Native desktop app for removing embedded metadata from photos, videos, audio files, and documents.
Windows screenshots will be added soon
macOS screenshots will be added soon
Metadata Stripper provides a focused local workflow for cleaning embedded metadata while keeping the original files safe by default. It uses ExifTool, FFmpeg, and FFprobe-backed processing paths to strip metadata from supported media and document formats, validate outputs, and produce clear reports for review.
Images use ExifTool conservative stripping. Most audio and many video containers prefer FFmpeg stream-copy remux. Hybrid MP4/MOV flows validate original source to final output when ffprobe is available. Default output writes a new file beside the source.
Native macOS app (0.1.0) built with Swift and SwiftUI. Uses ExifTool, FFmpeg, and FFprobe helpers for local metadata removal. Not yet submitted to the Apple App Store.
Removing removable privacy metadata from images, video, and audio — losslessly.
Open Metadata Stripper and add files using the Open panel or by drag-and-drop. You can also add a folder to build a queue of eligible files. All processing runs locally on your Mac.
Metadata Stripper supports common image, video, and audio formats (use the app’s file picker to see the exact extension list). Examples include JPEG/PNG/HEIC (and many RAW camera files), MP4/MOV/MKV (and related containers), and MP3/M4A/FLAC/AAC.
Added items appear in the queue. Use “Selected Files” to strip only eligible items you’ve selected, or use “All Files” to strip every eligible item in the queue. You can cancel an in-progress run (⌘.) without changing the files that were already replaced or written.
By default, the app writes a cleaned copy beside the source with a “-stripped” suffix. To redirect output, enable a custom output folder in Settings.
If you overwrite originals, the stripped output replaces the original file in place after you confirm. Because overwrite replaces the source, you should consider making a backup first (for example, duplicate the folder before batch processing). When a filename collision occurs, the default behavior renames the output (Finder-style). You can change this policy in Settings.
The app focuses on removing removable privacy metadata. Playback-critical / technical tags required for decoding and playback are preserved. Depending on the file format and what the underlying tools can classify as “removable,” some metadata may remain.
Images and descriptive privacy tags are primarily handled with ExifTool. Many audio and video containers are cleaned using a lossless FFmpeg stream-copy remux. For some hybrid formats, ExifTool runs first and FFmpeg is used when privacy remains; FFprobe validates the before/after result where available.
The app runs in the macOS sandbox and does not upload your files. Source access is granted via user-selected Open panels, drag-and-drop, and persisted app-scoped bookmarks. If you revoke folder access, the app may prompt again (for example “Folder Access Required”). Writing beside sources requires folder-level access.
View → Show Activity Log (⌘⇧L) shows diagnostic details for each batch. Export Activity Log… writes a text file you can save and share when troubleshooting. If you see “Folder Access Required,” grant access to the destination folder and retry. If output validation fails, keep the original and review the generated report before retrying.
⌘E runs metadata stripping for All Files. ⌘. cancels an in-progress run. Delete/Backspace removes selected items from the in-app queue only. ⌘⇧L shows the Activity Log. ⌘? opens Metadata Stripper Help on this website.
For product questions or to report a problem, use the H61 Apps contact page. Include the app name (Metadata Stripper), platform, version or build, system version, and what happened. If you can, attach an Activity Log export.
Cross-platform metadata stripping with platform-native implementations. Windows builds use ExifTool with FFmpeg/FFprobe media paths on WinUI 3; the macOS version uses SwiftUI with ExifTool, FFmpeg, and FFprobe helpers. Default output writes a new file beside the source.
Metadata Stripper includes bundled ExifTool, FFmpeg, and FFprobe helpers that run locally on your computer to remove removable privacy metadata from files you select. They do not upload your media.
FFmpeg and FFprobe are licensed under LGPL 2.1 or later for this build. ExifTool is offered under the same terms as Perl (Artistic License and/or GPL). License text and source information are included with the app.
Corresponding source for the FFmpeg 8.1.2 and ExifTool 13.59 components shipped with Metadata Stripper is published on this website.
FFmpeg project · FFmpeg corresponding source · ExifTool project · ExifTool corresponding source
