How to remove metadata from PNG files in bulk

You want to share a collection of PNG images without including extra information such as comments, location details, or editing notes. PNG files can contain several kinds of metadata, and removing it from many images one by one is slow.

This guide uses ExifTool, a utility that can remove metadata from a folder of PNG files while keeping them as PNGs. It runs on your computer, so you do not need to upload the images to a website.

Remove metadata from a collection of PNG files

1. Make a copy of the folder containing your PNG files. Work on the copy so you can recover the originals if you remove information you still need.
2. Download and install ExifTool from its official website. Follow the installation instructions for your operating system.
3. In the copied folder, create a new subfolder named cleaned. This is where the processed images will go.
4. Open a terminal or command prompt in the folder containing the PNG files. Run exiftool -all= -o cleaned/ *.png. ExifTool will create cleaned copies in the cleaned folder, leaving the source images in place.
5. Check that the new folder contains the expected number of images. Open a few files and check that their size, transparency, and appearance are acceptable before sharing them.
6. Verify the results by running exiftool -a -G1 -s cleaned/*.png. Review the output for information you intended to remove. Some technical image properties will still appear.

The command removes metadata ExifTool can write, including many EXIF, XMP, and text fields. If your terminal does not recognize exiftool, it may not be installed correctly, or the command may not be available from that folder. Follow the installation instructions and try again.

What gets removed, and what remains

Private notes and descriptive fields

PNG files can include text chunks for comments, descriptions, or other notes. They can also contain EXIF or XMP information added by a camera or editing program. These fields may reveal details you did not intend to share. The verification command helps you inspect the cleaned files rather than assuming every field has disappeared.

Image properties

Some information describes how the PNG is built, such as its width, height, bit depth, and color type. These properties are needed to interpret the image and are not the same as personal notes. They can still appear in ExifTool's output after metadata removal.

Color profiles

A color profile tells software how to display colors. It is not usually personal information, but removing it can change how an image looks in some apps or on some displays. Compare the cleaned image with the original, especially if accurate colors matter. Keep the original if you need to preserve the embedded profile.

File system details

Metadata inside a PNG is separate from information stored by your operating system, such as the file name, folder, or modified date. Removing metadata from the image does not hide those details if you share the original folder or include identifying information in the file name.

Fix common problems

1. Make sure the command is in the right folder. The command processes PNG files in the current folder, not every folder on your computer. Open the terminal in the folder that contains the images, and check that the names end in .png.
2. Check the output folder name. Create cleaned before running the command. If the folder is elsewhere, use its path after -o, and keep a trailing slash so ExifTool treats it as an output folder.
3. Check for a different file extension. A file might have an uppercase extension such as .PNG, or it might not be a PNG at all. Inspect the filenames and adjust the file pattern if needed.
4. Do not use conversion as a substitute. The Image Converter changes image formats, but converting an image is not a reliable way to remove metadata. Use a metadata tool and verify the resulting files.
5. Keep a copy if the colors change. A missing color profile may affect how an image appears in some software. Restore the original if the cleaned copy no longer looks right, then choose a more selective metadata cleanup method.

Keep the PNG format and image quality

Removing metadata is different from converting or resizing an image. The output remains a PNG, and the cleanup is not intended to recompress the image. Still, inspect a sample of the results. Check transparent areas against a contrasting background, since they can be hard to see on a white screen.

If you are cleaning images for a public listing, also check what is visible in the picture itself. Removing metadata cannot hide a street sign, reflection, document, or landmark in the image. For that broader privacy check, see how to clean photos for an anonymous listing.

Keep the untouched originals until you have confirmed that the cleaned PNG files open correctly and contain no information you meant to remove.