View and Remove Photo Location on a Mac
On a Mac, the method depends on where the photo lives. For a photo file in a folder, remove the location with Preview. For a photo in your Photos library, the reliable way is to leave the location out when you export it.
1. Remove location from a file with Preview
- Open the photo file in Preview.
- From the menu bar, choose Tools > Show Inspector. You can also press Command + I.
- In the Inspector, click the More Info (i) tab, then open the GPS tab inside it. If there's no GPS tab, the photo has no location.
- Click Remove Location Info below the map.
- Save the file.
Preview edits the original file directly. If you want to keep the original, duplicate the file first and work on the copy.
2. Hide and export in the Photos app
Hide location
Select a photo in Photos and choose Image > Location > Hide Location from the menu bar, and the location will no longer show in your library. Keep in mind this only hides it inside the library; depending on how you export, the location can still end up in the file.
Export without location
- Select the photos in the Photos app.
- Choose File > Export > Export Photo (the menu shows the number of selected photos).
- In the export options, under Include, uncheck Location Information.
- Choose a folder to save to.
For photos you're sending to someone else, this is the most reliable method. The original in your library stays as it is, and only a copy without location is created.
Common points of confusion
What about "Export Unmodified Original"?
Export Unmodified Original in Photos gives you the file exactly as it was first imported. The metadata, including location, can stay intact, so for photos you're sending to others, use the regular Export Photo with Location Information turned off.
What about photos AirDropped from an iPhone?
A photo sent from an iPhone by AirDrop without turning off Location still contains its coordinates. Before uploading it anywhere from your Mac, remove the location using the methods above, or turn off Location in the share options on the iPhone before sending.
How do I do many photos at once?
In Photos, select multiple photos and hide their location from the same menu, or export them all at once with Location Information turned off. Preview has to handle files one at a time, so for a large batch, exporting from Photos is easier.
Can Preview remove location from HEIC photos?
Yes, Preview can open HEIC photos and remove their location. But if the recipient uses Windows or an older device, they may not be able to open HEIC. Exporting from Photos as JPEG with Location Information turned off solves both problems at once. You can also use the HEIC to JPEG converter.
3. Check that it's gone
There are reports that if you re-import a file cleaned with Preview into Photos, Photos may treat it as the same photo as the old original and keep showing the location. In other words, what you see on screen and what's actually in the file can differ.
That's why the surest way is to open the exact file you're about to send. Drag it into PhotoBookInfo and it tells you right away whether a location is still there.
Check what your photo is carryingPhotoBookInfo reads photos inside your browser and never uploads them. It tells you if a location is stored and makes a clean copy for you.
Check a photo