How to Edit Photo EXIF Data on Mac Without Adobe

Why Edit Photo EXIF Data?

Every digital photo contains hidden metadata called EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data. This information includes the date and time the photo was taken, camera settings, GPS location, and more. While usually accurate, there are several common scenarios where you might need to edit this data:

Wrong camera clock: Your camera's date and time were set incorrectly, making all your photos show the wrong timestamp
Scanned photos: Old prints scanned into digital format show the scan date instead of when the photo was actually taken
Timezone issues: Photos taken while traveling show incorrect times due to timezone differences
Missing GPS data: Photos from cameras without GPS need location information added
Privacy concerns: You want to remove location data before sharing photos online
Organization: Properly timestamped photos make your library easier to browse and search

The good news is that macOS offers several ways to edit photo EXIF data without expensive Adobe software. This guide covers five methods, from the simplest built-in options to powerful professional tools.

What is EXIF Data?

EXIF metadata is embedded information stored within your image files. Think of it as your photo's digital diary. Common EXIF fields include:

Date and Time: When the photo was taken (timestamps like "2026-02-05 14:30:00")
GPS Coordinates: Latitude and longitude of where the photo was captured
Camera Information: Make, model, lens used
Camera Settings: ISO, shutter speed, aperture, focal length
Image Properties: Resolution, color space, orientation
Copyright Info: Photographer name, copyright notices

This data is incredibly useful for organizing your photo library, but it needs to be accurate. When your camera's clock is wrong or GPS data is missing, your photos become harder to find and manage.

Beginner Friendly

Method 1: Apple Photos Built-in Tools

macOS's native Photos app includes a simple but limited option to adjust dates and times. This is the easiest method if you only need to fix timestamps.

How to Adjust Photo Dates in Apple Photos:

Open the Photos app on your Mac
Select the photo(s) you want to edit
Go to Image → Adjust Date and Time in the menu bar
Enter the correct date and time
Click Adjust to save changes

Batch Editing Multiple Photos:

To adjust multiple photos at once (useful when your entire camera roll has the wrong time), select all affected photos before choosing "Adjust Date and Time." You can shift all selected photos by a specific time interval.

Limitations: Apple Photos can only edit dates and times. You cannot change GPS location, camera settings, or other EXIF fields using this method.

Beginner Friendly

Method 2: Preview App (Limited Functionality)

macOS's Preview app can display EXIF data, but editing capabilities are extremely limited. You can view metadata and make minor adjustments to keywords and descriptions.

Viewing EXIF Data in Preview:

Open a photo in Preview
Go to Tools → Show Inspector (or press Command + I)
Click the "i" tab to see detailed EXIF information

While Preview shows comprehensive metadata, it doesn't allow editing most critical fields like date/time or GPS location. For serious EXIF editing, you'll need more powerful tools.

Advanced Users

Method 3: ExifTool (Command Line Power Tool)

ExifTool is the industry-standard command-line application for reading and writing EXIF metadata. It's incredibly powerful and works with virtually all image formats, but requires comfort with Terminal commands.

Installing ExifTool on Mac:

The easiest way to install ExifTool is using Homebrew:

brew install exiftool

Common ExifTool Commands:

View all EXIF data for a photo:

exiftool photo.jpg

Change the date and time:

exiftool -DateTimeOriginal="2026:02:05 14:30:00" photo.jpg

Add GPS coordinates:

exiftool -GPSLatitude=64.1466 -GPSLongitude=-21.9426 photo.jpg

Remove all GPS location data (for privacy):

exiftool -gps:all= photo.jpg

Batch edit all photos in a folder:

exiftool -DateTimeOriginal+=1:0:0 *.jpg

This command adds one year to all JPEG photos in the current folder, useful when your camera's year was set incorrectly.

Warning: ExifTool directly modifies your image files. Always make backups before running batch operations. Use the -o flag to write to new files instead of overwriting originals.

Why Use ExifTool?

Complete control over all EXIF fields
Powerful batch processing capabilities
Works with RAW files and virtually any image format
Free and open source
Can preserve original files

Recommended

Method 4: Dedicated Mac Apps with GUI

If command line tools feel intimidating, several Mac apps provide graphical interfaces for EXIF editing. These combine the power of tools like ExifTool with user-friendly drag-and-drop interfaces.

Popular EXIF Editing Apps for Mac:

Pixata - Specialized photo date and location editor that integrates directly with Apple Photos. It offers batch editing capabilities with a clean interface designed specifically for fixing dates and GPS coordinates. Features include:

Edit dates and locations directly in Apple Photos
Batch processing for multiple photos
Full change history with one-click revert
No export/import required

Learn more about Pixata

EXIF Purge - Free utility focused on removing metadata for privacy. Great if you need to strip location data before sharing photos online.

Exif Editor - Comprehensive metadata editor available on the Mac App Store. Supports viewing and editing all standard EXIF fields with a visual interface.

PhotoMeta - Professional-grade metadata editor supporting EXIF, IPTC, and XMP standards. Includes batch editing and GPS map integration.

Advantages of GUI Apps:

No need to learn command line syntax
Visual feedback shows changes before saving
Often include map interfaces for GPS editing
Undo/redo capabilities
Batch processing without scripting

Quick & Easy

Method 5: Free Online Tools

For quick edits or when you don't want to install software, browser-based EXIF editors offer a convenient solution. These tools work entirely in your browser, so your photos never leave your computer.

Popular Online EXIF Tools:

Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer - View comprehensive EXIF data without downloading software
Exif.tools - Simple interface for viewing and basic EXIF editing
Verexif - Remove EXIF data online for privacy

Privacy Note: While many online tools claim to process photos locally in your browser, always be cautious about uploading sensitive photos. For critical privacy needs, use local desktop software instead.

When to Use Online Tools:

Quick viewing of EXIF data
One-off edits on a few photos
Removing metadata before sharing
When you can't install software (work computer, borrowed device)

Batch Editing Tips: Handling Many Photos at Once

When you need to fix dates or locations for hundreds or thousands of photos, batch editing becomes essential. Here are strategies for efficient bulk EXIF editing:

Batch Editing Dates:

Scenario: Your camera's clock was wrong, and 500 photos are timestamped one year in the future.

Solution: Use Apple Photos to select all affected photos, then use "Adjust Date and Time" to shift all timestamps by exactly -1 year. Alternatively, use ExifTool for more precise control:

exiftool "-DateTimeOriginal-=1:0:0 0:0:0" /path/to/photos/

Batch Editing GPS Locations:

Scenario: You have 200 photos from a vacation but your camera doesn't have GPS, so location data is missing.

Solution: If all photos were taken at the same location, you can batch-apply coordinates. Apps like Pixata let you select multiple photos and assign the same GPS location to all of them. For varying locations, you might need to group photos by location first.

Preserving Originals:

Important: Before batch editing, always create backups. Some apps and tools overwrite original files. Look for options to preserve originals or work on copies.

Testing on Sample Photos:

When working with large batches, test your editing workflow on 5-10 sample photos first. Verify the results before applying changes to your entire library. This prevents accidentally corrupting thousands of photos.

Choosing the Right Method for Your Needs

Here's a quick decision guide:

Only need to fix dates? Use Apple Photos built-in "Adjust Date and Time"
Need to edit dates AND locations with a GUI? Try Pixata or another dedicated app
Complex batch operations or RAW file support? Learn ExifTool
Quick one-time edit? Use an online tool
Privacy-sensitive photos? Use local software, never online tools

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Photo Metadata

Editing EXIF data on Mac doesn't require Adobe Photoshop or expensive software subscriptions. From Apple's built-in Photos app to powerful command-line tools like ExifTool and user-friendly apps like Pixata, you have options for every skill level.

The key is choosing the right tool for your specific needs. For most Mac users, a combination approach works best: use Apple Photos for quick date fixes, invest in a dedicated app like Pixata for more comprehensive editing, and keep ExifTool bookmarked for advanced batch operations.

With properly edited EXIF data, your photo library becomes easier to search, organize, and browse. Whether you're fixing a camera's incorrect clock, adding GPS coordinates to old photos, or removing location data for privacy, these tools give you complete control over your photo metadata.