Geotags on photographs allow you to save information about the shooting location - this is not only convenient for personal memories, but also useful for sorting pictures in the gallery. On Android, you can add coordinates to a photo in several ways: through standard system tools, using applications for editing metadata, or even manually through the file system. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including the nuances for different versions Android and popular manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel).

It is important to understand that geotags are automatically added only if the smartphone is enabled geolocation services and access to them is allowed for the camera application. If photos have already been taken without coordinates, they can be added later - this will be discussed further. We will also look at how check the presence of geotags and why they may be missing even when geolocation is turned on.

Why geotags may be missing in the photo

Before adding coordinates, it is worth understanding why they might not have been saved initially. Here are the most common reasons:

  • 📍 Disabled geolocation services — check the settings Options → Geodata (item name may differ).
  • 🔒 Prohibition of access to location for the camera application in the resolution settings.
  • 📱 Energy saving mode —some manufacturers (for example, Xiaomi) disable GPS in this mode.
  • 🌐 Problems with connecting to satellites —indoors or with a weak signal, coordinates may not be determined.
  • 📁 Manual removal of metadata —some memory optimization applications erase EXIF data.

If you filmed in Google Photos or other cloud services, geotags may not be saved in the file itself, but in the account metadata. To see them, open the photo in the gallery and check the details (usually swipe up or click on i in the corner of the screen).

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ i EMUI 13+ (Huawei) geolocation for the camera may be blocked by default due to the privacy policy. Check permissions manually!

Method 1: Adding geotags via Google Photos

Google Photos is one of the most convenient applications for working with geotags. It automatically determines the location of the shooting using other data (for example, by nearby Wi-Fi points) if. There are no GPS coordinates. Here's how to add a geotag manually:

  1. Open Google Photos and select the desired image.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Edit → Add location.
  3. Enter the name of the location (for example, "Eiffel Tower") or select a point on the map.
  4. Save changes - the geotag will be added to the file metadata.

This method works even for photos taken on other devices (for example, DSLR cameras). However, please note that Google Photos may not update the EXIF data in the original file, but store the information in your cloud. To save the geotag in the image itself, use method 3 or 4.

📊 Which application do you use most often? do you use to view photos?
Google Photos
Standard Gallery
Another cloud (Yandex, iCloud)
Application side (QuickPic, A+ Gallery)

Method 2: Using standard Galleries (for Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus)

Many manufacturers add to the standard Gallery tools for editing metadata. For example, on smartphones Samsung (One UI) and Xiaomi (MIUI) you can change the geotag without third-party applications:

For Samsung:

  1. Open Gallery → select a photo → click ⋮ → Details.
  2. Tap on the field Location → Edit.
  3. Select a point on the map or enter the address manually.

For Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco:

  1. V Gallery open the photo → swipe up to view details.
  2. Click on the pencil icon next to Location.
  3. Specify a new location on the map Google Maps.

On devices OnePlus i Oppo a similar function may not be available - in this case, use Google Photos or third-party EXIF editors.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example ColorOS 13), changing the geotag through the Gallery results in overwriting the file with loss of quality. We recommend that you first create a copy!

Method 3: Editing EXIF through third-party applications

If the built-in tools are not suitable, use specialized applications. allow you to change not only geotags, but also other metadata (date, camera model, etc.). The best options:

  • 📌 Photo Exif Editor — a simple editor with support for batch processing.
  • 🌍 GeoTag Photos Pro — for professional geotagging (supports GPX tracks).
  • 🖼️ EXIF Viewer by Fluntro — a convenient viewer and editor of metadata.

Instructions for Photo Exif Editor:

  1. Install the application from Google Play and open it.
  2. Select a photo from the gallery or file manager.
  3. Go to the tab GPS → enter the coordinates manually or select a point on the map.
  4. Save the changes (the application will offer to create a copy or overwrite the original).

To accurately indicate coordinates, you can use Google Maps: find the desired location, press and hold your finger on the map - the exact latitude and longitude will appear below. Copy them and paste them into the EXIF editor.

Create a backup copy of the photo|Check free space on the device|Disable battery optimization for the editor|Remember the original coordinates (if any)-->

Method 4: Adding geotags via PC (for advanced users)

If on a smartphone lacks functionality, you can edit metadata on your computer. The following apps are suitable for this:

  • 🖥️ ExifTool — console utility for batch processing (requires knowledge of commands).
  • 📷 XnView MP — graphic editor with EXIF/IPTC support.
  • 🌐 Online EXIF Viewer — web services like exif-viewer.com (not recommended for confidential photos).

Example with XnView MP:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and copy the photo to your hard drive.
  2. Open the image in XnView MP → go in Tools → Change EXIF/IPTC.
  3. Find the fields GPS Latitude i GPS Longitude → enter the coordinates in the format DD°MM'SS.S".
  4. Save the file and transfer it back to phone.

For ExifTool use the command (replace the path and coordinates):

exiftool -GPSLatitude=55.7558 -GPSLongitude=37.6176 -GPSLatitudeRef=N -GPSLongitudeRef=E "path\to\photo.jpg"
⚠️ Attention: When editing on a PC, pay attention to the file encoding - some apps (for example, standard Viewing photos Windows) can corrupt EXIF data when saving!

Method 5: Automatic geotagging using GPX tracks

If you take pictures while traveling and want to automatically link photos to the route, use GPX tracks - files that record movements. This is relevant for tourists, cyclists or photographers who take pictures without the Internet. Algorithm of actions:

  1. Enable track recording in an application like Strava, Endomondo or OSMAnd.
  2. After shooting, export the track in the format .gpx.
  3. Use GeoTag Photos Pro or HoudahGeo (for Mac) to link a photo to a track by time.

The advantage of this method is high accuracy (especially in the mountains or places with a poor GPS signal). However, please note that the time on the camera and in the tracker must match up to a second, otherwise the binding will be incorrect.

How to synchronize the time on the camera. and smartphone?

If you shoot with a separate camera (for example, GoPro or Sony Alpha), before shooting, synchronize your watch with your phone through the manufacturer's application or manually. A difference of even 10 seconds will lead to a displacement of geotags by tens of meters!

Checking and deleting geotags

After adding coordinates, check their correctness. You can do this:

  • 📲 In Google Photos: open photo → swipe up → section Place.
  • 🗺️ In Gallery: click on Details or Information.
  • 🔍 Via EXIF Viewer: the application will show all metadata, including GPSLatitude i GPSLongitude.

If the geotag is incorrect or needs to be removed:

  1. B Google Photo: click on the location → Delete.
  2. In the EXIF editor: clear the fields with coordinates and save the file.

Important: Geotags can reveal your location to third parties when publishing photos on social networks. Always check metadata before uploading to Instagram, VK or Telegram!

App Geotag support EXIF editing Batch processing
Google Photo ✅ (stored in the cloud) ❌ ❌
Standard Gallery (Samsung) ✅ ✅ ❌
Photo Exif Editor ✅ ✅ ✅
GeoTag Photos Pro ✅ (with GPX) ✅ ✅
XnView MP (PC) ✅ ✅ ✅
💡

If If you travel often, turn on the “Save RAW+JPEG” option in the camera settings - geotags will be duplicated in both files, which is convenient for subsequent processing.

Common errors and their solutions

When working with geotags, users encounter typical problems. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

  • 🚫 Geotags are not saved → Check the permissions for the camera application and enable Exact location in the Android settings.
  • 📍 Incorrect coordinates → Update AGPS data through the app GPS Status & Toolbox or reboot the device.
  • 🔄 When editing, the quality of the photo deteriorates. → Use applications that support saving without compression (for example, Photo Exif Editor with the "Save" option original").
  • 🌐 Geotags are not displayed on social networks → Some platforms (for example, Twitter) remove EXIF data when uploading. Publish a photo via Google Photos with a link to the map.

If after all the manipulations geotags are still not added, check:

  • Availability of updates for the camera application and smartphone firmware.
  • Operation of the GPS module (test in GPS Test).
  • Privacy settings (on some firmware geodata is blocked for third-party cameras, for example, Open Camera).
💡

On devices with Android 13+ Accurate geotagging requires "Exact location" permission (regular access to geodata is not enough).

Can I add a geotag to a photo taken on an iPhone?

Yes, but to do this you need to first transfer the photo to Android (for example, via Google Drive or cable), and then use any of the described methods. In this case, the original iPhone metadata (for example, data Live Photo) may be lost.

Why are geotags not displayed in Windows?

The standard application Photo in Windows 10/11 does not always read EXIF correctly. Use XnView or IrfanView to view full metadata. Also check whether the display of geodata is disabled in Windows privacy settings.

How to add a geotag to screenshots?

Screenshots by default do not contain geodata, as they are created without the camera. To add coordinates, use Photo Exif Editor or Google Photos (method 1). Please note that this will be an artificial link that does not reflect the real location where the screen was created.

Is it possible to restore deleted geotags?

If the photo was uploaded to Google Photos before deleting geotags, try restoring the metadata via web version of the service: open photo → Information → Restore location. For local files, recovery is not possible - EXIF data is deleted permanently.

What photo formats support geotags?

Geotags are saved in metadata formats JPEG, TIFF, PNG (limited) and HEIC (on iPhone Formats WEBp and GIF usually). do not support EXIF. When converting the file, geotags may be lost.