---
title: "How to Remove Location From Photos on iPhone (2026)"
description: "Remove location from photos on iPhone in a few taps: turn off Location in the share sheet, strip it from a photo with Adjust Location and stop Camera saving it."
url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/remove-location-from-photos-iphone
lang: en-gb
published: 2026-08-12
updated: 2026-10-29
author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team"
publisher: VaultForYou
---

# How to remove location from photos on iPhone before you share them

> Every photo you take can carry a hidden note of where you were. Here's how to share private photos without giving that away, and how to share them in a way you can take back.

Published 2026-08-12 - Updated 2026-10-29 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team

## Quick answer

To remove location from a photo you're sending, select it in Photos, tap Share, tap Options and turn off Location; "Location Not Included" appears above Options. To remove it from the photo itself, tap More -> Adjust Info -> Adjust Location -> No Location. To stop new photos saving it, set Camera to Never in Location Services.

- **Quickest fix:** Share sheet -> Options -> turn off Location.
- **Remove it from a photo:** More -> Adjust Info -> Adjust Location -> No Location.
- **Stop it for good:** Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services -> Camera -> Never.
- **Need to take it back?:** Share through a revocable, encrypted link instead of an attachment.

A photo isn't just pixels. Depending on your settings, it can also carry where you were standing, when you took it and what phone you used. Share it, and that information can go along for the ride.

This guide explains what's hidden inside a photo, the iPhone settings that keep location out of what you share, why messaging apps aren't a reliable filter, and how to share private photos in a way you can take back later. We make VaultForYou, so weigh our pick accordingly.

## What metadata does a photo carry?

Most photos carry metadata, often called EXIF data: information stored inside the file alongside the image. The piece that matters most for privacy is location.

Apple explains that when Location Services is turned on for the Camera app, location coordinates are embedded into each photo and video so you can search your library by place. Apple also warns that when photos with location metadata are shared, the people you share them with may be able to see where they were taken.

Typical metadata in a photo includes:

| Metadata | What it reveals | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Location (GPS coordinates) | Where the photo was taken | Can point to your home, school, workplace or routine |
| Date and time | When it was taken | Can reveal patterns, or contradict what you've said |
| Device and camera details | Phone model and camera settings | Can link photos to the same device |

A photo of your living room, your child's school gate or your new flat can quietly include its exact coordinates. That's the part worth removing before you send.

## How to share a photo without location on iPhone

Use the share sheet's Options: select the photos, tap Share, tap Options and turn off Location. This is Apple's built-in way, and it applies to the photos you're sharing at that moment.

1. Open **Photos** (or the camera roll from the Camera app) and select one or more photos.
2. Tap the **Share** button, then tap **Options**.
3. Turn off **Location**. You'll see **Location Not Included** above the Options button.
4. Share the photos using any method in the share sheet: Messages, Mail, AirDrop or another app.

Check for "Location Not Included" each time you share something sensitive. It's quick, and it's the step people most often forget.

> **Note:** Apple's newest iPhone User Guide (iOS 27) no longer lists a Location switch under Options, while Apple's Personal Safety guide still describes it. If you don't see Location in Options, remove location from the photo itself instead (next section). It works on every recent iOS version.

> **Note:** Menu labels can shift slightly between iOS releases. If yours look different, check Apple's Personal Safety guide listed in the sources for the current steps.

## How do you remove location from a photo on iPhone?

If you'd rather a photo never carries its location, remove it in your library. Apple's steps: open the photo, tap **More**, then **Adjust Info**, **Adjust Location** and **No Location**.

You can also see what a photo contains first: open it and swipe up or tap the **Info** button to see where and when it was taken.

## How do you stop iPhone photos from saving location?

Turn off location access for the Camera: go to **Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services -> Camera** and choose **Never**. New photos won't record where they were taken.

This is the most reliable fix if you often share photos with people you don't know well, for example selling things online. The trade-off is that you lose place-based search and map views for new photos. Photos you've already taken keep their location until you remove it, so use the steps above for older ones.

## Do messaging apps remove location data?

Some may, but you shouldn't rely on it. Messaging apps handle images differently, and the result can depend on the app, its version and how you send the photo.

A few things to keep in mind:

- **"Send as file" or "original quality" options** generally aim to keep the file intact, and that can include its metadata.
- **Compressed sends** may drop some or all metadata, but apps don't always say exactly what they keep, and that can change in an update.

The safe habit is simple: remove location on your iPhone before the photo ever reaches the app. Turn off Location in Options, or remove it from the photo, and it doesn't matter what the app does.

## How to share private photos with a link you can revoke

If a photo is private enough that you might want to take it back later, don't send it as an attachment. Share it through an encrypted link that you control and can switch off.

With VaultForYou, you can send an encrypted vault to someone you trust via a link. It works over iMessage, WhatsApp, LINE or email, and:

- **The recipient doesn't need an account.**
- **No identity or metadata travels with it.**
- **It's end-to-end encrypted.**
- **You can revoke the link at any time.**

That last point is the big difference. Once a normal attachment is delivered, the other person has their own copy. A revocable link lets you end access when a relationship or situation changes. Revoking doesn't erase what someone has already saved or screenshotted, so share with people you trust.

> **Share private photos with a link you control.** Encrypted, no account for the recipient, revocable any time. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000)

## Which way of sharing is safest?

For everyday photos, the share sheet's Location toggle is enough. For anything private, combine it with a revocable encrypted link, and turn off Camera location if you share with strangers often.

| Method | Removes location? | Can you take it back? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share sheet -> Options -> Location off | Yes, for that share | No | Everyday sharing with friends and family |
| Adjust Location -> No Location | Yes, on the photo in your library | No | Photos you'll share many times |
| Camera location set to Never | Yes, for new photos | No | Selling online, public posting |
| Relying on the messaging app | Not reliably | No | Not recommended for private photos |
| Encrypted vault link (VaultForYou) | No identity or metadata travels with it | Yes, revoke any time | Private photos for one trusted person |

If those photos shouldn't live in your camera roll at all, read [how to hide photos on iPhone](/en-gb/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone), and if they're syncing to devices other people use, see [how to stop iCloud Photos syncing](/en-gb/blog/stop-icloud-photos-syncing).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do iPhone photos include location data?

They can. When Location Services is on for the Camera app, Apple says location coordinates are embedded into each photo and video so you can search by place later. Photos also commonly carry the date and time they were taken and details about the device and camera settings. Anyone you share the original with may be able to read that information.

### How do I remove location from a photo before sending it?

In Photos, select the photo, tap the Share button, then tap Options and turn off Location. You'll see Location Not Included above the Options button; then share as usual. To remove location from the photo in your library, open it, tap More, then Adjust Info, Adjust Location and No Location.

### Do WhatsApp or iMessage remove location data from photos?

Don't count on it. Messaging apps handle photos differently, and behaviour can change between app versions and depending on whether you send a photo as an image or as a file. The reliable approach is to turn off Location in the share sheet's Options before you send, or to remove location from the photo first.

### How do I stop my iPhone camera from saving location?

Go to Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services -> Camera and choose Never. New photos and videos you take with the Camera app won't include location. Photos you've already taken keep their location until you remove it, so use the share sheet's Options or Adjust Location for those.

### Can I unsend a private photo after I share it?

Usually not once it's delivered as a normal attachment; the other person has their own copy. If you want to be able to take access back, share through a link you control. With VaultForYou you can send an encrypted vault via a link over iMessage, WhatsApp, LINE or email, and revoke that link at any time.

## Bottom line

Photos can carry their location, date and device details, and sharing the original can hand all of that to someone else. On iPhone, the fix is built in: in the share sheet, tap Options and turn off Location, or remove location from the photo with Adjust Location. To stop it at the source, set Camera to Never in Location Services.

Don't rely on messaging apps to strip metadata for you. And for photos private enough that you might want them back, share through an encrypted link you can revoke rather than an attachment you can't recall.

## Sources

- [Apple Support: Manage location metadata in Photos](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/manage-location-metadata-in-photos-ips0d7a5df82/web)

## Keep reading

- [How to Hide Photos on iPhone: Hidden Album Guide (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/hide-photos-on-iphone): Hide photos on iPhone in seconds, find your hidden photos in the Hidden album, and see who can still open them, what syncs to iCloud and when a vault is better.
- [Turn Off iCloud Photos Syncing Without Deleting (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/stop-icloud-photos-syncing): Turn off iCloud Photos syncing on your iPhone, iPad or Mac without losing pictures: which device to switch off, which option to pick and what stays in iCloud.
- [How to Lock Photos on iPhone: 4 Ways That Actually Work (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/lock-photos-on-iphone): Lock photos on iPhone with the Hidden album, a Face ID lock on the Photos app, a locked note or an encrypted vault, and see who can still open each one.
- [8 Best Photo Vault Apps for iPhone to Hide Photos (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/en-gb/blog/best-photo-vault-apps-iphone): We compared 8 photo vault apps that hide photos on iPhone on unlock method, decoy vaults, backup and account needs, plus what to check before you trust one.

---

Our guides are written and fact-checked by the VaultForYou team against Apple's own documentation. We make VaultForYou, a private vault app for iPhone. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000