How to View EXIF Data on Windows 10 and 11 — Every Free Method

Windows doesn't have a great built-in EXIF viewer — the Details tab in File Explorer shows the basics, but misses GPS and many camera-specific fields. The good news: several free tools fill the gap without requiring expensive software. Here are all the options, from fastest to most thorough.

Method 1: Windows File Explorer — Quick Built-In Check

Windows includes basic EXIF access with no extra tools:

1. Right-click any JPEG file → select Properties
2. Click the Details tab
3. Scroll through the list — you'll see: Date taken, Camera make, Camera model, F-stop, Exposure time, ISO speed, Focal length, Dimensions, Resolution

What's missing: GPS coordinates (critical for privacy checks), lens model specifics, software metadata, and timezone data. For a quick camera settings check, this is enough. For anything involving location data or complete metadata, you need one of the other methods.

Method 2: Browser-Based Viewer — Full EXIF, No Download

The fastest way to see complete EXIF data on Windows without installing anything:

1. Open Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
2. Go to wildandfreetools.com/image-tools/exif-viewer/
3. Drop the JPEG file onto the page or click to browse
4. Complete EXIF loads: GPS Location (with warning if present), Camera Info, Exposure Settings, Date/Time, Software, Dimensions

Files are processed locally — nothing is uploaded. This works on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and in any modern browser. If you're checking a photo for GPS data before sharing, the viewer shows a visible orange warning if coordinates are embedded.

Sell Custom Apparel — We Handle Printing & Free Shipping

Method 3: IrfanView — Best Free Windows Desktop Option

IrfanView is a free, lightweight image viewer for Windows with excellent EXIF support:

1. Download from irfanview.com (free, ~5 MB)
2. Open any JPEG in IrfanView
3. Go to Image → Information (or press I)
4. Click the EXIF info button for complete metadata

IrfanView shows GPS coordinates, all camera settings, MakerNotes, and can also batch rename, convert, and resize images. It's the r/Windows recommendation for users who want a lightweight, feature-rich free option that handles EXIF better than File Explorer. Requires a Windows install — not available on Mac or Linux.

Method 4: ExifTool — Everything, Batch-Ready

ExifTool is the professional standard for reading, writing, and editing metadata on Windows. It's free and handles every format:

Install: Download the Windows executable from exiftool.org. No install required — it's a single .exe file. Rename it to exiftool.exe and place it in a folder you can access from Command Prompt.

View all metadata:

exiftool "C:\Photos\photo.jpg"

GPS only:

exiftool -GPS:all "photo.jpg"

Batch process entire folder:

exiftool -r -csv "C:\Photos\" > metadata.csv

For photographers managing large archives, the batch CSV export is invaluable — it lets you analyze metadata across thousands of files in a spreadsheet. ExifTool also reads RAW formats (CR2, NEF, ARW) that browser tools and IrfanView may not support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see GPS coordinates in Windows Explorer?

Windows File Explorer's Details tab doesn't show GPS coordinates — it shows basic camera settings but omits location data. To see GPS in Windows, use the free browser-based EXIF viewer at wildandfreetools.com/image-tools/exif-viewer/, IrfanView (free download), or ExifTool from the command line.

Does Windows have a built-in EXIF editor?

Windows allows editing a few EXIF fields through File Explorer (right-click → Properties → Details → some fields are editable). For complete editing including GPS removal, timestamps, and camera data, use ExifTool (command line) or the free EXIF editor at wildandfreetools.com/image-tools/exif-editor/.

Why doesn't Windows show "Date Taken" for some photos?

Photos without EXIF data — such as screenshots, images from websites, or photos where metadata was stripped — won't show a "Date Taken" value. Windows reads this field from EXIF DateTimeOriginal. If the field is absent, the entry is blank. The file's "Date Modified" in the Details tab reflects when the file was last changed, not when the photo was captured.