Metadata has the power to simplify many of our difficult digital tasks, but it’s not always so easy to edit it, especially en masse.
Photos Exif Editor makes it possible to edit photo metadata of all images stored on your Windows PC quickly. Listed below are a few reasons that make it the best metadata remover and editor. Reads & writes EXIF, IPTC, XMP metadata and more. A simpler way to edit or remove photo metadata on iOS is to use a third-party app. There are quite a few available, the best ones charging a small fee. For the instructions below, we’re using the ViewExif app (priced at $0.99) by Skyjos, a company responsible for several highly-rated file explorer and FTP manager apps.
Fortunately, there are some powerful software systems designed to alleviate the pressure of metadata editing and make it easy.
This article delivers seven fantastic examples, explaining each option in detail. Let’s begin.
Benefits of an effective metadata editor
Anyone who has tried to edit the metadata of a digital file will know that the task can be quite daunting and time-consuming, especially if there are a large quantity of files to edit. Metadata editing software simplifies this process and gives users more power and control.
Each editor is different, but there are benefits that are generally universal, such as the ability to open and view a metadata-rich file.
One of the main reasons users who need a metadata editor cite is its ability to prevent unwanted errors and inaccuracies within important files. Having a system so capable of preventing and fixing errors keeps work moving along smoothly. On top of this, the editor often handles processes that manual entering, which we will go over later, cannot.
When to use a metadata editor
There are a few specific instances that require a metadata editor. The first is if the time it would take to look through files and change the information inside them would be an overwhelming task, both in terms of time spent and difficulty. If a user wants to change the date of a digital picture of their cat, chances are they don’t need an advanced editing system.
However, if a large company needs to remove an author from thousands of their digital files, an editor would be helpful.
The second situation that would necessitate an editor would be if the types of files you need to edit require immense technical knowledge.
Whatever the case, there is an editing system out there that is perfect for you. I’ve compiled a list of seven that will handle whatever metadata editing needs you have.
The 7 best metadata editors for 2021
Before I dive into the following editors, let me point out that certain programs are designed for a specific task. Navigate this list until you are satisfied that you’ve found the perfect system for your individual needs.
1. MyMeta
MyMeta is a Windows-based system that allows users to edit media file metadata. If you’ve ever tried to edit metadata manually, you’ll understand the restrictive nature of the process. The MyMeta system turns that all on its head and fleshes out a wide open space for users to input information about songs, film and more.
MyMeta works on MP4, MOV and M4V files. Its main purpose is to allow superior organization of media on a digital platform, keeping files synced in order on a user’s computer or streaming devices.
2. ExifTool
ExifTool allows users who need extensive metadata editing within highly specific digital files to accomplish their goals. ExifTool handles common as well as uncommon file types, making this program extremely useful to the few who do use them often. The program is available for Windows, Mac and even lesser-used operating systems.
Note that, like many editing systems, ExifTool also acts as a way for users to open obscure digital file types for viewing and reading. This includes numerous camera file types from most makes and models. It also does helpful processes outside metadata editing, such as backing up images automatically and allowing users to input their own keywords.
3. TigoTago
TigoTago is one of the most helpful programs when it comes to editing keywords and tagging files in bulk. The system supports files like WAV, AVI, MP3, FLAC and more. It’s designed for Windows systems, though users have reported they’ve been able to work it into their Mac systems as well.
TigoTago operates by acting like a simplified editing tool which brings up a window over items you wish to edit. This gives users an easy way to change metadata within something like an MP3, such as the title or artist. Use TigoTago if you prioritize ease of use over technologically-advanced systems.
4. Exif Date Changer
Exif Date Changer lets users adjust large quantities of image files to coincide with certain dates and time. If a photographer is shooting in a different time zone, the digital date tagged in the images may differ from the actual time the picture was taken. This software corrects all this simply and quickly.
At first, this seems like a fairly limited system, which is true, but that doesn’t make it unnecessary. In fact, one of the most annoying issues photographers deal with is the expansive time zones, especially for those who travel to shoot.
5. Canto DAM
Canto’s digital asset management system is one of the few programs capable of handling large scale metadata automation. Having a tool that automatically tags files and sorts information for easy retrieval is a must for companies with large data.
Though Canto isn’t aimed toward an individual user with only a few photos and videos to edit, it’s clear that it’s the optimal choice for companies looking for a way to save time concerning all things metadata.
6. MP4 Video & Audio Tag Editor
Photo Metadata Iphone
MP4 Video & Audio Tag Editor lives up to its name: It edits MP4 video and audio tags. This Windows system is a more extensive editor than others in this category as it extends the files it covers to lesser-used types.
One way the MP4 Video & Tag Editor is helpful is in its organizational prowess, giving users the chance to add important keywords and even images/covers to videos and songs with minimal effort. This makes this program unique. Consider using it if you need metadata editing with a more personalized touch for your digital media collection.
7. Metadata++
Metadata++ is a system that exists only to edit metadata efficiently. Note that not every metadata editor, including the ones listed here, are exclusively metadata editors. Good or bad, this reality makes Metadata++ a solid freeware program since it focuses solely on making your metadata editing tasks easier.
Metadata++ is a Windows system that offers a smooth interface and fast editing. There are even different hotkeys that let users quickly move through their metadata editing tasks without constant clicking of the mouse.
Now that you have seven amazing editors to choose from, let’s consider a different kind of option: manual editing.
Can you manually edit metadata?
As I briefly mentioned earlier, there are times when it makes sense to forgo a metadata editing system. This is often best suited for users who occasionally change information inside a video or image file. Here’s a quick and easy way to manually edit a file on both Windows and Mac:
1. Locate the intended digital file.
2. Right-click it and select ‘Properties’ from the resulting popup.
3. In the new window that appears, select ‘details’.
4. Depending on the type of file you’re editing, there will be a list of items that are accessible to change. For example, image files have an ‘Origin’ section where you can change the ‘acquired’ date. For some file types, you won’t be able to manually change things, but you can remove it with the ‘Remove properties and personal information’ link at the bottom of the popup.
5. Once finished, click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’.
Remember that not all file types will be editable in this manner, so beware of when you’ll need outside software to complete your task.
Mac and Windows differ quite a bit, especially in this regard. Mac users typically look to editing programs to change metadata, but with image files it is possible manually. Here’s how to edit the metadata of an image file, similar to the same process above, only on a Mac operating system:
1. Open the ‘Photos’ app
2. Locate the image file you wish to edit and right-click it
3. Select the ‘Get info’ option from the popup window
4. From the new window, locate the details you wish to change and do so
Find the right fit for you
2021 is an exciting time for metadata, as we continue to see epic growth and expansion of data and its many uses. Make sure that you have an editing system that fits your specific needs. Chances are it will come in handy more than you think.
What is photo metadata
All digital cameras capture photos in the form of data, but they also record a lot of additional data about this data. This data about the pictures is called metadata. Depending on the camera, it can contain anywhere from a dozen up to 5,000 pieces of information. It includes camera details (such as make, model, focal length, exposure etc.), photo details (date, location, format etc.), and other information (copyright, usage terms etc.)
Most fields of metadata are automatically created by the camera, while some (e.g. description, keywords etc.) have to be added by the photographer. We won’t go into the formats and standards for metadata, but you can read about it here or search on the Internet for IPTC EXIF XMP metadata to learn more.
How is image metadata useful?
Metadata is extremely useful when you need to search through and organize a large number of photos. Programs such as Photos rely on metadata to display photos by year, or in helping you find photos taken at a certain place.
Metadata fields are defined for every conceivable bit of information anyone might want to capture about a photograph, but those most useful to regular folks are: Date & Time Taken, Title (Filename and format), Location, Description and Keywords.
Why edit photo metadata?
Photos taken with your iPhone or other digital cameras already have a lot of metadata. However, there are many reasons why you might want to add or edit photo metadata, for instance:
1) To add a caption or title describing the photo (or a batch of photos), e.g. “Terri’s first birthday party”, for aiding subsequent organization and search.
2) To change the default file name, which might be IMG_0140.jpg or worse, to something more meaningful, e.g. “Terri’s First BD001.jpg.”
3) If location services on your iPhone were disabled when you took the photo, but you now want to add location information.
4) When you have 35,000 photos in your digital library, you probably should add descriptive keywords to help find a specific picture when needed.
5) If the date and time setting on your camera was wrong, e.g. you took lots of photos on your New Zealand vacation, but back in U.K., the time stamps on all photos were 11 hours behind.
6) You scanned a bunch of 1993 “Baby’s first year” photos, but the metadata “Date Taken” field for all of them shows the 2018 scanning date (To learn how to scan photos with iPhone or iPad, read this post).
Photo Metadata Mac
How to view & edit photo metadata?
Photo Metadata App
Like all other digital cameras, iPhone and iPad cameras also record metadata. You cannot see it with the iOS version of Photos app, but can view and edit it with Photos for Mac. You can also edit the most important bits of metadata of the photographs. If you have taken photos with your DSLR or other digital cameras and imported them into Photos, those can also be edited.
There are a few different ways to view and edit metadata on your Mac:
In Photos app:
Open Photos app on your Mac. With Photos tab selected in the left pane, you will see thumbnails of your photos in the right pane. Right click any thumbnail and select Get Info.
A window opens, showing the file name and format (e.g. IMG_0140.jpg), camera data, and profile photos of people that Photos recognizes.
Click (i) in the window, and you can add or edit title, description, keywords and location. Photos saves all these edits in the appropriate metadata fields. Typing any of these details in Photos app’s search bar will let you quickly find the photo afterwards.
Photo Metadata Location
If you have already opened a photo by double clicking its thumbnail, clicking on the Info (i) button near top right of the screen will open the above-mentioned metadata window.
With Finder:
To view more detailed metadata of any photo on your computer or in a cloud service such as Dropbox, Google Photos etc., open it in Finder.
Now click Tools > Show Inspector in the top toolbar. This opens a window containing four tabs. The first tab provides summary information, and clicking on the second (i) tab reveals 5 more tabs: General, IPTC, EXIF, JFIF and TIFF. Click on these to see all the metadata information.
With iPhone or iPad:
There is no direct way to view and edit image metadata on iOS devices, but there are apps for it. Also, the photo scanning app Pic Scanner Gold has a feature called Captions. This feature is not for metadata editing, but it lets you easily add date, place and other details to photos for in-app viewing. You can also embed this information below the photos while transferring the scans to your computer, social network or cloud service (See below):
So, there you are. It’s easy to edit photo metadata with software you already have on your Mac, or add non-metadata labels to your photos with Pic Scanner. Labeling photos and adding metadata takes effort, but yields benefits in the long run.
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A few more points:
- Photos for Mac isn’t ideal when you want to change ‘Date Taken’ on a batch of scanned photos. This is because Photos takes the first photo in the batch, compares the metadata date and time (which shows when you scanned the photo, not when you shot it) with the date and time that you input manually, and it applies the same offset to all other photos in the batch. This is fine for Case 5 (New Zealand trip) above, but not for Case 6 (baby’s first year). For the latter case, you’ll either need to amend the dates one photo at a time, or use some other app.
- If you have a lot of old photos in albums, and you want to minimize the effort in scanning them, use your iPhone or iPad. Pic Scanner Gold is a good, inexpensive app that makes scanning effortless — you can scan 3–4 photos (or an album page) at a time, and the app automatically detects, crops, enhances and saves them individually. (Visit website)
- A little bird tells us that a new app for Mac lets you edit metadata for entire batches of photos. It also amend dates (with or without offsets) and has other useful features. Email us if you need details.
- Photos for Mac lets you add keywords to a batch of photos. Select multiple photos (Command + click) > right click > Get Info > type in your keywords. These can be the names of people in the photos, place, year, or anything else that applies to all those photos.
- To edit photo metadata on PC running Windows 10, please read this article.