP, IPTC and comments from photos in your Apify key-value store, your uploaded files or direct image links, and keeps each photo in its own format (JPEG stays JPEG). The camera rotation is applied to the pixels, so photos stay upright. Each row lists the metadata the original contained, so you can check that location data was there and is gone.

## Input

```json
{
  "outputFormat": "original",
  "quality": 90,
  "colorProfile": "srgb",
  "keepMetadata": false,
  "pngReduceColors": false
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "status": {
    "label": "Status",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "inputKey": {
    "label": "Input key",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "linkNumber": {
    "label": "Link number",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "outputUrl": {
    "label": "Output URL",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "inputFormat": {
    "label": "Input format",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "outputFormat": {
    "label": "Output format",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "inputBytes": {
    "label": "Input size (bytes)",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "outputBytes": {
    "label": "Output size (bytes)",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "savedPercent": {
    "label": "Saved (%)",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "inputWidth": {
    "label": "Input width",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "inputHeight": {
    "label": "Input height",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "outputWidth": {
    "label": "Output width",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "outputHeight": {
    "label": "Output height",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "hadExif": {
    "label": "Had EXIF",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "hadGps": {
    "label": "Had GPS location",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "hadXmp": {
    "label": "Had XMP",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "hadIptc": {
    "label": "Had IPTC",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "hadIccProfile": {
    "label": "Had color profile",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "hadComments": {
    "label": "Had comments",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "rotatedByExif": {
    "label": "Rotated by EXIF",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "chargedEvents": {
    "label": "Charged events",
    "format": "integer"
  },
  "errorCode": {
    "label": "Error code",
    "format": "string"
  },
  "errorMessage": {
    "label": "Error message",
    "format": "string"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The Image Converter & Compressor - WebP, AVIF, strip EXIF/GPS Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Remove EXIF and GPS location data from photos". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/C7J3GPPbq8CwVddFX) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Remove EXIF and GPS location data from photos" task

The Image Converter & Compressor - WebP, AVIF, strip EXIF/GPS Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like output format, quality, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Remove EXIF and GPS location data from photos" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as status, input key, link number, and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Remove EXIF and GPS location data from photos" task via API](https://apify.com/quietworkslab/image-converter.md).

## FAQ

### Which metadata does the EXIF removal task delete?

The EXIF removal task deletes EXIF (including GPS location, camera model and dates), XMP, IPTC and comments. The orientation is applied to the pixels first, so the photo does not turn sideways.

### Does removing metadata change the photo?

JPEG and WebP photos are re-encoded in their own format at the quality you set (90 in this task), so the file changes slightly; use 95 to 100 to stay closer to the original. PNG stays lossless.

### Can I see which photos had a GPS location?

Yes. Each dataset row of the EXIF removal task has hadExif, hadGps, hadXmp and hadIptc for the original, and every converted file is read again to check that no metadata is left.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [Image Converter & Compressor - WebP, AVIF, strip EXIF/GPS](https://apify.com/quietworkslab/image-converter.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/quietworkslab/image-converter.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/quietworkslab/image-converter.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).