How to add fake geotags to photos to hide your real location

If you are privacy conscious and want to limit the collection of accurate location data as much as possible, the iPhone has features that allow users to protect their privacy. Including the ability to use fake geo-tagging of iPhone photos that you share with others to protect the true location of those photos.

As you know, photos contain the location data of this photo, so you can know where the photo was taken, but before sharing the photo, make sure that the person sharing it will also know where this photo was taken. But it's easy to remove location data from individual photos or groups of photos, and you can also remove location data to add fake location data to photos before you share them with others.

Disable iPhone camera access to location data

There are good reasons to add location data to photos “and vice versa,” and the Camera app can do so by default. This is if you agree to allow the Camera app to access your location data when setting up the iPhone, or through Settings at any time after that.

But you should know that location data will pass along with any photos you share, if you choose not to remove them.

And anyone can access this location data once the photos hit social media.

The easiest way to block location information from iPhone photos is through settings and disable access.

Just head to the Privacy and Security menu, find the Location Services menu, scroll to the Camera menu, and disable Precise Location.

You can also set the location access to Never or Never. In such a case, you don't have to worry about creating fake geotags for the iPhone photos you want to share.

The problem with this method is that you don't make use of the location data that you would like to associate with most images. But the good thing is, there are ways to fix that.

Delete location information from individual iPhone photos

If you want the Camera app to add location data to all of your photos, you will ignore the step above and instead remove geotags from photos when you share them with others or post to social media.

Head to the Photos app, open the sharing menu, and then tap Options, you'll find the location option where you can turn it off when sharing. This ensures that geolocation information does not leave the phone.

This works with photos, videos, and multiple selections. It can be tedious, especially when you share content in a hurry. But this habit will protect your privacy in the long run.

Another step allows you to delete actual location information from specific photos and videos.

Tap a photo in the Photos app in the iOS 16 update and look for the Set location menu. This will open a menu that allows you to select a "No Location" option for photos and videos that don't need location data.

And in the iOS 15 update, you'll have to swipe over the image to reveal the metadata. Then find the same “No Location” menu in the “Adjust” menu.

The good thing is, the same steps will allow you to return the location information for those photos and videos.

How to add fake geotags to iPhone to protect location information

The above step allows you to add fake geotags to photos and videos. The feature is not intended to falsify the location information of the photos and videos. iOS simply lets you add data to photos and videos in case you forgot to enable geotagging. As mentioned, location information can be valuable, for several reasons based on user preferences.

But if the feature allows you to add real location data to photos and videos on the iPhone, then that means you can also add fake geotags.

Head to the same location settings menu as shown in the previous step. Then use the search bar to add a new map location. Below the search bar, you'll find suggestions, and you can select the ones you want.

This step works when you select a single photo, video, or multiple items.

What's also good is that you can go back to the actual location of the photo or video with a fake geotag. Simply press the "Undo" button in the same menu.

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