Privacy guides

Remove location from photos on iPhone

If Location Services is on for the Camera, every photo records where it was taken. Send the original file and that location can go with it. Here is how to strip it before sharing, and stop it at the source.

Updated 2 min readBy the VaultBolt team
Short answerWhen sharing, tap Options at the top of the share sheet and turn off Location. To stop recording location entirely, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera and choose Never. Check any JPEG for GPS data with our free photo metadata viewer.

Turn off location for one share

  1. Select the photo and tap Share.
  2. Tap Options under the preview at the top.
  3. Turn off Location and tap Done.
  4. Share as usual.

Stop the Camera recording location

Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera and choose Never. New photos won't store GPS coordinates. Existing photos keep theirs.

Remove location from an existing photo

In Photos, open the photo, swipe up (or tap the info button) to see the map, then tap Adjust and No Location. The photo keeps its other metadata.

Check what a photo reveals

Use our free photo metadata viewer. It reads the file in your browser, lists fields such as GPS location, device model and date, and can save a clean copy. Nothing is uploaded.

What metadata can include

Field Example Risk
GPS location 51.50721, -0.12758 Reveals home, work or school
Date and time 2026:10:30 22:14 Reveals routines
Device model iPhone 17 Pro Narrows down who took it
Lens and settings f/1.8, ISO 640 Usually harmless
Software Photo editor names Reveals editing

Frequently asked questions

Do social apps remove location from photos?

Many large social apps strip metadata when they publish an image, but messaging apps that send the original file, email and AirDrop may keep it. Turn location off when sharing to be sure.

Do screenshots include location?

Screenshots don't normally include GPS coordinates, but they can include the date and device model.

Does VaultBolt remove location?

Yes. VaultBolt strips GPS and device details by default whenever a file leaves the vault, through sharing, export or drag and drop.

Sources

VaultBolt team
We build an encrypted photo vault for iPhone and iPad. We check Apple instructions against current Apple Support documentation and update guides when iOS changes.

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