Strip PNG Metadata
Wipe hidden background tags to optimize size and data privacy. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Strip PNG Metadata
- 1. Add the PNG to clean. Drop or browse for the PNG that carries hidden tags. The file loads and stays in your browser the whole time, so nothing is uploaded before you decide to keep the result.
- 2. The tool removes the hidden chunks. It scans the file for ancillary chunks like tEXt, iTXt, zTXt and tIME, which can hold software names, timestamps, comments or embedded EXIF data, and deletes them while leaving the pixels untouched.
- 3. Download the cleaned file. The result is a PNG containing only the image data needed to display it, usually a few bytes to a few kilobytes smaller than the original with the tags gone.
When to use Strip PNG Metadata
Strip PNG Metadata clears out the ancillary chunks a PNG can carry alongside its pixels, things like editing software names, timestamps and text comments. It matters whenever you want to publish an image without also publishing the trail of how it was made.
- Sharing a screenshot publicly. A screenshot destined for a support forum or a public repository often carries the name of the screenshot tool and a timestamp. Stripping the metadata removes that before you post it.
- Shaving bytes off web assets. A batch of PNGs exported from a design tool each carry a few hundred extra bytes of embedded text chunks. Stripping them across the set trims total page weight for a website.
- Removing traces of editing software. An artist doesn't want viewers of a finished piece to see which editor or plugin produced it. Stripping the metadata leaves just the visible artwork behind.
- Cleaning a scanned document before archiving. A scanner writes its model name and scan date into the PNG it produces. Stripping those chunks before filing the document keeps the archive free of scanner-specific noise.
Examples
Remove text and timestamp chunks
Input
photo.png with EXIF/text tags
Output
photo.png with only image data
About the Strip PNG Metadata tool
Strip PNG Metadata does its work locally, right in the browser. Wipe hidden background tags to optimize size and data privacy. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the PNG Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 108 small, focused PNG utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
There is nothing to configure. Provide the input and the result appears on its own. The finished file is put together in browser memory and saved with the Download button, so it never touches a server on the way to your disk. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Is Strip PNG Metadata free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
Which files does Strip PNG Metadata accept?
It accepts PNG images. There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I save the output?
Click the Download button once the result is ready. The file is built in your browser's memory and handed straight to your downloads folder, without passing through a server.