How to View PNG Metadata Online

Every PNG image you encounter carries more than just pixel data. Hidden within the file structure are chunks of metadata — information about when the image was created, what software produced it, color calibration data, and sometimes even text descriptions or GPS coordinates.

In this guide, we'll explain exactly what metadata lives inside PNG files and how to inspect it using our free online tool.

What Metadata Can PNG Files Contain?

The PNG file format is structured as a series of chunks. Each chunk has a 4-letter type code and carries specific data. Here are the metadata-related chunks you might find:

Text Chunks (tEXt, iTXt, zTXt)

These store key-value pairs of text data. Common keys include:

• Title — the image's title
• Author — who created the image
• Description — a text description
• Software — what program created or last edited the file
• Source — the original source of the image
• Comment — freeform comments
• Creation Time — when the image was created

The iTXt variant supports Unicode text and language tags, while zTXt uses compression for longer text.

ICC Color Profile (iCCP)

The iCCP chunk embeds a full ICC color profile, which defines how colors should be interpreted and displayed. The most common is sRGB IEC61966-2.1. While useful for color accuracy, this chunk also reveals information about the software and workflow used to create the image.

Timestamp (tIME)

The tIME chunk records the last modification date and time in UTC. This updates every time the image is saved, creating a trail of when the file was last touched.

Physical Dimensions (pHYs)

This chunk specifies the intended physical size of the image by defining pixels per unit (usually per meter). It reveals the DPI/PPI setting used when the image was created.

Gamma and Chromaticity (gAMA, cHRM)

These chunks store color rendering information — the gamma value and chromaticity coordinates of the display the image was created on.

EXIF Data (eXIf)

Newer PNG files can contain an eXIf chunk that embeds full EXIF data — the same metadata standard used in JPEG files. This can include camera make/model, GPS coordinates, exposure settings, and more.

Privacy concern: If a PNG was converted from a photo, it may carry EXIF data including your GPS location, device info, and timestamps. Always check before sharing.

How to View PNG Metadata with Our Tool

Using our PNG Metadata Viewer is straightforward:

1. Upload your image — Drag and drop a PNG file (or any image format) onto the tool, or click to browse your files.
2. View the results — The tool instantly parses the file and displays all found metadata, organized by category: EXIF data, GPS/location, ICC profiles, PNG chunks, and other data.
3. Expand sections — Click on any section header to expand or collapse the metadata table. Each field shows the tag name and its value.

The entire process happens in your browser. Your image is never uploaded to any server — it's processed entirely client-side using JavaScript.

What to Look For

When inspecting metadata, pay special attention to:

• GPS coordinates — If present, these reveal the exact location where a photo was taken. This is the most significant privacy risk.
• Software tags — These reveal what tools were used, which can be a concern for anonymous content creation.
• Timestamps — Creation and modification dates can correlate your activity.
• Camera/device info — Make, model, serial number, and lens data can identify your specific device.
• ICC profiles — While mainly for color, these can sometimes contain identifiable information about your editing workflow.

After Viewing: Remove and Verify

If you find metadata you want to remove, our tool makes it easy. Switch to the Remove tab to strip all metadata with one click. Then use the Verify tab to re-analyze the cleaned file and confirm everything has been removed.

The removal process works by redrawing the image through a clean HTML5 Canvas, then binary-processing the output to strip any remaining non-essential chunks. The result is a minimal file containing only the pixel data.