Command to Delete EXIF Data in Image Files
This page shows you how to use the a command line tool to view or delete data such as date, earth location, that are embedded in image files.
ExifTool
ExifTool is a command line tool for {read, write, edit} metadata in image files. It's available for {Windows, Mac, Linux}.
Install
ExifTool home page at https://exiftool.org/
View Metadata
# show metadata of a image file exiftool xyz.jpg
# show metedata for all *jpg files in current dir exiftool -ext jpg .
# show metedata for all *jpg files in current dir and subdirs exiftool -r -ext jpg .
Here's sample metadata in jpg file and mp3 file:
- exiftool sample output on JPG file: metadata_sample_exif.txt
- exiftool sample output on MP3 file: metadata_sample_id3.txt
Remove Metadata
# remove all metadata of a image file exiftool -all= -overwrite_original xyz.jpg
# remove all metadata of all *jpg files in current dir exiftool -all= -overwrite_original -ext jpg .
# remove metedata for all *jpg files in current dir and subdirs exiftool -all= -r -overwrite_original -ext jpg .
The -ext jpg is case-sensitive. So, you might use -ext JPG or -ext jpeg or -ext png.
Remove just GPS data
# remove all GPS metadata of *jpg files in current dir exiftool -gps:all= *.jpg
Exiftool Manual
Metadata outside images, IPTC, XMP, etc.
Metadata is also stored is various different formats, for files other than image files. For example, video files, and even text files. Two popular general-purpose metadata formats are: IPTC, XMP. There's also the ID3 format for MP3 audio files. There's also Mac OS X Extended Attributes.
2013-10-24 thanks to Nick Alcock