EXIF metadata analyzer
Read the camera, lens, capture date, GPS coordinates and editing software embedded in any photo. Free, instant and unlimited.
Quick answer
Drop the image into ScanTrace. EXIF tags are parsed in milliseconds and presented in a readable table. The absence of EXIF is itself a forensic signal worth flagging.
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Get started free — 15 scans/monthQuick answer: how to read EXIF metadata online
Drop the photo into ScanTrace. The EXIF block is parsed instantly and the parsed fields — camera, lens, capture date, GPS, software — are displayed in a readable table. Nothing is stored unless you are logged in and choose to keep an analysis history.
What EXIF tags actually reveal
A standard smartphone JPEG carries: Make and Model (Apple iPhone 15 Pro), LensModel, FocalLength, ISO, ExposureTime, FNumber, DateTimeOriginal (the moment the shutter fired, distinct from file modification date), GPSLatitude/Longitude, Software (the OS or editor that wrote the file), and a BodySerialNumber on professional cameras that can identify a specific physical body.
Privacy warning: what EXIF reveals about the photographer
EXIF GPS coordinates are accurate to within a few meters — accurate enough to identify a photographer's home address if they tweeted a photo from their kitchen. ScanTrace strips EXIF before serving any user image publicly and warns whenever GPS is present in an uploaded file.
Verification workflow with EXIF
Step 1: read EXIF with this tool. Step 2: cross-check DateTimeOriginal with the alleged event date. Step 3: cross-check GPSLatitude/Longitude with the alleged location. Step 4: if Software is "Midjourney", "DALL-E" or "Stable Diffusion", you have a confirmed AI-generated image. Step 5: if EXIF is empty, run the full forensic analyzer to reach a verdict.
| Tool | Reads GPS | Reads software tag | Reads serial | Forensic verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScanTrace | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (full plan) |
| Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| macOS Preview Inspector | Yes | Partial | No | No |
| Generic online EXIF viewers | Yes | Yes | Rare | No |
Frequently asked questions
What is EXIF metadata?
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a block of structured data embedded in JPEG, TIFF and HEIF files by digital cameras and smartphones. It records technical capture parameters and, optionally, GPS coordinates and editing history.
Why is EXIF useful for verification?
EXIF tells you the device that created the file, when, where and what software touched it afterwards. AI-generated images either have no EXIF or contain a tell-tale 'Software: Midjourney' tag — the absence of camera data is itself a strong forensic signal.
Will I see the GPS coordinates of the photographer?
Only if the original photographer left GPS embedded. Most social networks (Instagram, X, WhatsApp) strip GPS on upload, so images you download from there will show no location. ScanTrace warns when location data is present so you can avoid republishing it accidentally.
What does it mean when an image has no EXIF at all?
It is a yellow flag, not a verdict. Screenshots, social-network downloads and AI-generated images all lack EXIF. Combine this signal with a pixel-level analysis (use ScanTrace's main analyzer) to reach a reliable conclusion.
Is it really free?
Yes, the EXIF reader is free and unlimited. The full forensic verdict (pixel + EXIF + contextual layers) is gated to 10 free analyses per month.
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