How can I extract the geo location from photos on iPhone?

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Level 1

29 points

How can I extract the geo location from photos on iPhone?

I watched a video and turned on all the "things" that now allow my geo location to be embedded in my metadata. I came back from Europe with a slew of pics before I did this. Is there some way I can get to the location data in each photo?

I know it is stored somewhere, because I assume this is how we are tracked. I know the phone keeps records. Is there another way to get to the data on the photos?

[Re-Titled By Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 17

Posted on Jan 30, 2025 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

markwmsn

Level 6

16,841 points

Feb 1, 2025 10:04 AM in response to nelsonmay

If the option to add location data to the pictures was off at the time they were taken, there should not be any location data in them to extract.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,855 points

Jan 30, 2025 7:41 AM in response to nelsonmay

If you want to see the GPS tags of a photo in Photos on your iPhone, try this:

Open the photo in Photos to see it enlarged, :
Swipe up to reveal the details below the photo. You will see a tiny map with the location below the photo.
Tap the name of the location (shown as a blue link). This will open the location of the photo in Maps, and there you can see the GPS coordinates.

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Answer 3

nelsonmay Author

Level 1

29 points

Jan 31, 2025 8:24 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Per the top of my post, I didn't have the setting on in photos that allowed it to add my Allow GPS data. I found an exif data program and it couldn't find anything. After I turned the location option on, my pics now have the location data and the little map under it.

Don't know how it was ever turned off, but now I have maps and location data and my pics. I downloaded exiftool for kicks. I will see if it can find anything. Before I jump into 260 vacation pics, is there an option to batch extract and add data back to the pics? It would be to time consuming. I was in Iceland and it would help to know where some of the pictures are on the map. We had a two day bus tour and went all over the south coast.

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Answer 4

Jan 30, 2025 11:18 PM in response to nelsonmay

One option is to extract just the GPS coordinates with exiftool:

exiftool -a -G1 -s -n -fileOrder5 FileName -GPSPosition .
======== ./2022-0601-1200-00.mov
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 40.74893 -73.98566
======== ./2023-0601-1200-00.jpg
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 40.6769 117.2319
======== ./2024-0601-1200-00.heic
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : -36.6101 -66.91515
======== ./2025-0601-1200-00.mp4
[Composite]     GPSPosition                     : 29.9792 31.1342

If you define more tags you can export them as a .csv file and open it in a spreadsheet.

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Answer 5

muguy

Level 10

92,366 points

Jan 30, 2025 7:25 AM in response to nelsonmay

Location data is stored in the photo exif data. You need an exif editor or can use the map in Photos when you sync your pictures.

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Answer 6

nelsonmay Author

Level 1

29 points

Jan 30, 2025 12:50 PM in response to muguy

Just so I am clear, here a Dublin photo swiped up. I can add a location, but don't see one. When I right click in photos I get this information. Do you know a good free exif data editor? I am searching, but keep landing on malicious websites. I also have the adobe suite. Can Lightroom edit exif data?

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How can I extract the geo location from photos on iPhone?

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