Photo archive guide
Remove GPS location from photos on a Mac
Photos can contain latitude and longitude even when a chat app or website does not visibly show them. Removing location metadata from exported copies reduces accidental disclosure while keeping a private original archive.
Check whether GPS is embedded
Inspect the image metadata for GPS latitude, latitude reference, longitude and longitude reference. South and west references represent negative coordinates.
Remove the complete GPS dictionary
Clearing only visible latitude can leave longitude, altitude or timestamps behind. A metadata export should exclude the GPS dictionary and any corresponding standard metadata it can safely identify.
Do not rely on a screenshot
Screenshots often remove metadata but also change resolution, color profile and quality. A metadata-specific copy preserves the image dimensions and file type while removing the targeted fields.
Verify the exported copy
Read the output metadata again and confirm that GPS is absent. Keep the original in a private archive and share only the verified copy.