Tell Me My Metadata

1 Upload your image →
2 Discover hidden info →
3 Learn what it means

Wondering what invisible information hides in your photos? We explain every hidden detail in plain language - no jargon. Browser-only, no upload.

Your photos are telling secrets - let us decode them

Every photo or AI export carries more than pixels - timestamps, software names, prompts, and provenance signatures. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok read this on upload. This tool explains what your file is saying in everyday language.

The secret language of photos - explained

C2PA: the AI fingerprint - A signed provenance block. Instagram often adds AI Info when it sees C2PA from Photoshop Generative Fill, DALL·E, or Firefly.
XMP: the recipe card - Midjourney and similar tools store prompts, seeds, and model IDs here.
EXIF: the camera diary - Lens, shutter, ISO, GPS - plus Software fields that mention AI editors.
PNG text chunks - Stable Diffusion / ComfyUI workflow notes hidden inside PNG files.
IPTC publishing fields - Professional metadata that can include AI attribution tags.

How to read your photo's hidden diary

We translate metadata into human language, step by step.

Drop JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF into the tool (up to 15 MB)
Scan runs locally in your browser - no upload
Friendly summary of everything detected
Plain-language explanation for each category
AI markers linked to likely platform reactions
Clear signal whether you should clean before sharing

Why your metadata matters more than you think

A landscape edited in Photoshop may get AI Info because Generative Fill added C2PA. An Etsy mockup may embed the Midjourney prompt for anyone who downloads the PNG. Metadata is data you may not intend to publish.

Even privacy-conscious creators overlook metadata: a phone photo shared to Stories can broadcast GPS coordinates, and a Canva design download may ship Adobe C2PA without any visible watermark on the canvas. Understanding what rides along with your pixels is the first step before you publish, sell, or send files to clients who might inspect them.

Real stories from creators

Wedding photographer - Generative Fill removed a photobomber; Instagram labeled AI Info from C2PA.
Etsy seller - Competitor recovered the exact Midjourney prompt from XMP in a listing PNG.
Travel blogger - EXIF GPS revealed hotel location to a follower.
Graphic designer - Canva AI export triggered Pinterest restrictions via C2PA.
Food creator - Lightroom AI Denoise on a dim restaurant shot; C2PA in the export labeled the Reels still as AI-assisted.

What happens when platforms read your metadata

On upload, major networks scan for provenance and AI tags:

Instagram & Facebook - C2PA first; then XMP AI tags → AI Info or Made with AI.
Pinterest - Strict on C2PA/XMP; may limit pin distribution.
TikTok - C2PA in covers and photo-mode stills → contains AI generated media.
Etsy - Buyers can inspect files; undisclosed AI in metadata can cause disputes.

AI edited vs. AI generated

Platforms often treat a one-pixel Generative Fill the same as a full Midjourney render. Metadata rarely distinguishes minor AI assist from full generation - this tool shows exactly what the file claims.

A wedding photographer who used Generative Fill on one distraction still carries the same C2PA family as someone who generated the entire image in Midjourney. Platforms and buyers rarely parse intent - they read signatures. This page helps you see whether your file declares full AI generation, partial AI assist, or only camera capture, so you can decide whether to disclose, relabel, or clean before upload.

Myth vs. reality

Myth: Saving as JPG removes all metadata. Reality: C2PA and XMP can survive in JPEG.
Myth: Screenshots are always clean. Reality: Some tools preserve metadata.
Myth: Only AI images have AI metadata. Reality: AI-assisted edits on real photos add markers too.
Myth: Deleting the original removes metadata. Reality: It lives inside each copy of the file.

Found something unexpected? Clean before sharing

If we detect C2PA, XMP, or other AI markers, use our remover before upload. It strips C2PA, XMP, EXIF, and related fields by default - archive a private master if you need untouched camera metadata for editing.

Remove AI markers with the metadata remover →

Want to know how much metadata you have?

For byte counts and risk scoring instead of field definitions, use our metadata calculator.

Calculate my metadata - see size and risk →

Need a professional deep dive?

Technical users can open the checker for every field name and raw value after a scan.

Use the professional metadata checker →

What you won't find here

Pixel watermarks - SynthID-style signals live in pixels, not metadata blocks.
Visual AI classifiers - We read the file header, not judge image content.
Guaranteed label removal - Visual detection may still apply after cleaning.

Your privacy matters - we never see your photos

Analysis runs in your browser. Images are never uploaded, stored, or shared. You can use the tool offline after the page loads.

What we support

Formats: JPG/JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF
Size: up to 15 MB per file
Privacy: 100% browser-based analysis
Cost: free, no account

Tell vs. calculate vs. checker

This page explains fields in plain language. Use calculate for size and risk scores, and the checker for a technical listing. Cleaning happens only in the remover.

FAQ

What does 'tell me my metadata' mean?

It means reading hidden embedded data - C2PA, XMP, EXIF, PNG chunks, IPTC - and explaining each category in plain language instead of technical field names. You learn what your file is saying, not just what bytes it contains.

How do I see what metadata is in my photo?

Upload JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF (up to 15 MB). The tool scans locally and shows each category with non-technical explanations, likely platform reactions, and whether cleaning is recommended before you share.

How do I view metadata in an image?

Upload JPG, PNG, WebP, or AVIF to this free metadata viewer. The tool reads C2PA, XMP, EXIF, and PNG chunks locally in your browser and explains each category in plain language - no server upload. For a technical field list, use the AI metadata checker .

What is a metadata viewer?

A metadata viewer displays hidden embedded data in an image file without changing it. This page acts as a read-only metadata viewer with plain-language explanations, so you see GPS, software, C2PA, and AI-related tags before you share or clean the file.

Can I see my metadata without uploading?

Yes. Analysis runs entirely in your browser; the file never leaves your device. You can even use the tool offline after the page loads.

What does C2PA mean in my metadata?

C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) is a signed provenance block that records how an image was created or edited. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok may add AI Info or Made with AI when they detect C2PA from tools like Photoshop Generative Fill, DALL·E, or Adobe Firefly.

How do I remove metadata from my photos?

If AI-related metadata is found, use our AI metadata remover before posting. It clears C2PA, XMP, EXIF, and related fields by default - keep a private master if you need original camera settings for editing.

Will checking my metadata change my image?

No. Checking is read-only - your original file stays untouched. Only the remover produces a cleaned copy for download.

What if no metadata is found?

No C2PA, XMP, or AI tags usually means a clean file for metadata checks. If a platform still shows an AI label, visual classifiers or pixel watermarks may be the cause - metadata tools cannot detect those.

Does this work for Midjourney images?

Yes. Midjourney PNGs often carry XMP parameters and PNG text chunks with prompts, seeds, model versions, and style references. This tool explains each field so you know what competitors or buyers could extract.

Can I check multiple photos at once?

This page explains one file in depth with plain-language context. For batches, use the AI metadata remover (up to 30 images per session) - it strips C2PA, XMP, EXIF, and related fields by default.

Related guides

Platform upload prep and C2PA background - useful after you clean a file or when labels persist.