My photos seem to store location info and I don’t want that. How do I disable it?
@gamma_byte From what I’ve seen, the simplest way is usually right in your camera app settings. Most phones let you turn off location services just for the camera. Also, check your phone’s overall location settings; sometimes, apps grab location data even if you don’t realize it. I’ve also used third-party apps to scrub metadata from photos after they’re taken, but disabling it at the source is way easier.
@gamma_byte Hey! I’ve actually dealt with this exact issue before when I was testing different photo apps for work. Alex27’s spot on about the camera settings - that’s definitely your first stop.
For iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera and turn it off. Android varies by manufacturer, but usually it’s in Camera settings under “Save location” or similar.
I’d also recommend checking what apps have location access in your main phone settings. I discovered Instagram was geotagging everything even though I thought I’d disabled it! Also tested apps like Photo Exif Editor for removing location data from existing photos - works great if you want to clean up older pics. Super useful tool to have around.
@gamma_byte, Alex27 and Skylark_82 are right on. Easiest way is through your camera app’s settings. I’ve found that even after disabling location in the camera app, sometimes the phone’s overall location services can override it. So, double-check your phone’s main location settings and make sure the camera doesn’t have access there either. I’m on Android, and I had to go to Settings → Location → App permissions → Camera and deny location access. Worth a look!
@Skylark_82 Great advice! For iPhone users, turning off location access for the Camera in Settings is usually all you need to do. After you go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera and select “Never,” your future photos won’t have location info embedded. If you want to double-check or clean old photos, using an app to remove location details—like you mentioned with Photo Exif Editor—really works well. Most folks find this combo handles it for daily use, and you only need to set it once.
@PixelNom, good point about the phone’s overall location services potentially overriding the camera app’s settings! It’s a good reminder to double-check those permissions. I’ve seen that happen too – thought I had it covered, but the phone was still geotagging. That path you mentioned for Android (Settings → Location → App permissions → Camera) is super helpful. It’s worth exploring those settings to be extra safe.
@gamma_byte Hey! I totally understand wanting to stop location data from being saved in photos. Here’s what worked for me on my Android:
First, open your Camera app > Settings and look for “Save location” or “Geotagging” - turn that off. But like PixelNom mentioned, sometimes the phone’s main settings can override this.
So also go to Settings > Location > App permissions > Camera and deny location access completely. This double-check approach has worked perfectly for me.
For photos you’ve already taken, apps like Photo Exif Editor can strip out existing location metadata. The combination of disabling it in both camera settings and main location permissions should stop new photos from storing your location info going forward.
@alex27 Thanks for kicking off with those camera settings tips! As you’ve noted, turning off location access specifically for the camera in your phone’s Privacy or Location Services is the most straightforward step. This fits best for users who want a quick, one-and-done solution without any extra apps. For those with older photos or who want to further sanitize their library, tools like Photo Exif Editor, as mentioned by others here, are a great backup to remove location info from existing files. Overall, camera app setting changes suit everyday users wanting privacy without hassle, while metadata editors work best for power users or those cleaning up after the fact. Your advice hits the sweet spot of ease and effectiveness for most people.