Eventually Removed

Does Reddit Remove EXIF Data?

YES - But There's a Catch

Reddit removes EXIF after processing, leaving a window where your data is exposed

The Short Answer

Reddit does remove EXIF data, but not instantly. There's a processing delay where your photos sit on Reddit's servers with full metadata intact. During this window, your location and device info could be accessed or cached.

The Reddit EXIF Processing Window

The Timeline of Risk

  1. 1

    0-5 seconds: Upload

    Your image with full EXIF data hits Reddit's servers

  2. 2

    5-60 seconds: Processing Queue

    Image waits in queue with metadata intact

  3. 3

    1-5 minutes: EXIF Removal

    Reddit finally strips metadata and re-encodes image

During this window: Reddit's servers, CDN caches, and backup systems all have access to your complete EXIF data.

What Reddit Removes

  • GPS location coordinates
  • Camera make and model
  • Date and time information
  • Camera settings and lens data

The Risks During Processing

  • Data indexed by search engines
  • Cached by CDN providers
  • Accessed by Reddit employees
  • Backed up with metadata intact

Real Reddit EXIF Privacy Issues

r/RoastMe Location Leaks

Users posting selfies to r/RoastMe have had their home addresses exposed during the processing window. Bad actors scraped images before EXIF removal, leading to doxxing incidents.

Photography Subreddit Gear Theft

Expensive camera equipment has been targeted after thieves extracted EXIF data showing camera models and shooting locations from r/photography posts during the processing delay.

Local Subreddit Stalking

City and neighborhood subreddits have seen stalking cases where predators grabbed location data from photos before Reddit stripped the EXIF.

NSFW Subreddit Blackmail

Adult content creators have been blackmailed after their real locations were extracted from EXIF data during Reddit's processing window.

Why Reddit's EXIF Removal Isn't Instant

Reddit's Image Processing Pipeline

Unlike platforms that strip EXIF on upload, Reddit uses a queued processing system:

1

Direct Storage

Images are stored immediately with all metadata to prevent upload failures

2

CDN Distribution

Original files propagate to CDN edges worldwide before processing

3

Queue Processing

Batch jobs eventually strip EXIF and replace files across the network

4

Cache Invalidation

Old cached versions with EXIF may persist for hours or days

The Problem: During steps 1-3, your complete EXIF data is accessible to anyone fast enough to grab it.

Protect Yourself on Reddit

Don't Risk the Processing Window

Why gamble with your privacy? Remove EXIF data before uploading to Reddit and eliminate all risk.

❌ Trusting Reddit's Processing

  • • Metadata exposed for minutes
  • • Cached with EXIF intact
  • • Accessible to scrapers
  • • No control over timing

✅ Removing EXIF First

  • • Zero exposure window
  • • No metadata to cache
  • • Scraper-proof uploads
  • • Complete privacy control
Remove EXIF Before Reddit

Reddit EXIF FAQs

How long does Reddit take to remove EXIF data?
Reddit typically removes EXIF data within 1-5 minutes of upload, but it can take longer during high traffic. The exact timing is unpredictable, leaving your metadata vulnerable during this window.
Does Reddit remove EXIF from all image types?
Reddit processes JPEG and PNG files to remove EXIF data. Other formats like GIF or WebP might not go through the same processing, potentially leaving metadata intact permanently.
Can I check if Reddit removed EXIF from my photo?
Try downloading your image from Reddit after a few minutes. Check its properties - if EXIF is gone, the processing completed. But remember, copies with metadata might still exist in caches.
Does the Reddit app remove EXIF differently?
No, the Reddit mobile app uses the same backend processing. Whether you upload via web or app, your images go through the same delayed EXIF removal process.

Close Reddit's Privacy Window

Don't give scrapers, bots, and bad actors a chance to grab your metadata. Strip EXIF before uploading and post to Reddit with confidence.

Protect Your Reddit Posts Now

Free • Instant • No processing delays