How to remove location from photos on iPhone
To share a photo without its location, select it in Photos, tap Share, tap Options and turn off Location. Apple says "Location Not Included" then shows above the Options button. To stop new photos recording location, set Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera to Never. Existing photos need a separate step.
There are three different jobs here, and each uses a different setting.
1. Send one photo without location
- Open Photos (or the camera roll in Camera) and select the photos to share.
- Tap the Share button, then tap Options.
- Turn off Location. You should see "Location Not Included" above the Options button.
- Send the photo by any method in the Share Sheet.
This affects the copy you send. The original in your library keeps its location. It is the quickest fix and the one to use before posting or messaging someone you do not know well.
2. Remove the location from a photo you keep
- Open Photos, then open the photo.
- Tap the More button, then Adjust Info.
- Tap Adjust Location, then No Location.
Apple's guide for Mac uses a different route (Image > Location, then Hide Location or Revert to Original Location). On iPhone, open the photo's Info panel afterwards to check the change.
3. Stop new photos recording location
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
- Tap Camera.
- Tap Never.
Apple states that location metadata in photos and videos can be collected only if the Camera app has access to Location Services. With Never set, new photos and videos do not carry where you took them. The trade: Photos can no longer sort new pictures by place.
What this does not cover
- Other details travel with a photo too, such as the date, time and phone model. What is EXIF data in iPhone photos?
- Turning location off in the Share Sheet does not help if you send the original file by another route, such as a cloud link you made earlier.
- What is visible in the picture itself, such as a street sign or a house number, is not metadata and is not removed.
- Apple says Lockdown Mode excludes location information when you share photos, but that mode is for a small group of people. Does Lockdown Mode protect your photos on iPhone?
Where StrongRoom fits
Photos taken with the camera inside a StrongRoom Vault go into the Vault and never into your photo library, and StrongRoom does not ask for access to your location. StrongRoom does not remove location from files you import: an imported photo is stored as it is. If a photo already in your library has a location you do not want, fix it in Photos first. A camera that keeps the photo out of your photo library
The whole checklist for the settings around this one is on the pillar page. -> /guides/ios-privacy-settings/iphone-privacy-settings-to-change/ And see what the app does not do. What StrongRoom does not protect against
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off Camera location change old photos?
No. It only affects new photos. Use Adjust Location, then No Location on existing ones.
Does the Share Sheet change the original photo?
No. Turning off Location in Options changes the copy you send. The original keeps its location.
Does StrongRoom remove location from imported photos?
No. It stores imported items as they are. Photos taken with its own camera are stored in the Vault and never reach your photo library.
Sources
- Manage location metadata in Photos (Apple Support), checked on 2026-10-30.
- About Lockdown Mode (Apple Support), checked on 2026-10-30.