Have you ever wondered where exactly this or that photo was taken on your Android smartphone? Perhaps you want to remember your travel itinerary, confirm a location for an important event, or just out of curiosity. Photo coordinates (geotags) are automatically saved in the metadata of most photos if geolocation is enabled in the camera settings. But how to find them?

In this article we will look at all available methods from built-in Android tools to specialized applications. You'll learn how to view EXIF data (including latitude and longitude), why coordinates are sometimes missing, and how to protect your privacy by removing geotags before posting photos to social media. And also - what to do if the smartphone does not save the location at all.

Important: not all photos contain geodata. This depends on the camera settings, smartphone model (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel etc.) and even on the shooting method (for example, screenshots and photos from instant messengers usually do not have coordinates).

The easiest way is to use the built-in gallery of your smartphone. However, not all manufacturers provide this feature out of the box. For example, on pure Android (like Google Pixel) geodata is displayed directly, but on MIUI (Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO) or One UI (Samsung) an additional tap may be required.

Instructions for most devices:

  • 📷 Open the application Gallery (or Photo).
  • 🔍 Find the photo you want and open it in full screen.
  • 📍 Click on the icon information (usually a circle with a letter i or three dots in the upper right corner).
  • 🌍 Scroll down to the block Location or Coordinates.

If there are no coordinates, check:

  • ⚙️ Whether geolocation was enabled in the camera settings during shooting.
  • 📱 Does your smartphone model support recording geotags (this function is sometimes missing on budget devices).
  • 🔄 The photo was not edited in third-party applications (many editors remove EXIF data).
📊 Do you often check the geolocation on the photo?
Yes, it is useful for traveling
Only if you need to confirm the place
No, I have not used this function
I didn’t know that this was possible
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, ColorOS from Oppo/Realme) coordinates can only be displayed in map format, without exact latitude/longitude numbers. For detailed information, use the methods from the following sections.

2. data-i="77">The application not only stores your photos, but also automatically analyzes geodata. Here you can see

Application Google Photos not only stores your pictures, but also automatically analyzes geodata. Here you can see all photos on the interactive page. mapwhich is convenient for visualizing routes. However, viewing the exact coordinates (latitude and longitude) will require an additional step.

How to find a location:

  1. Open Google Photos and select the desired photo.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → Information (or Information).
  3. In the block Location you will see the name of the place. Click on it - it will open Google Maps with a point on the map.
  4. To get exact coordinates, long-tap (long press) on the mark on the map → copy the values from the pop-up window.

If the map does not show the location:

  • 🔄 Make sure that the Google Photos Settings → Affiliate apps option is enabled Geodata.
  • 📱 Check whether geotag synchronization is disabled in your Google account settings.
  • ⏳ Wait a few hours - sometimes Google Photos processes geodata with a delay.

Enable geolocation in the camera settings|Make sure it is synchronized with Google Photos|Update the application to the latest version|Check your connection to Internet-->

3. EXIF data: how to read hidden information

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a metadata standard that stores technical details of a photo: camera model, shutter speed, ISO, and of course, GPS coordinatesOn Android there are several ways to read this data without installing additional applications.

Method 1: Through a file manager

Some file managers (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) can show EXIF. data-i="114">Open the manager and find the folder with the photo (usually

  1. Open the manager and find the photo folder (usually DCIM/Camera).
  2. Long-tap on the file → Properties or DETAILS.
  3. Look section GPS or Coordinates.

Method 2: Online services

If you do not want to install software, upload the photo to one of the services:

⚠️ Attention: By uploading photos to third-party services, you risk violating your privacy. Use them only for insensitive images or remove geotags first (see section 6).

Method 3: Through Google Drive

Google Drive also displays part of the EXIF data:

  1. Upload the photo to Google Drive.
  2. Right click → Manage versions → Information.
  3. Find block Image properties.
Method Coordinate accuracy Do I need to install software Works offline
Standard gallery Medium (often only the name of the place) No Yes
Google Photos High (map + exact coordinates) No No (internet required)
File manager (FX/Solid) High (if supports EXIF) Yes Yes
Online services (EXIF Viewer) Maximum No No

4. Specialized applications for EXIF

If the built-in tools do not show coordinates, install one of these applications. They read all metadataincluding GPS, and often offer additional functions (for example, EXIF editing).

Top 5 applications for Android:

  • 📌 Photo EXIF Editor —simple interface, support for batch editing.
  • 📌 EXIF Viewer by Fluntro —shows coordinates on the map, exports data.
  • 📌 Metadata Remover —removes geotags before publishing.
  • 📌 Pictured —analyzes photos and builds routes on map.
  • 📌 Simple Gallery —an alternative gallery with EXIF support.

Example of working with Photo EXIF Editor:

  1. Install the application from Google Play.
  2. Open it and select a photo from the gallery.
  3. Go to the tab GPS — here will be the latitude (Latitude) and longitude (Longitude).
  4. Click Show on Mapto open the location in Google Maps.
💡

If the coordinates are displayed in format 37.4220° N, 122.0841° W, copy them and paste them into the Google Maps search bar - get the exact mark on the map.

Some applications (for example, EXIF Viewer by Fluntro) can export EXIF to file or copy coordinates to the clipboard. This is useful if you need to save data for a report or. travel.

⚠️ Attention: EXIF editing applications (for example, Photo EXIF Editor) can change the creation date of the photo. If it is critical (for example, for forensic evidence), use them carefully or create backup copies of the originals.

5. Why may coordinates be missing?

If none of the methods showed geolocation, the reasons may be as follows:

Hardware and software limitations:

  • 📵 Geolocation was disabled in the camera or system settings during shooting.
  • 📱 On budget smartphones (for example, Redmi 5A, Samsung Galaxy M01), the function of recording GPS in photos may not be available.
  • 🔄 The photo was edited in applications like Snapseed or Lightroom - many editors remove EXIF.
  • 📤 Photo downloaded from the messenger (WhatsApp, Telegram) - such pictures are usually cleared of metadata.

Format features:

  • 🖼️ Screenshots never contain geotags.
  • 🎨 Photo in format WebP (used in some messengers) may not save EXIF.
  • 🔄 When format conversions (JPG → PNG), metadata is often lost.

Problems with firmware:

On some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) or after resetting the settings, the geotagging function may not work correctly. In this case:

  1. Check the camera settings: Settings → Advanced → Save location.
  2. Update the firmware to the latest version.
  3. Install an alternative camera (for example, Open Camera), which supports GPS recording.
How to check if your camera stores geotags?

Take a test photo with geolocation enabled, then check its EXIF using any of the described methods. If there are no coordinates, the problem is in the settings or hardware.

6. How to remove coordinates from a photo before publishing

By publishing a photo on social networks (Instagram, VKontakte, Facebook), you automatically share geolocation with other users. This may be unsafe —by coordinates you can determine your home, place of work or travel routes.

Ways to remove geotags:

  • 📱 Google Photos: before publication click Edit → Tools → Delete geodata.
  • 🔧 Applications: Metadata Remover or EXIF Eraser delete all metadata in 1 tap.
  • 🌐 Online services: ImgOnline clears EXIF without installing software.
  • 📎 Manual export: take a screenshot of the photo (geotags will not be saved) or convert to PNG.

If you often publish photos, configure automatic removal of geodata:

  1. In Google Photos: Settings → Affiliate apps → Geodata → Disable.
  2. In camera settings: disable the option Save location (the path may differ depending on the firmware).
💡

Removing geotags does not affect the quality of the photo, but makes it anonymous. This is especially important for photos of children, houses or documents.

7. Alternative methods: if nothing works

If none of the methods help, try these options:

Method 1: Analysis by surrounding photos

If you have a series of pictures taken in one place, check the geodata of other photos from the same folder. Often the coordinates are partially saved (for example, only for every 5th photo due to battery saving).

Method 2: Viewing via PC

Connect your smartphone to the computer and use:

  • 🖥️ Windows: right-click on the file → Properties → Details.
  • 🍎 Mac: open the photo in View → Tools → Show inspector.
  • 🐧 Linux: use command exiftool in terminal: 
    exiftool -GPSLatitude -GPSLongitude -n path/to/photo.jpg

Method 3: Cloud services

Upload photo to Yandex.Disk or Dropbox, then:

  1. Open the file in the browser.
  2. Click on the information icon (ⓘ).
  3. Look for a block with coordinates or a map.

Method 4: Contacting the manufacturer

On some devices (for example, Huawei c EMUI) geodata is stored in a proprietary format. In this case:

  • Contact the manufacturer's support.
  • Use proprietary software (for example, HiSuite for Huawei).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about photo coordinates on Android

❓ Is it possible to restore coordinates if they were deleted?

No, if geotags are deleted from EXIF, they cannot be restored. The only way is to find the original photo (for example, in a Google Photos backup or on another device).

❓ Why do the coordinates show an inaccurate location (for example, a neighboring house)?

GPS accuracy on smartphones depends. from:

  • 📡 Satellite signals (in a city with tall buildings the error is up to 50 meters).
  • 📶 Connections to mobile networks and Wi-Fi (helps clarify the location).
  • 🔋 Energy saving modes (can be disabled GPS module).

For maximum accuracy, use specialized GPS applications (for example, GPS Status) before shooting.

❓ How to enable saving geotags on Xiaomi/Redmi?

On devices with MIUI:

  1. Open Camera.
  2. Tap on ⚙️ Settings (gear).
  3. Go to Advanced → enable Save location.
  4. Make sure that in your phone settings (Location) is enabled High accuracy.
❓ Is it possible to add coordinates to a photo if there were none?

Yes, using applications like Photo EXIF Editor or GeoTagger:

  1. Open the photo in the application.
  2. Enter coordinates manually or select a point on the map.
  3. Save changes (a new file will be created).

This is useful for cataloging old photos or photos from screenshots.

❓ Is it safe to store geotagged photos in cloud?

Depends on the service:

  • ✅ Google Photos and iCloud encrypt metadata and limit access to it.
  • ⚠️ Social networks (Facebook, VK) can use geodata for targeting advertising.
  • ❌ Public clouds (for example, download links in Telegram) reveal EXIF to everyone who has access to the file.

Recommendation: remove geotags before uploading to public sources.