EXIF Data in AI-Generated Images: What Gets Stored and How to Remove It

ByMoh_Albatros

When you open the properties of a photo on your computer, the EXIF data tells you the camera model, lens, shutter speed, and GPS location. For AI-generated images, EXIF data tells a different story — and often a more revealing one than most creators realise.

What Is EXIF Data?

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard for storing metadata in image files. Originally designed for digital cameras, EXIF data is now written by virtually every application that creates or processes images — including AI generators.

What AI Tools Store in EXIF Fields

Midjourney

  • Software: “Midjourney” with version number
  • ImageDescription: Often contains the original prompt
  • XMP:CreatorTool: Generation engine identifier
  • XMP:HistorySoftwareAgent: Full Midjourney version string

DALL-E / ChatGPT

  • Software: “DALL-E” or “OpenAI Image Generator”
  • C2PA Manifest: Full content credentials (separate from EXIF but in same file)
  • XMP:CreatorTool: OpenAI model identifier

Stable Diffusion

  • PNG:Parameters: The complete prompt, negative prompt, seed, sampler, CFG scale, and model checkpoint name — all stored in plain text
  • Software: The WebUI or API used (AUTOMATIC1111, ComfyUI, etc.)

Adobe Firefly

  • XMP:CreatorTool: “Adobe Firefly”
  • XMP:DigitalSourceType: “http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia”
  • Full C2PA manifest with Adobe’s cryptographic signature

Why Stable Diffusion Is the Biggest Privacy Risk

Among all generators, Stable Diffusion (via AUTOMATIC1111 and ComfyUI) is the most verbose. By default, it stores your complete prompt in the PNG metadata as plain text. Anyone who receives your image and reads the metadata can see exactly what you typed.

If your prompt contains sensitive subjects, private references, or simply creative ideas you do not want shared, this is a significant privacy issue that most SD users are unaware of.

How to View EXIF Data in AI Images

  • Windows: Right-click → Properties → Details
  • Mac: Preview → Tools → Show Inspector (⌘I) → EXIF tab
  • ExifTool: exiftool image.png shows everything
  • Online: Jeffrey’s Exif Viewer, Exif.tools

How to Remove EXIF Data from AI Images

The fastest method for most users is our free browser-based tool, which removes all EXIF fields along with XMP, IPTC, and C2PA data in one step — without uploading your image to any server.

For developers and advanced users, ExifTool is the most comprehensive option:

exiftool -all= image.png -overwrite_original

For PNG files specifically — where Stable Diffusion embeds prompts — also run:

exiftool -PNG:Parameters= image.png -overwrite_original

Strip All EXIF Data from AI Images — Free

Including hidden prompt data from Stable Diffusion, C2PA from DALL-E and Firefly, and model identifiers from Midjourney.

Remove EXIF Data Free →

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