What Is exif.tools? A Free In-Browser EXIF & Metadata Viewer
exif.tools is a free online EXIF and metadata viewer that reads the hidden data inside photos, PDFs, documents, audio, and video — and it processes your files locally in your browser rather than uploading them to a server. It fits anyone who wants to check camera settings, GPS coordinates, document details, or file hashes before sharing a file, and who would rather not hand that file to a third party. Because everything runs on your device, the tool works for sensitive material too, though you should still confirm what a given file actually contains before you rely on it.
What exif.tools can read
The site describes itself as covering "any file type · Images, PDFs, documents, audio, video & more." In practice, the metadata it surfaces falls into a few groups:
| Category | What you can see |
|---|---|
| Camera & lens | Camera and lens model, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length |
| Location | Saved GPS coordinates, plotted on an OpenStreetMap view |
| File details | File size, image dimensions, file type, capture time |
| Document details | Author, title, page count, and similar PDF/document fields |
| Origin & signing | Recorded metadata claims about a file's origin, plus content credential notes |
The interface is organized into labeled sections — "Behind the lens," "Put it on the map," "Know your image," and "Photo overview" — so you can scan camera data, location, and file facts separately instead of wading through a raw tag dump.
How the local processing works
This is the part that distinguishes exif.tools from many metadata viewers. The site states plainly: "Your files stay on your device." You have three ways to load a file:
- Drop a file onto the page.
- Choose a file from your device.
- Paste a link to an image or file URL (Ctrl+V or ⌘V).
For dropped or chosen files, the reading happens in your browser, so the file itself never leaves your machine. For pasted links, the site notes that links load directly, "with a proxy fallback if needed" — meaning a remote file may be fetched through a proxy when a direct load isn't possible. That's a meaningful distinction: local files stay local, but a URL you paste is by definition fetched from somewhere else.
The viewer also labels your file as "ORIGINAL FILE · UNCHANGED," reinforcing that it reads metadata without altering the file.
What it can and can't tell you about authenticity
exif.tools is careful here, and so should you be. The origin and signing section shows "recorded metadata claims, not a verified signature." The site explicitly warns that these claims "do not establish that the final image is authentic or free of AI edits."
A concrete example of the limits: SynthID watermarks are embedded in image pixels, so ExifTool-style metadata reading cannot detect them. The site directs you to check a SynthID watermark separately by opening Gemini, attaching the image yourself, and asking it to verify. It also cautions that a missing watermark does not prove an image is real.
So treat exif.tools as a metadata reader, not an authenticity verdict. It tells you what a file claims about itself.
Privacy considerations before you share
The location section is where metadata most often bites people. If a photo has saved GPS coordinates, exif.tools plots them on a map and reminds you: "Location can reveal personal places. Remove it before sharing." If no coordinates are present, it says so plainly — "No location recorded" — rather than guessing.
Capture time is another subtle one: the tool shows the time "as saved, without guessing a time zone," so you won't get a misleading converted timestamp.
Who it's for
- Photographers checking the camera, lens, and exposure settings behind a shot.
- Anyone about to share a photo who wants to strip or at least be aware of GPS and personal location data first.
- People handling PDFs and documents who need author, title, or page-count details.
- Privacy-conscious users who prefer local processing over uploading files to a web service.
Quick answers
Is it free? The site presents itself as a "free EXIF and metadata viewer." No pricing or payment details appear in the available information.
Do I need an account? Nothing in the site material mentions sign-up or login.
Does it upload my files? Local files are processed in your browser and stay on your device. Pasted URLs are fetched, with a proxy fallback if a direct load fails.
Can it prove an image is real? No. It reads metadata claims, which can be incomplete or misleading, and it cannot detect pixel-embedded watermarks like SynthID.
If your goal is simply to see what's hidden inside a file before you send it onward, exif.tools gives you that view without moving the file off your machine — just remember that what it reports is what the file says, not independent proof of anything.