Remove Location Data from Photos and Videos on iOS 13

On iOS 13, photos and videos can include location metadata that shows where they were captured. You can remove that data from selected items before sharing them, or stop the Camera app from adding location information to future captures. You’ll need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 13 and the Photos app; keep in mind that removing location data from a shared copy does not erase it from the original in your library.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad running iOS 13.
• The photo or video saved in the Photos app.
• A sharing destination, such as Messages, Mail, or AirDrop, if you want to send a copy without location details.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Photos and choose the items. Find the photo or video you plan to share. To select several items, tap Select in an album or moment, then tap each item. You can also open one item at a time. The location-removal control is part of the sharing process in iOS 13, rather than an edit that permanently changes your library file.
2. Open the Share Sheet. Tap the square-and-arrow Share button. If you selected multiple items, this button appears after selection. The Share Sheet displays suggested contacts and apps, along with other actions.
3. Open the sharing options. At the top of the Share Sheet, tap Options. In iOS 13, this opens the options for the selected photos or videos. If you do not see Options, scroll the Share Sheet or check that you have selected an item that is stored in Photos and that the iOS version is 13.
4. Turn off location information. Under the section for including metadata, switch Location off. The switch should no longer be enabled. Leave other options as you prefer; for example, turning off location does not necessarily remove all other photo metadata.
5. Choose how to send the copy. Tap Done to return to the Share Sheet, then select the destination, such as Messages, Mail, or AirDrop, and send or save the item as prompted. The setting applies to the items in that sharing operation. Check the options again if you start a separate share.
6. Verify the received or saved copy. If the recipient’s privacy matters, ask them to check the copy they received, or save it to a separate location and inspect its details. Do not rely on a screenshot or a preview alone to confirm metadata has been removed. Keep the original if you may need its location information later.
7. Prevent location tagging on future captures (optional). Open Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Camera. Choose Never to stop Camera from accessing your location. This affects future photos and videos made with the Camera app; it does not remove location data already recorded in your library.

Common Mistakes

• Expecting the original to change: The Location switch in sharing options controls the copy being shared. It does not generally delete GPS information from the source item in Photos.
• Turning off Camera location and assuming old items are cleaned: Changing Location Services affects future captures, not existing images or videos.
• Assuming every share route behaves identically: The iOS option controls the file prepared through the Share Sheet. A service or app may process or transform the file after receiving it. Verify the final copy when privacy is important.
• Confusing location with all metadata: Turning off Location does not necessarily strip every detail, such as the capture date, device or camera information. It is specifically the location information that the option addresses.
• Forgetting to check the selection: When sharing a batch, confirm that you selected every intended photo or video before opening Options. The setting and the outgoing items apply to that share.

Tips

• For a one-time privacy check, open an image in Photos and swipe up, or tap its information control if available, to view details such as a map or place name. The exact display can vary by item and iOS interface.
• Use the per-share Location switch when you still want location tagging for your own library but not for a particular recipient.
• Use Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Camera > Never if you prefer not to record camera locations going forward. You can change the permission later.
• If you are sending a large group, consider sharing a small test item first and checking how it arrives. This can reveal how the chosen destination handles the file.
• Keep an unmodified original or backup if you want to preserve the capture location for organizing or remembering where an image was taken.

Troubleshooting

There is no Options button. Make sure you are using the iOS Share Sheet from Photos, not a sharing control inside another app. Scroll the top portion of the Share Sheet if needed. If the item is not in Photos, save or import it there first when appropriate, then try sharing again.

The Location switch is missing or unavailable. Some files may not contain location data, and the available options can depend on the item and how it was imported. Try a photo known to have a location, open Options again, and check that you are running iOS 13. If a newer iOS version is installed, menu names or placement may differ.

The recipient still sees a place or map. Confirm that Location was switched off before you selected the destination and that you sent the newly prepared copy. Ask the recipient to inspect the actual received file rather than a previously saved version. If the information remains, avoid sending that file until you can verify a clean copy; try another sharing route or create a new export and inspect it.

Location is still shown in your own Photos library. That is expected when you only disabled location for sharing. To stop new camera captures from being tagged, change Camera’s Location Services permission. To remove or alter a location displayed for an existing item, use the item’s information or location-editing controls if your iOS version provides them; this is separate from stripping location metadata from a shared copy.

The Camera setting does not affect another camera app. Location permission is controlled per app. Open Settings > Privacy > Location Services, select the relevant camera app, and choose the permission you want. Menu choices may depend on the app and its permissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Location remove GPS data from the original photo?
No. In iOS 13, switching Location off in Share Sheet Options is for the copy prepared for sharing; your original library item remains unchanged.

Can I remove location from a video as well as a photo?
Yes, when sharing a video from Photos, open Options and turn off Location if the control is available for that item.

Will AirDrop include location if I switch it off?
The Share Sheet’s Location option is intended to omit location from the shared copy. Check Options before each share, and verify the received file if the result is important.

Does disabling Camera location remove location from old photos?
No. It prevents Camera from accessing location for future captures. It does not retroactively change items already saved.

Does removing location hide the date a photo was taken?
Not necessarily. The Location option concerns location metadata; other information, including capture date, may remain.

Can I permanently strip location from an existing item in Photos on iOS 13?
The standard Share Sheet method makes a location-free sharing copy rather than permanently rewriting the original. Save or export that copy separately if you need a version without location data, and verify it before distributing.

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