Each photo on your Android smartphone stores not only a visual image, but also a lot of hidden information - EXIF metadata. These are technical details of the shooting: camera model, exposure parameters, GPS coordinates, date and time of creation. Such data can be useful for sorting photographs, restoring the chronology of events, or even proving the authenticity of a photo. But how to find them on a device without a computer?

Many users do not even suspect that standard Android tools allow you to view some of this information directly in the gallery. And with the help of specialized applications, you can access a full list of metadata - right down to the lens serial number and white balance settings. Let's consider all the available methods: from built-in functions to professional utilities.

In this article you will learn:

  • 📱 How to view basic photo data through the standard Android gallery
  • 🗺️ Where to look for GPS coordinates and how to disable them if necessary
  • 🔍 Which applications show full EXIF and how to use them
  • 📁 How to extract metadata through a file manager without installing software
  • ⚠️ Why some data may be missing and how to fix it

The easiest way is to use the built-in application Gallery (or Google Photosif it is installed by default). The functionality depends on the version of Android and the manufacturer's shell, but basic data is available on almost all devices.

Open the desired photo in the gallery and do one of the following:

  • 🔘 Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Details or Information
  • 🔘 Swipe up on the screen (on some devices Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei)
  • 🔘 Hold your finger on the photo for 2-3 seconds → in the context menu select Information

In the window that opens you will see:

  • 📅 Date and time of shooting (may differ from the save date)
  • 📏 Resolution (for example, 4032×3024)
  • 📷 Camera model (for example, Samsung SM-S901B)
  • 📍 Location (if GPS was turned on)
  • 💾 Size file and format (JPEG, HEIC, RAW)
📊 Which gallery do you use on Android?
Standard (from the manufacturer)
Google Photos
Other (specify in the comments)
I don’t know which one I have

Limitation: In most standard galleries, only part of the metadata is displayed. To view the full EXIF (for example, shutter speed, ISO, focal length), you will need third-party applications.

2. GPS coordinates in photos: how to find and delete

If geotagging was enabled when shooting, the photo saves the exact coordinates of the place. This is convenient for traveling, but can be a privacy issue. There are several ways to view and delete this data.

How to find GPS coordinates:

  1. Open the photo in Google Photos.
  2. Click on the three dots → Information (or Details).
  3. Scroll down to the block Location —there will be an interactive map.
  4. Click on the coordinates (for example 55.7558° N, 37.6173° E) to open them at Google Maps.

How to delete geodata:

  • 📱 In Google Photos: click Edit → Advanced → uncheck Location.
  • 🖼️ In applications like EXIF Viewer: select Remove GPS and save a copy.
  • 💻 On PC: use Windows Properties or macOS Preview to clear metadata.
💡

If you often share photos on social networks, disable geotagging in the camera settings: Settings → Location → Geotagging (item name may vary).

Important: some messengers (for example, Telegram in the "Secret Chat" mode) automatically delete EXIF when sending a photo.

3. Applications for viewing full EXIF data

Standard Android tools show only part of the metadata. For in-depth analysis, specialized utilities are required. data-i="109">Application

Application Features Without excess water? Link
EXIF Viewer by Fluntro Shows all technical parameters, supports RAW, export to CSV ❌ (premium available) Google Play
Photo EXIF Editor Metadata editing, batch processing, GPS removal ✅ (free) Google Play
Metadata++ Video support, duplicate analysis, metadata search ❌ (paid version) Google Play
Simple EXIF Viewer Minimalistic interface, works offline ✅ Google Play
Piktures Gallery with built-in EXIF viewer and cloud synchronization ❌ Google Play

How to use (for example EXIF Viewer):

  1. Install the application and open it.
  2. Select a photo from the gallery or file manager.
  3. Scroll down - all metadata will be displayed, including:
    • 🔹 Make and Model (camera manufacturer and model)
    • 🔹 Exposure Time, ISO, Focal Length (shooting parameters)
    • 🔹 Software (application that took the photo)
    • 🔹 GPS Latitude/Longitude (coordinates)
  • Click Shareto export the data to a text file.

    • Delete GPS coordinates|Check the shooting date (does not match the date editing)|Pay attention to the camera model (may reveal personal information)|Make sure there is no data about the device serial number-->

    4. Viewing metadata through a file manager

    If you do not want to install additional applications, some file managers (for example Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer) support EXIF viewing. do:

    Instructions for Solid Explorer:

    1. Open the manager and find the folder with the photo (usually DCIM or Pictures).
    2. Long press on the file → Properties.
    3. Go to the tab Details or Media.
    4. The main metadata will be displayed here: resolution, date, camera model.

    For FX File Explorer:

    1. Select a photo → click Information (icon i).
    2. Select tab Media.
    3. Scroll to block EXIF Data.

      4. 🔹 Limitation: File managers show less data than specialized EXIF viewers, but do not require installation of additional software.

      5. Why metadata may be missing

      Sometimes when viewing a photo you find that some data is missing. reasons:

      • 🔄 Photo edited: When processed in Photoshop, Lightroom or even built-in editors (for example, Snapseed), the original metadata can be deleted or overwritten.
      • 📤 Photo downloaded from Internet: Social networks (Instagram, VK) and instant messengers often clear EXIF when loading.
      • 📱 Settings cameras: If geotagging or saving metadata is disabled in the camera settings, some information will not be recorded.
      • 🔍 File format: Photo format HEIC (used on iPhoneor WebP can store metadata differently than JPEG.
      • 🛠️ Storage optimization: Some applications (for example, Google Photos in space saving mode) compress photos and remove EXIF.
      How to recover lost metadata?

      If the photo has been edited, but you still have the original version (for example, in a cloud backup), you can extract EXIF ​​from it and transfer it to the edited file using ExifTool (for PC) or Photo EXIF Editor (for Android). To do this:

      1. Export metadata from the original to a text file.

      2. Apply them to the edited version through the function Import EXIF.

      Please note: the file creation date (File Modified Date) will not change - it is tied to the file system, not to EXIF.

      🔹 Tip: To avoid data loss, set up automatic backup of original photos to Google Photos (in the settings, select Original quality instead of High quality).

      6. EXIF in videos and screenshots

      Metadata is stored not only in photographs, but also in other types of files. However, their composition and viewing methods are different.

      Video files (MP4, MOV):

      • 🎥 Contain data about resolution, bitrate, codecs, date of shooting.
      • 📍 GPS coordinates are rarely saved (only if the camera supports video geotagging).
      • 🔍 To view, use MX Player (long press on the file → Details) or MediaInfo (Android application).

      Screenshots (PNG, JPEG):

      • 🖥️ Usually contain only resolution, date of creation and device model.
      • 🚫 There is no data about the camera (EXIF), since the screenshot is taken by the system, not the photo module.
      • 🔧 To add metadata manually, use Photo EXIF Editor.
      💡

      Video files store less metadata than photos, but you can find information about codecs, bitrate and duration in them - this useful for editing or conversion.

      7. Security: what are the dangers of metadata in photos

      EXIF data can reveal confidential information. For example:

      • 📍 Geolocation: By coordinates you can determine your home, place of work or travel routes.
      • 📅 Time stamps: Date and time of shooting can give away your schedule or confirm availability in a certain place.
      • 📱 Serial number cameras: In some cases, allows you to identify the device.
      • 👤 Personal data: If the photo was taken using a messenger (for example, WhatsApp), your nickname or phone number may be saved in the metadata.

      How to protect yourself:

      • 🔒 Disable geotagging in the camera settings (path: Camera settings → Location → Geotags).
      • 🧹 Use applications to clear EXIF before publishing (for example, EXIF Eraser).
      • 🌐 In social networks and instant messengers, check whether metadata is deleted when download (in Twitter and Facebook they are cleared automatically).
      • 📤 For especially important photos, convert them to PNG —this format does not support EXIF.
    💡

    Before selling your smartphone, delete all photos or clear their metadata. Even after resetting to factory settings, restoring files with original EXIF is possible through specialized software.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about photo metadata on Android

    ❓ Is it possible to view the EXIF of a photo sent to WhatsApp?

    Answer: No. WhatsApp automatically removes all metadata (including GPS and shooting date) when sending a photo. The resulting file only contains the upload date and resolution. To save EXIF, send the photo as File (via the paperclip icon), but even in this case, some of the data may be lost.

    ❓ Why do screenshots have no camera data?

    Answer: Screenshots are created by the Android system, not by the photo module, so they do not contain shooting parameters (EXIF). The only metadata that can be saved is screen resolution, device model And creation date.

    ❓ How to change the shooting date in EXIF?

    Answer: To do this, use applications like Photo EXIF Editor:

    1. Open the photo in the application.
    2. Find the field Date/Time Original.
    3. Enter the new date and time in the format YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS.
    4. Save the changes (it is better to create a copy, so as not to lose the original).

    ⚠️ Attention: Changing the date in EXIF does not affect the date of creation of the file in the file system. To edit it, you will need root access or a PC.

    ❓ Is it possible to recover deleted metadata?

    Answer: No, if there was a photo resaved without EXIF (for example, after editing or conversion). The only way is to restore the original file from a backup. If the photo has been deleted from the device, try data recovery apps (DiskDigger, Recuva), but the chances of returning the metadata are minimal.

    ❓ Why are there no GPS coordinates in some photos, even if Is geotagging enabled?

    Answer: The reasons may be as follows:

    • 📵 No GPS signal at the time of shooting (for example, indoors).
    • 🔋 Energy saving: some devices disable GPS for battery saving.
    • 📱 Camera settings: geotagging can only work for the main module, and not for the front or wide-angle camera.
    • 🔄 Photo edited in a third-party application that has removed GPS.

    Check the settings: Settings → Applications → Camera → Permissions → Location.