Photo Metadata Editor
github.com
What it is
Photo Metadata Editor is a free Windows desktop app for editing EXIF, XMP, IPTC, and QuickTime metadata in photos and videos. It opens JPG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC, HEIF, WEBP, MOV, and MP4 files, using a bundled ExifTool runtime. Editable fields include titles, descriptions, keywords, creator and copyright details, capture time, camera and software information, GPS, and location. It also displays read-only details such as dimensions, megapixels, lens, ISO, focal length, aperture, and shutter speed. Camera and GPS presets, a dark theme, Chinese and English interface options, and optional local OCR date detection are included. OCR depends on local Windows OCR languages, Tesseract, or installed PaddleOCR resources; there is no cloud fallback. The project says files are processed locally and not uploaded. Writes keep ExifTool _original backups by default and check important fields by reading them back. Restores create a verified _before_restore copy and can roll back after failed verification. Readable files are not necessarily writable: support depends on the file, permissions, and ExifTool tag tables. Windows downloads include an MSI and portable ZIP; release artifacts may be unsigned.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Photo Metadata Editor is an offline Windows desktop editor for EXIF, XMP, IPTC, and QuickTime metadata, powered by a bundled ExifTool runtime.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Free plan
- YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · github.com
- License
- The project source is released under the MIT License, while bundled components retain their own licenses and notices.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maker
- The repository credits HaoXiang Huang as the author.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Additional features
- It includes camera and GPS presets, a dark theme, local OCR date detection, and optional file-time synchronization.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Compatibility limit
- A readable media format does not guarantee every tag is writable; write support depends on the file, permissions, container, and ExifTool tag tables.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Distribution
- The repository documents a Windows MSI installer and a portable ZIP release, along with SHA-256 checksums.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Downloads
- The release provides a Windows MSI installer, a portable ZIP, and SHA256SUMS.txt checksums.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Editable fields
- It edits titles, descriptions, keywords, creators, copyright, capture time, camera, software, GPS, and location fields.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Editable metadata
- It edits titles, descriptions, keywords, creators, copyright, capture time, camera, software, GPS, and location fields.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- File formats
- It opens JPG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC, HEIF, WEBP, MOV, and MP4 files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Languages
- The interface supports Chinese and English.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Local processing
- The application processes files locally and says it does not upload photos or metadata or download OCR models at runtime.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maintainer
- The repository lists HaoXiang Huang as the author.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Metadata display
- It displays read-only details such as dimensions, megapixels, lens, ISO, focal length, aperture, and shutter speed.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Metadata viewing
- It shows read-only facts including format, dimensions, megapixels, lens, ISO, focal length, aperture, and shutter speed.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- OCR
- Optional OCR depends on local Windows OCR languages, Tesseract, or locally installed PaddleOCR resources, with no cloud fallback.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- OCR integrations
- Optional OCR availability depends on local Windows OCR languages, Tesseract, or locally installed PaddleOCR resources; there is no cloud fallback.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Restore safeguards
- Before restoration, the app creates and verifies a _before_restore copy, detects concurrent file changes, and rolls back after failed verification.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Signing
- Public release artifacts are unsigned when no trusted code-signing certificate is configured, and SHA-256 checksums do not verify publisher identity.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Signing status
- Published artifacts are unsigned when no trusted code-signing certificate is configured, and Windows may show an unknown-publisher warning.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Write limitations
- Whether metadata can be written depends on the file format, filesystem permissions, and ExifTool tag support.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Write safeguards
- Normal writes keep ExifTool _original backups by default, and restoration creates and verifies a _before_restore copy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free Windows desktop app
- Edits EXIF, XMP, IPTC, and QuickTime metadata
- Includes camera and GPS presets
- Writes use backups and read-back verification
- Offers MSI and portable ZIP downloads
Limits
- Windows only
- Batch editing is not available
- Some readable tags may not be writable
- Release artifacts may be unsigned
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who want to edit image or video metadata locally, including GPS fields and reusable metadata presets. Optional OCR is for users with supported local OCR resources.
Verdict
Photo Metadata Editor covers a broad range of photo and video metadata, with local processing and safeguards around writes and restores. Check file-specific write support and release signing status before relying on a particular workflow.
Where Specifiction places it
- Photo Metadata Editors#10 of 317.8
- To-do list apps#105 of 1507.7