How to View EXIF Data on Mac — 4 Methods (Built-In + Free Tools)

Mac users have more built-in EXIF viewing options than any other platform — Preview, Photos, and Terminal all work without downloading anything. For complete metadata including every field and GPS coordinates mapped, a browser-based viewer rounds out the toolkit. Here's each method, fastest to most thorough.

Method 1: Preview — Built-In and Always Available

Preview is macOS's default image viewer, and it includes a capable EXIF inspector:

1. Open any JPEG or TIFF in Preview (double-click the file)
2. Go to Tools → Show Inspector (or press Cmd+I)
3. Click the "i" (Information) tab, then the Exif subtab
4. Scroll through all stored EXIF fields — make, model, lens, exposure, GPS, and more

What Preview shows well: camera make/model, exposure settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length), date/time, color space, and GPS coordinates. What it misses: GPS map visualization, software metadata, and the complete MakerNotes block that cameras write with brand-specific data.

Method 2: Photos App — See GPS on a Map

The Photos app shows a subset of EXIF but includes the best GPS visualization on Mac:

1. Open the Photos app and find your photo
2. Press Cmd+I or click File → Get Info
3. The info panel shows the date, camera model, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length, and a small map if GPS is present
4. Click the map to open it in Maps for full-size navigation

Photos is the fastest way to see "where was this taken" on a Mac. For raw coordinate values, use Preview's Exif inspector or the browser tool.

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Method 3: Browser-Based Viewer — Complete Metadata, No Install

For the most organized, complete EXIF display on Mac — especially when you want GPS coordinates as decimal values, or when checking a file you'd rather not import into Photos:

1. Open Chrome or Safari on your Mac
2. Go to wildandfreetools.com/image-tools/exif-viewer/
3. Drop your JPEG or TIFF file onto the page or click to select
4. Metadata loads organized into sections: GPS Location, Camera Info, Exposure Settings, Date/Time, Software, Dimensions

The file never leaves your Mac — all processing happens in the browser tab. This matters when analyzing sensitive files: client photos, legal documents, or images you'd rather not import into iCloud.

Method 4: Terminal + ExifTool — Everything, For Power Users

For photographers who want every EXIF field including camera-manufacturer-specific MakerNotes:

Install via Homebrew:

brew install exiftool

View all metadata:

exiftool photo.jpg

GPS only:

exiftool -GPSLatitude -GPSLongitude -GPSAltitude photo.jpg

Output as JSON:

exiftool -json photo.jpg

ExifTool reads every format (JPEG, TIFF, RAW, HEIC, PNG, video) and every metadata block. It also writes metadata, making it the standard tool for batch renaming by date, stripping GPS from hundreds of files, or copying metadata from one file to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I view EXIF data in Finder on Mac?

Finder doesn't show EXIF data directly. The fastest built-in option is Preview (open any JPEG → Tools → Show Inspector → Exif tab) or Photos app (Cmd+I for an info panel with GPS map). For full metadata without opening the file in another app, use the browser-based EXIF viewer.

Does Mac Preview show GPS data?

Yes, Preview shows GPS coordinates in the Exif tab of the Inspector panel. However, it shows raw decimal coordinates without a map. The Photos app shows the same coordinates on an actual map, which is more useful for location identification.

Can I view HEIC EXIF data on Mac?

Preview and Photos both natively read HEIC metadata on Mac (macOS supports HEIC natively). ExifTool also reads HEIC. The browser-based EXIF viewer on WildandFree currently supports JPEG and TIFF — for HEIC files on Mac, Preview or ExifTool are the better options.