Last tested
What does this photo metadata remover do?
Vaultaire is a free photo metadata viewer and remover that runs inside your browser. It shows the hidden file data it can read, removes supported private fields and identified C2PA containers, and gives you a verified clean copy without changing the original.
The tool combines an EXIF data viewer, GPS checker, AI provenance reader, and metadata cleaner in one flow. It supports seven common image formats and reports the exact values found before cleaning, the exact fields removed, and the file data preserved afterward. No account or upload is required.
What photo metadata can it find and remove?
Photo metadata can describe where and when an image was made, which device created it, who edited it, and what software or AI process declared its origin. The report separates removable metadata from appearance data that the clean copy needs to keep.
| Data | Examples shown | Clean-copy policy |
|---|---|---|
| Location | GPS latitude, longitude, altitude, and location tags | Remove supported fields |
| Dates and camera | Capture and edit times, maker, model, lens, ISO, exposure, and aperture | Remove supported fields |
| Creator and edits | Author, copyright, captions, comments, software, edit history, and previews | Remove supported fields |
| AI source labels | IPTC Digital Source Type, XMP markers, generator, and model text | Remove supported metadata |
| Content Credentials | C2PA container, source type, actions, generator, model, and signer text | Remove identified container |
| Appearance and image data | Dimensions, orientation, color information, image payload, and animation data | Preserve |
IPTC defines photo metadata as descriptive, rights, and administrative information stored with an image. Vaultaire also reads technical EXIF fields and supported provenance containers, so its report can include more than an ordinary EXIF viewer.
How do I remove metadata from an image?
Choose the image, inspect the findings, then remove the supported metadata. The original stays on your device and the downloaded clean copy gets a separate file name.
- Choose a photo. Select or drop a JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC, HEIF, or AVIF image up to 25 MB.
- Review what was found. See plain-language findings first, then open the full field list when you need raw tag names and values.
- Remove and verify. Create a cleaned copy, scan it again, review the before-and-after record, and download it.
Can it detect AI images or remove AI watermarks?
Vaultaire can report explicit AI-origin data stored in XMP, IPTC Digital Source Type fields, and supported C2PA Content Credentials. It cannot determine that every image is AI-generated, and it does not inspect or alter image pixels to remove proprietary invisible watermarks.
C2PA Content Credentials are provenance records bound to an asset. This tool identifies supported embedded C2PA containers and shows available declarations, actions, generator, model, and signer text, but it does not validate the signature or certificate trust chain. Google DeepMind describes SynthID as an imperceptible signal embedded in pixels and detected by SynthID technology. That separate vendor check does not run here, so Vaultaire reports it as not checked rather than claiming it was absent.
Photo metadata remover FAQ
What is photo metadata?
Photo metadata is information stored with an image but not normally visible in the picture. It can include EXIF camera settings, GPS coordinates, dates, device and lens details, captions, copyright, editing software, XMP and IPTC fields, and C2PA provenance records.
How do I remove metadata from an image?
Choose an image, review the fields found, then select Remove metadata. Vaultaire creates a separate cleaned copy, scans that copy again, and enables the download only after the supported removable fields are gone. Your original file is not changed.
Does removing photo metadata reduce image quality?
Vaultaire removes supported metadata without decoding and re-encoding the image. The encoded image payload stays unchanged, while required appearance data such as orientation and color information is preserved. The result includes a local file check so you can confirm what changed.
Can this EXIF viewer show a photo's GPS location?
Yes. When supported GPS fields are present, the report shows the stored latitude, longitude, altitude, and related location tags it can read. The coordinates are displayed locally. Vaultaire does not send them to a map or reverse-geocoding service.
Can photo metadata prove that an image was generated by AI?
No. Metadata can provide strong source evidence when an image contains an explicit AI declaration or supported C2PA record, but metadata can be removed or changed. No metadata does not prove that an image was made by a camera or a person.
Does this tool remove C2PA Content Credentials?
Vaultaire identifies supported embedded C2PA containers, reports available source type, action, generator, model, and signer text, and removes the identified container from the clean copy. It verifies that the container is absent afterward. It does not validate the C2PA signature or certificate trust chain.
Does this tool remove SynthID or other invisible AI watermarks?
No universal pixel-watermark removal is claimed. Vaultaire can report a watermark action declared inside supported C2PA metadata, but it does not inspect or alter image pixels to detect or erase SynthID and other proprietary watermark systems. Those checks remain clearly marked as not checked.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. The scan and clean-up run in a Web Worker inside your browser. The page has no upload or processing API, analytics are disabled on this route, and its Content Security Policy blocks network connections. Closing the page ends the local session.
Which image formats are supported?
The tool accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC, HEIF, and AVIF images up to 25 MB and 40 megapixels. Browser preview support varies, so some HEIC or HEIF files can be inspected and cleaned even when the browser cannot display a preview.