AiMetaOff FAQ
Learn how AiMetaOff handles your files, which metadata it can inspect and remove, and what to check before sharing a copy.
Using AiMetaOff
Are my files uploaded?
AiMetaOff reads, inspects and cleans your selected files in your browser. The file contents stay on your device. Loading the site and its processing components may still require ordinary website requests.
Can I inspect metadata before removing it?
Yes. Choose a file in Inspect File to see supported metadata and any available Content Credentials results. Review the findings, choose the cleanup categories and start cleaning when you're ready. The tool removes whole supported categories, so selecting Text or XMP can also remove captions and other information you intended to keep.
What happens to my original and queued files?
You download a separate copy. AiMetaOff leaves the original file as it was. Your queue and results stay in the same tab as you follow links within AiMetaOff. Reloading or closing the tab clears the workspace, so download any copies you want to keep first.
Supported files and limits
Which file formats are supported?
AiMetaOff supports JPEG (JPG), static PNG and WebP, certain single-image AVIF files, and supported PDFs. HEIC support is limited to a subset of single-image files. HEIC downloads have limited verification and are excluded from completed ZIPs. See Help with supported variants if your file is rejected.
How many files can I process at once?
You can queue up to 30 files, with a limit of 15 MB (15,000,000 bytes) per file. The browser processes files one at a time. The limits are 40 megapixels per image, 200 pages per PDF and 20 seconds per processing operation. A completed ZIP can contain up to 100 MB of eligible output files before compression.
Does removing image metadata reduce image quality?
For supported files, the image metadata remover keeps the compressed image data and avoids re-encoding. It retains supported orientation and color information. Open the downloaded copy to check that it displays as expected.
Image metadata and privacy
What are EXIF, IPTC and XMP?
Image metadata is information stored alongside the image, such as camera settings, dates, captions or credits. EXIF commonly holds camera and capture details. IPTC defines fields for information such as captions, creator credits and rights. XMP is a way to store metadata and can carry IPTC fields. See the EXIF, IPTC and XMP guide.
Can photos contain GPS coordinates?
Yes. A camera or phone can store capture coordinates in EXIF, and location information can also appear in XMP or descriptive fields. AiMetaOff removes supported EXIF as a category and can retain a minimal orientation record. Review the photo location guide for what to check after cleaning.
What should I check before sharing a sensitive file?
Keep the original and inspect the exact copy you plan to share. Check the filename, visible text and recognizable details such as faces and landmarks. Another editor or export can add metadata again, so recheck the final version. Cleanup can reduce exposure from supported fields. Unsupported records and clues in the content can still identify you.
Why does another viewer show data after cleaning?
Readers check different structures. Dimensions and file size can be reported from the file itself, and supported display information can remain. Reopen the downloaded copy, look for the specific fields you intended to remove and compare it with a second local reader when the result matters. See how to verify metadata removal.
AI images and Content Credentials
Where are AI prompts and workflow data stored?
Some image generators save prompts, settings or workflow data in PNG text records or XMP. Which fields you see depends on the generator and export. The AI metadata remover can inspect supported records and remove selected categories. The AI image metadata guide explains what those fields can tell you.
What are C2PA and Content Credentials?
C2PA is a standard for recording and verifying a file's provenance. A Content Credential is a signed record that can describe how a file was captured, edited or generated. For supported embedded credentials, Inspect File reports signature, assertion hash and file-binding checks separately. Signer trust remains unverified, and remote evidence stays outside the local check. See the Content Credentials guide.
Can AiMetaOff remove embedded Content Credentials?
The C2PA remover can remove recognized embedded credential containers from eligible images. Select only C2PA to keep other metadata categories. AiMetaOff rechecks the output for supported embedded records before offering it for download. External records can remain available, and the absence of an embedded credential leaves authorship unknown.
Can AiMetaOff remove SynthID or change a platform's AI label?
AiMetaOff has no watermark removal feature. SynthID is an invisible signal embedded in the image content. Platforms can also use disclosures, detection or other evidence to decide whether to show a label. Cleaning a local copy leaves existing posts as they are. See AI labels and image provenance for how to investigate a label.
PDF metadata
What PDF metadata can AiMetaOff inspect and remove?
The PDF metadata remover handles document properties such as title, author and creation date, plus document-level XMP. It can report that an XMP stream is present even when compressed values cannot be displayed. Cleanup removes the selected document-level categories and saves a separate PDF.
Can I clean a signed, encrypted or complex PDF?
A supported digitally signed PDF can be inspected, with cleanup disabled to protect the signature. Encrypted PDFs and PDFs with compressed object streams are rejected. Other unsupported structures and safety limits can also prevent processing.
Does PDF metadata removal sanitize the entire document?
PDF cleanup covers selected document metadata. Visible text, comments, forms, attachments, embedded-image metadata, hidden page content and active content can remain. For sensitive documents, use a dedicated redaction or sanitization workflow and review the exact result before sharing. See the PDF metadata guide.