How to Remove Location From iPhone Photos Before Sharing
Short answer: When sharing, tap Options at the top of the share sheet and switch Location off. For a photo you already took, open it, tap ⓘ → Adjust → No Location. To stop recording location altogether, set Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera → Never.
A photo of your dinner doesn't seem sensitive. But if it was taken at home, its hidden data can include the exact coordinates, and that's a map pin to your front door. Here's how to keep location out of the pictures you share.
How do I send a photo without its location?
This is the fastest fix and doesn't change the original:
- Open Photos and select one or more photos.
- Tap Share.
- At the top of the share sheet, tap Options.
- Switch Location off, then tap Done and choose how to send.
Your original photo keeps its location. Only the copy you share loses it. Apple's Photos shows "Location Not Included" above the Options button once it's off. You can do this for AirDrop, Messages, Mail and most other share options.
How do I remove the location from a photo already on my iPhone?
- Open the photo in Photos.
- Swipe up, or tap ⓘ.
- Next to the map, tap Adjust.
- Choose No Location.
That permanently clears the location from that photo in your library.
How do I stop my iPhone camera from recording location?
- Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services.
- Tap Camera.
- Choose Never.
Future photos won't carry GPS data. The trade-off is that you also lose the Photos map and "Places" albums for new pictures. If you want location for your own use but not for sharing, leave it on and switch it off per share instead.
Do social networks remove location data?
Many major platforms strip location from the version they publish, but not all of them, and not always for every kind of upload (a file sent as a "document" or an original-quality attachment can keep it). Don't rely on it. Remove the location yourself before you send anything you wouldn't want mapped.
What about photos with a visible GPS stamp?
Location stamp apps, such as the GPS Map Camera we cover in how to add GPS location and a timestamp to photos, print the coordinates onto the picture. Removing hidden metadata does nothing to that text. Crop it out, blur it or don't stamp photos you plan to post publicly.
Quick checklist
- Sharing a photo from home, a child's school or your workplace? Switch Location off in Options.
- Selling something online? Remove location, and watch for house numbers and street signs in the background.
- Screenshots don't carry location data, but they can show whatever is on the screen, including a visible stamp.
- Review which apps can see your photo library under Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos.
For more options, including apps that add location on purpose, see our guide to GPS photo location apps.
Related reading
- How to Add GPS Location and a Timestamp to Photos on iPhone
- How to Scan a Document to PDF on iPhone (Free, No App)
- How to Block Spam Calls on iPhone (and Find Who Called)
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Do iPhone photos contain location data?
Yes, if Location Services is on for the Camera. The coordinates are stored in the photo's hidden metadata, along with the date and time.
How do I remove location from many photos at once?
Select them in Photos, tap Share, tap Options at the top and switch Location off before sending. That removes it from the shared copies in one step.
How do I turn off location for the iPhone camera?
Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Camera and choose Never. New photos won't include a location.
Can someone find my house from a photo I post online?
If the photo still contains location data, or shows a house number, street sign or distinctive landmark, they might. Strip the data and check the background before posting.
GPS Map Camera: Geo Location