File Metadata Viewer

What this tool does

File Metadata Viewer shows a file’s basic metadata, name, size, browser-reported type and last modified date, directly from the File API, and for JPEG/TIFF/HEIC photos, extracts embedded EXIF data (camera model, exposure settings, timestamp and sometimes GPS coordinates) using exifr, with a clear warning if location data is found.

Every file carries basic metadata, name, size, type, when it was last modified, and photos specifically often carry much more: the camera model, exposure settings, timestamp, and sometimes precise GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken, embedded as EXIF data you can’t see just by looking at the image.

This tool reads a file’s basic properties directly from the browser’s File API, and for JPEG, TIFF and HEIC photos, extracts embedded EXIF metadata using exifr, explicitly flagging when GPS location data is present, since that’s exactly the kind of detail worth knowing about before sharing a photo publicly.

How to use File Metadata Viewer

1. Choose a file to inspect.
2. Review its basic file metadata.
3. For a supported photo format, review any extracted EXIF data below.
4. Check for a GPS location warning if present.

Tips for better results

• Many phones embed precise GPS coordinates in photos by default, a genuine privacy consideration if you’re about to share a photo publicly and don’t want your location exposed.
• EXIF data is only extracted for JPEG, TIFF and HEIC/HEIF images; PNG and most other formats don’t carry EXIF metadata by the same standard.
• Many photo-sharing platforms and messaging apps automatically strip EXIF data on upload as a privacy measure, this tool lets you check what’s actually embedded before you share, rather than relying on the platform to clean it up.
• The "Last modified" date reflects your local copy’s file system timestamp, which isn’t necessarily the same as when a photo was originally taken (that’s instead in the EXIF DateTimeOriginal field, if present).

Common use cases

• Checking whether a photo contains GPS location data before posting it publicly.
• Reviewing a photo’s camera settings and capture details for photography reference.
• Verifying a file’s basic properties (size, type, last modified) without opening it in a dedicated application.
• Auditing a batch of images for embedded metadata before sharing or publishing them.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming every image format carries EXIF data; it’s specific to JPEG, TIFF and HEIC/HEIF, PNG and most other formats typically don’t include it in the same way.
• Sharing a photo publicly without checking for embedded GPS coordinates first, a surprisingly common and easily avoidable privacy exposure once you know to look.
• Confusing the file’s "last modified" timestamp (a file system property) with when a photo was actually taken, which lives separately in the EXIF DateTimeOriginal field if present.