What Information Can I Find in a Photo's EXIF Metadata?
A photo's EXIF metadata can tell you the camera and lens that made the shot, the exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length), when it was captured, the file's size, dimensions and type, and — if the device saved it — the GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken. Document files carry a parallel set of details such as author, title and page count. exif.tools reads these fields in your browser and keeps the file on your device, so you can inspect a photo before deciding whether to share it.
Camera and lens details
This is the block most people are looking for. A typical photo records:
- Camera make and model — the device that captured the image.
- Lens — the lens or lens model used, when the camera writes it.
- Aperture — the f-number, e.g. f/1.8.
- Shutter speed — how long the sensor was exposed.
- ISO — the sensitivity setting.
- Focal length — the actual and, often, 35mm-equivalent length.
exif.tools groups these under a "Behind the lens" view and labels the panel "Camera & lens." If a field is empty, the camera simply didn't record it — a missing value is not the same as a zero.
Time, size and file facts
Under "File details" / "Know your image," the viewer reports:
| Field | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Captured | The capture timestamp as saved in the file |
| File size | Size of the file you loaded |
| Image size | Pixel dimensions |
| File type | Format of the file |
One caveat the site itself flags: capture time is shown as saved, without guessing a time zone. So a timestamp of 14:32 is exactly what the camera wrote — it doesn't tell you whether that was local time, UTC, or something else unless the file also carries an offset.
GPS location
If the device saved coordinates, the viewer places them on a map using OpenStreetMap and offers an "Open in OpenStreetMap" link. If nothing was saved, it says so plainly: "No location recorded."
This is the field with the most personal weight. A geotagged photo can point to your home, your child's school, or a client's address. exif.tools surfaces the coordinates and warns that location can reveal personal places — remove it before sharing.
Origin and signing information
Newer files may carry provenance claims. exif.tools shows an "Origin & signing information" section, but it is careful about what that means: these are recorded metadata claims, not a verified signature. They can include source ingredients and still not establish that the final image is authentic or free of AI edits.
The site also draws a line between metadata and pixel-level watermarks. SynthID, for example, is embedded in the image pixels, so ExifTool-style metadata reading cannot detect it. The suggested route is to open Gemini, attach the image, and ask it to check for a SynthID watermark. And a missing watermark does not prove an image is real.
Document metadata
The same viewer handles PDFs and other documents, where the useful fields shift to author, title and page count rather than aperture and ISO. If you're checking a contract, invoice or report, that's the section to read.
Why check at all
Two practical reasons:
- Privacy. Before posting a photo, confirm whether it carries GPS coordinates or a device serial-style identifier you'd rather not publish.
- Verification. Camera settings and timestamps can corroborate or contradict a claimed origin — though, as noted above, metadata claims alone don't prove authenticity.
How to read a file
- Open exif.tools.
- Drop a file onto the page, choose one, or paste an image/file URL (Ctrl+V or ⌘V).
- Read the panels: Photo overview, Camera & lens, File details, Photo location, Origin & signing.
- Export the metadata if you need a record, or start over with another file.
Files stay local — processing happens in your browser. Links load directly, with a proxy fallback if needed.