EXIF GPS Coordinates
The exact latitude, longitude and altitude where the photo was taken. The single most dangerous tag in any photo, and the reason most people want a metadata remover.
Quick facts
| Tag ID | 0x0001 GPSLatitudeRef, 0x0002 GPSLatitude, 0x0003 GPSLongitudeRef, 0x0004 GPSLongitude, 0x0005 GPSAltitudeRef, 0x0006 GPSAltitude, 0x001B GPSProcessingMethod, 0x001D GPSDateStamp |
|---|---|
| Stored in | GPS IFD |
| Example value | 51°30'26.4" N, 0°07'39.6" W (51.5073, -0.1306) |
| Also known as | GPSLatitude, GPSLongitude, GPSLatitudeRef, GPSLongitudeRef, geotag, location, GPSAltitude, geolocation |
| Privacy risk | Critical. Reveals your exact position, often down to your street and home. |
What the GPS Coordinates tag actually means
The GPS IFD is a separate block inside the EXIF structure. Latitude and longitude are stored as three rational numbers each (degrees, minutes, seconds) plus a reference character for the hemisphere, and altitude is stored in metres. GPSProcessingMethod often spells out the acquisition source in plain text, and GPSDateStamp records the UTC date the fix was obtained.
Why it matters
GPS coordinates reveal where you live, where you work, where your children go to school, and the route you took. A single photo with coordinates can place you inside a private home. Exposed on a classified listing, a dating profile, or a public photo account, it has been used to carry out stalking, robbery and targeted harassment.
What to do about it
Always remove it, and never rely on the in-app "location off" toggle alone — verify with a metadata reader. Removing the GPS IFD entirely is the only reliable cleanup.
Who writes this tag
Any camera or phone with location services enabled for the camera app.
Sources and how this was verified
Tag IDs and encodings are taken from the CIPA DC-007-Translation (Exif 3.0) and ISO/IEC 21222-1 specifications. The privacy rating is our own editorial judgement, based on what each field can uniquely identify. Every entry in this reference is checked against real files produced by the cameras, phones and editors we test with.
- CIPA DC-007-Translation 2019 (Exif 3.0) — tag identifiers and IFD structure
- ISO/IEC 21222-1:2015 — data element registration
- Adobe XMP Specification (2024) — XMP packet properties
- IPTC IIM 4.2 — news/photo metadata field numbers
See our editorial and review policyfor how we test, rate and correct these entries. Found an error? Tell us.
Related EXIF tags
The exact moment the shutter fired, down to the second. It is one of the most revealing tags on a photo and one of the most frequently leaked.
The UTC date and time the GPS receiver obtained its position fix, stored separately from the photo timestamp and in UTC rather than local time.
A unique serial number for the exact camera body. It identifies one specific physical device in the world and is the strongest non-location identifier in a photo.
The specific camera or phone model, such as "iPhone 15 Pro" or "Canon EOS R6 Mark II". Narrower than the make and more identifying.
GPS Coordinates FAQ
Common questions about the EXIF gps coordinates tag, its values and its privacy implications.
Do all photos contain GPS data?
No. It depends entirely on whether the device had location services enabled for the camera app. Some phones prompt for camera location access; some desktop photo editors and downloaders strip it automatically; social platforms usually strip it on upload.
How precise are EXIF GPS coordinates?
Often far more precise than people expect. Consumer devices routinely record within a few metres, and the stored value is not rounded. The GPSAltitude tag can add the height of the floor you are on.
Does removing EXIF data remove GPS coordinates?
Only if the tool actually targets the GPS IFD. A tool that merely hides a preview or re-encodes the image incorrectly can leave the GPS block intact. Always verify the cleaned file with a separate metadata reader.
Can I just crop the photo to remove GPS data?
No. Cropping changes the image but leaves the metadata block intact. GPS coordinates survive cropping and resizing untouched.
Cite this reference
If you are writing about the EXIF gps coordinates tag, you are welcome to link to this entry. It is maintained, versioned and reviewed on a published schedule.
“EXIF GPS Coordinates (0x0001 GPSLatitudeRef), freexifdata.com EXIF Tag Reference, reviewed October 20, 2026.”