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Since iOS 11 an iPhone saves photos as HEIC (also called HEIF) instead of JPEG. A HEIC photo carries the same kind of hidden record as a JPEG, and more: the GPS position, the date and time, the camera and lens, the phone model and software version, and Apple’s own maker notes. A HEIC metadata remover deletes those records and leaves the image data untouched, so the photo is not re-encoded and loses no quality. Drop a .heic or .heif file in the box above to see what it holds and download a clean copy.
What a HEIC photo remembers
| Where | What is stored | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Exif | Make, model, lens, exposure, date and time taken, software version | Apple iPhone 15 Pro, taken 2025-03-02 08:41, iOS 17.4 |
| GPS | Latitude, longitude, altitude, direction and speed | 51.5007 N, 0.1246 W: the street the photo was taken on |
| Apple maker notes | Apple-specific records, including a content identifier | An identifier that pairs a still with its Live Photo video |
| XMP | Extended properties written by editing apps | Creator tool, edit history |
| Other blocks | Comments and app-specific boxes | Notes added by an editor |
Where the details come from
- The iPhone camera writes the position when Location Services is on for the Camera app.
- Editing apps add the software name and edit history.
- Sharing as the original keeps everything; only some share options remove the location.
- Converting from other formats can keep the source file’s records.
What the remover deletes, and what it keeps
| Removed | Kept |
|---|---|
| GPS position, altitude and direction | The image data, untouched and not re-encoded |
| Make, model, lens and software | The colour profile, so colours look the same |
| Date and time taken | The rotation stored in the container |
| Apple maker notes and content identifier | Pixel size |
| XMP and other metadata blocks |
How to remove metadata from a HEIC photo
- Drop your HEIC photos in the box at the top of the page, or choose them from your device. You can add many files at once.
- Press the clean button. Each file shows what was found and removed.
- Read the report. Anything that could still identify someone is listed as remaining, so nothing is hidden from you.
- Download the clean copy. It is deleted from our server within minutes.
Is it safe to clean a HEIC photo online?
HEIC photos are cleaned on our server, because the work needs a dedicated media tool. The file is held only while it is cleaned and for a few minutes after, so that you can download it, then it is deleted. It is never listed, indexed or shared, and the download link is a secret that only you receive.
Frequently asked questions
Does it convert the HEIC to JPEG?
No. The file stays HEIC. Only the metadata is removed, so the quality is identical. If you need a JPEG, convert it first and then use the image remover.
Will the photo still open on my iPhone and Mac?
Yes. The image data and colour profile are unchanged.
Does it remove the location?
Yes. The GPS block is deleted, and the report confirms that nothing is left.
What about Live Photos?
The still image is cleaned. The video part of a Live Photo is a separate MOV file; clean it with the video remover.
Does it work on JPEG XL?
Yes. JXL files are cleaned the same way.
Can I clean HEIC photos with the API?
Yes. Send the file to POST /api/v1/clean/photo with your API key and its name in the X-Filename header. It returns the clean file and reports what was removed in the response headers. The MCP server does the same for AI assistants.
How many files can I clean?
Guests and free accounts have a daily allowance and a file-size limit, shown above the drop box. Paid plans raise both. Documents, images, PDFs and audio share one daily allowance.