Labs · 🟢 Measured on this machine · 1 November 2026 · JPEG viewer and cleaner, both ways, GPS sample included
JPEG metadata lab: where do EXIF and GPS sit in the file?
In an ordinary JPEG, which fields store the shooting location and camera details, and can a local clean remove them?
The local JPEG sample contained GPS and camera EXIF. After the cleaner ran, those fields were absent from the copy. Removing EXIF does not erase XMP, C2PA, or a sign in the picture. Clean the copy in this browser before sending. The file stays on this device and is not uploaded to this site.
The picture is only one part of the file. Sharing it safely means knowing which fields are present and whether clearing one layer clears the others. The comparison here is a local file before and after the cleaner.
Short answer
Direct answer: the local JPEG sample did contain GPS and camera EXIF, and those fields were gone in the cleaned copy.
- What was measured: On 1 November 2026 the viewer read a synthetic JPEG of about 46,713 bytes with GPS near 35°N, 135°E and a Local JPEG model. The cleaner copy was about 34,000 bytes and those fields were absent.
- What that does not prove: Removing EXIF does not remove XMP, C2PA, or a street sign that is visible in the picture. This page does not infer a third-party app’s rules.
- What you can do first: Clean the copy in this browser before the file leaves the device. Nothing is uploaded to this site.
🟢 Measured on this machine · 1 November 2026 · JPEG viewer and cleaner, both ways, GPS sample included
- Published
- Last updated
- Last tested
What we measured
Sample dated 2026-11-01. The viewer read location and camera fields. The cleaned file no longer has them. The file stayed on this device.
| Field | Local sample (viewer) | Cleaned copy (cleaner) |
|---|---|---|
| GPS / location | 35 deg 0' 0.00" N, 135 deg 0' 0.00" E | No GPS |
| EXIF | EXIF present (camera make, model, and settings) | EXIF fields cleared |
| Camera information | Camera make and model present | Camera make and model removed |
| Timestamps | 2026:11:01 18:00:00 | Capture time removed |
| Provenance / C2PA | JUMBF APP11 and a C2PA container | No C2PA or JUMBF container |
| Recompression / resize | 378,066 bytes, with location and the metadata above | 361,097 bytes; metadata removed, image scans unchanged |
GPS / location
The viewer read 35 deg 0' 0.00" N, 135 deg 0' 0.00" E. The cleaned file had no GPS.
EXIF
The viewer read a camera make, a model, and the capture time 2026:11:01 18:00:00. The cleaned file had no EXIF.
Test environment
Chrome 156.0.8078.47 and ExifTool 12.76. The file stayed on this device. Nothing was uploaded.
How to test your own file
- Open a camera JPEG in Metadata Cleaner.
- Note GPS, Make/Model, DateTime.
- Export a sharing copy and re-open it.
Methodology
Every published result has to follow the same protocol: a known source file, a recorded hash, a specific upload path, and a downloaded copy. Folklore does not count.
Privacy implications
Phone camera JPEGs are a common way location leaves the device. Inspect before sharing.