Photo Privacy Settings: Complete iPhone vs Android Guide

When you take a photo with your iPhone or Android device, the camera app can record your exact GPS coordinates and embed them directly into the image file. This process, called geotagging, happens invisibly in the background as part of the EXIF metadata embedded in every photo. Does iPhone add GPS to photos? Yes, by default. Does Android store location in photos? Also yes, when permitted.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends that users "disable location services for photo and social networking applications" and "turn off location services manually when in sensitive locations." This guidance exists because embedded GPS data in mobile photos creates real privacy and security risks.

Consider what your photos reveal: a picture of your living room shows your home address. Regular lunch photos map your workplace. Vacation snapshots confirm when you're away from home. Children's photos might reveal school locations. Over time, your photo library becomes a detailed map of your life, accessible to anyone who gets copies of your images.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Surveillance Self-Defense guide warns that mobile device sensors, particularly cameras and GPS, present inherent privacy risks requiring careful management. The good news? Both iPhone photo privacy settings and Android photo privacy controls give you the power to protect yourself.

To stop your iPhone from adding GPS coordinates to new photos, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Privacy & Security
3. Tap Location Services
4. Scroll down and tap Camera
5. Select Never

Once disabled, all new iPhone photos will be free of GPS location data. This setting affects the built-in Camera app. Your iPhone camera metadata will still include date, time, and camera settings, but no coordinates. Existing photos keep their location data until you remove it manually.

This simple change to your iPhone geotagging settings provides the strongest protection for photos taken going forward. If you occasionally want location on specific photos, you can temporarily re-enable this setting.

Even if your photos contain location data, you can strip GPS from iPhone pictures at the moment you share them. According to Apple's official documentation, the Share Sheet provides privacy controls:

1. Open the Photos app and select a photo
2. Tap the Share button
3. At the top of the share sheet, tap Options
4. Toggle OFF the Location switch
5. For complete metadata removal, also toggle OFF "All Photos Data"
6. Complete your share as normal

This method lets you remove EXIF from iPhone photos only when sharing, while keeping the original location data in your library for your own reference. The recipient gets a clean copy without coordinates.

This works for AirDrop, Messages, Mail, and most other sharing methods. It's a powerful iPhone GPS remover built right into iOS.

To check photo location iPhone data and review your iPhone photo location history:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Select any photo
3. Tap the Info (i) button or swipe up
4. View the map showing where the photo was taken

To delete location from iPhone photos permanently:

1. With the photo info open, tap Adjust next to the location
2. Select No Location

This permanently removes the coordinates. You cannot undo this action, so the original location data will be gone forever from that photo. For complete iOS photo properties including camera settings, ISO, and aperture, use our free Safari EXIF viewer at AboutThisImage.com.

iOS offers four permission levels for apps requesting photo library access, as documented by Apple Support:

• Full Access: The app can see all photos and their metadata, including location
• Limited Access: You select which specific photos the app can see
• Add Photos Only: The app can save to your library but cannot view existing photos
• None: No access to your photo library

To manage these permissions: go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos. Here you can review and change access for each app. Using Limited Access is an excellent way to share specific photos with apps without exposing your entire library's metadata.

This granular control means you can act as your own iPhone EXIF editor, deciding exactly which photos and metadata each app can access.

Recent iOS versions introduced several privacy enhancements for iPhone 14 Pro EXIF handling, iPhone 15 metadata management, and all modern iPhones:

• Locked Albums: Hidden and Recently Deleted albums are now locked by default, requiring Face ID or passcode to view
• Enhanced Visual Search: Uses homomorphic encryption and differential privacy so Apple cannot see your photos while the feature operates
• Green Indicator: A green dot appears when any app accesses your camera or microphone
• Approximate Location: For apps that need general area info, you can grant approximate location (within several kilometers) instead of precise GPS

These features apply to all photo types including iPhone Live Photo EXIF data and iPhone portrait mode metadata. The iPhone HEIC metadata format used since iOS 11 also supports these privacy features. For more about photo metadata, see our EXIF data guide.

When you use iCloud Photos, all metadata including GPS coordinates syncs to Apple's servers. According to Apple's iCloud data security overview, there are two protection levels:

• Standard Protection (Default): Your photos are encrypted, but Apple holds the encryption keys. Apple can decrypt your data on your behalf if needed.
• Advanced Data Protection: End-to-end encryption where only you hold the keys. Not even Apple can access your photos or their location data.

To enable Advanced Data Protection: Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection. This provides the strongest protection for your iPhone HEIC metadata and all synced photos.

On stock Android and Pixel devices, you can stop GPS recording in photos through either the Camera app or system settings. According to Google's official documentation:

Method 1 - Camera Settings:

1. Open the Google Camera app
2. Tap the Settings gear icon
3. Find Save location or Location
4. Toggle it OFF

Method 2 - System Permissions:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Camera
2. Tap Permissions
3. Tap Location
4. Select Don't allow

This stops new photos from including GPS coordinates. Pixel photo metadata will still include camera settings and timestamps, just no location. Existing Android photos keep their embedded coordinates until manually removed.

Samsung Galaxy devices have their own camera app with specific Samsung camera settings for controlling Samsung photo EXIF data:

1. Open the Camera app
2. Tap the Settings gear icon
3. Find Location tags
4. Toggle it OFF

To see EXIF on Samsung devices and remove location from existing photos in Samsung Gallery:

1. Open Gallery and select a photo
2. Tap the three-dot menu
3. Tap Details
4. Select Remove Location Data or similar option

The exact wording varies by Samsung model and software version. This method works for most Samsung devices and lets you check metadata on Android while also controlling what gets shared.

Google Photos provides some location management features, but with important limitations. According to Google's photo location documentation:

What you CAN do:

• Remove "estimated" locations that Google Photos calculated automatically
• View and edit locations on photos
• Disable automatic location calculation in Settings > Privacy

What you CANNOT do:

• Remove GPS coordinates that your camera embedded at capture
• Fully strip all Google Photos EXIF data within the app

To disable automatic location estimation: Google Photos > Profile picture > Photos settings > Privacy > Location options > Turn OFF "Calculate the missing locations."

For complete control over Android camera metadata, including camera-embedded GPS, use our Chrome EXIF viewer Android tool at AboutThisImage.com. It works as a full Android photo metadata viewer and can strip GPS from Android pictures before sharing. Learn more about how to check when and where a photo was taken on any device.

Unlike iPhone's built-in Share Sheet option, Android requires different approaches to delete location from Android photos before sharing:

Option 1 - Use AboutThisImage.com:

1. Open Chrome on your Android device
2. Go to AboutThisImage.com
3. Upload your photo
4. View all Android photo properties including GPS
5. Download a clean copy with location removed

Option 2 - Google Photos sharing settings:

1. Open Google Photos settings
2. Enable "Remove geo location" when sharing via link

Note that Google's option only applies to link-based sharing. Direct file sharing may retain metadata. For guaranteed location removal on any Android phone, OnePlus photo metadata, Xiaomi photo EXIF, or any other manufacturer, our web tool provides complete control. It works as an Android GPS remover and Android EXIF editor right in your browser.

Android provides granular permission controls similar to iOS. According to Google's location permissions guide, you can choose from four levels:

• All the time: App can access location anytime
• Only while using the app: Location access only when app is active
• Ask every time: You choose each time
• Don't allow: No location access

Approximate vs Precise Location: Android lets you grant approximate location (within about 3 kilometers) instead of precise GPS. This is useful for apps that need general area info but don't need your exact address.

Privacy Dashboard: Go to Settings > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard to see a 24-hour timeline of which apps accessed location, camera, and microphone. This helps you spot apps using permissions more than expected.

Photo Picker API (2025): Google Play now encourages apps to use the Photo Picker instead of requesting broad storage access. This means apps only see the specific photos you select, never your full library. This change improves Android RAW metadata protection and overall privacy.

Both iPhone and Android request permission before adding location to photos, but neither defaults to privacy-first:

• iPhone: First time you open Camera, iOS asks for location permission. Most users tap "Allow" without thinking.
• Android: Similar first-launch permission request. Once granted, location is embedded until you disable it.

The key difference: iPhone tends to ask again if the app hasn't been used recently, while Android permissions tend to persist longer without re-prompting.

Each platform has unique strengths when comparing iPhone EXIF app vs online tools and native Android capabilities:

iPhone: More streamlined with fewer options. The Share Sheet location toggle is easy to find and use. However, some users don't realize it exists. Overall interface is simpler but hides some advanced options. Works well as an iPhone picture converter workflow when combined with our tool.

Android: More options but can be confusing. The Privacy Dashboard provides excellent visibility into what apps are doing. However, location removal requires third-party tools or workarounds. Samsung, Pixel, and other manufacturers add their own layers of settings. More powerful for those who learn it, but steeper learning curve.

Both platforms work well with our touch-optimized viewer, which provides a consistent mobile-friendly EXIF experience regardless of your phone type. It functions as both a smartphone photo tool and mobile privacy cleaner.

Both platforms can protect your privacy when properly configured:

• Choose iPhone if: You want simple, built-in share-time privacy controls and don't want to think about it much. The Share Sheet makes it easy.
• Choose Android if: You want detailed visibility into app behavior and don't mind using additional tools for complete metadata removal.
• Either way: Use AboutThisImage.com for complete control. Our mobile image optimizer and Android photo processor work identically on both platforms, ensuring you can always view metadata on Pixel, check photo location Android or iPhone, and strip GPS before sharing.

The platform matters less than your habits. Regularly checking photos before sharing and understanding your privacy settings provides protection on any smartphone.

Most major social media platforms strip GPS metadata from uploaded photos for public display:

• Instagram: Strips EXIF data from uploaded photos
• Facebook: Removes GPS coordinates from public images
• Twitter/X: Strips location data
• TikTok: Removes location metadata

However, these platforms may retain your original metadata internally for their own use. Their privacy policies allow data collection even if they don't display it publicly. Don't rely on social media to protect your privacy. See our complete guide to how social media handles photo metadata. Strip metadata yourself before uploading using our phone photo stripper.

Exception: Flickr preserves EXIF data by default because photographers want to share camera settings. You can hide location in Flickr's privacy settings while keeping other metadata visible.

Messaging apps vary significantly in how they handle photo metadata:

• WhatsApp: Strips EXIF data when compressing photos for sending
• Signal: Strips metadata for privacy
• Telegram: Strips metadata by default
• iMessage: Preserves location unless you disable it in Share Sheet options
• Email: Preserves all metadata. Attachments keep their full EXIF data.

The safest approach: assume metadata is preserved and strip it yourself before sending through any channel. This is especially important for email, which always preserves full metadata.

Third-party camera apps often have their own location settings separate from the built-in camera:

• Each app may request location permission independently
• Disabling location for the stock camera doesn't affect third-party apps
• Some camera apps add visible watermarks showing location text
• Pro camera apps often include more detailed metadata including lens data

Review permissions for every camera app you use. Go to Settings > Apps (Android) or Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services (iPhone) and check each camera app individually. Convert HEIC on iPhone or handle any format with our tool, which serves as a universal mobile EXIF viewer regardless of which camera app created the photo.

1. Disable camera location if you rarely need it. If you don't use photo maps or location-based organization, turn off geotagging entirely. You can always re-enable it for travel or special occasions.
2. Strip metadata before sharing publicly. Use the Share Sheet on iPhone or AboutThisImage.com on any device. Make this a habit for any photo going to social media, marketplaces, or strangers.
3. Be extra careful with children's photos. Kids' photos are particularly sensitive. School locations, home addresses, and routine patterns should never be publicly exposed.
4. Audit app permissions regularly. Check which apps have photo and location access. Revoke permissions from apps that don't need them.
5. Check photos before posting online. Before uploading anywhere, quickly check what metadata exists. Use the info button (iPhone) or details menu (Android) for a basic check, or our tool for complete visibility.
6. Consider cloud encryption options. Enable Advanced Data Protection on iPhone for end-to-end iCloud encryption. Review cloud storage settings on Android for similar protections.
7. Review Privacy Dashboard (Android). Regularly check which apps accessed location recently. Unexpected access might indicate a permission you forgot about.
8. Email is not private. Email attachments preserve all metadata. Never assume email strips anything. Remove metadata before attaching photos to any email.

Works on any smartphone: Open AboutThisImage.com in Safari (iPhone) or Chrome (Android). Our touch-optimized interface makes it easy to view, analyze, and clean photos right from your phone.

Complete visibility: See all hidden metadata including GPS coordinates, timestamps, camera settings, and more. Know exactly what information your photos contain before sharing.

Privacy by design: Your photos never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser. We never see, store, or transmit your images.

No app required: Works entirely in your web browser. No download, no installation, no account needed. Just visit the site and drop your photo.

Take control of your phone photo privacy today. Whether you need an Android metadata app review, an iPhone EXIF app alternative, or just want to check one photo quickly, our tool provides everything you need.