> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/squash-docs/quick-guide/nodes/metadata.md). # Privacy Choose which image metadata to remove The **Privacy** section chooses which kinds of source metadata Squash removes when it exports. It has five **Remove** checkboxes. A selected checkbox removes that kind of metadata; clear it to keep that information in the exported file. All five are selected by default, so exports keep none of the source metadata apart from what is needed to display the image correctly. ### What each checkbox covers | Remove | What it covers | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Location | GPS coordinates and the GPS block, plus IPTC location fields: sublocation, city, state or province, and country name and code. | | Camera & lens | Camera make and model, camera and lens serial numbers, lens make, model and specification, manufacturer maker notes (such as Apple, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Minolta and Pentax), firmware and other camera-identifying fields. | | Date & time | When the photo was taken and digitised, including time zone offsets, the TIFF date, GPS date and time stamps, IPTC creation and release dates, and PNG creation and modification times. | | Author & copyright | Artist, by-line, copyright notice, credit, source, contact details, usage terms and the camera owner's name, from TIFF, IPTC and PNG metadata. | | Other metadata | Everything not covered above, such as exposure and capture settings, titles, descriptions, keywords and comments. | Some information needed to display the image is always kept, even with **Other metadata** selected: orientation, resolution (DPI), colour model and colour profile name. Because Squash saves pixels upright, any orientation tag it keeps is reset to the normal orientation. To keep everything except your location, for example, clear every checkbox apart from **Location**. Exports do not copy the source file's creation or modification dates. These file dates are separate from capture dates embedded in the image's metadata. ### Settings from earlier versions Earlier builds had a single **Remove EXIF data** checkbox. Settings and presets saved with it selected load with all five checkboxes selected, and those saved with it cleared load with all five cleared. ### Output formats The information that can be carried over depends on the output format. **JPEG XL does not currently preserve source metadata**, even when every checkbox is cleared. **AVIF** metadata is kept only on Macs where the system can write it. Other formats preserve supported fields rather than every possible metadata block. Check your exported files if particular metadata is essential. ### Visible information Removing metadata does not remove people, addresses or text visible in the image itself. See the [Privacy Policy](/squash-docs/extras/privacy-policy.md) for optional AI image handling.
Squash 3 reference screenshots These screenshots show the earlier Squash 3 interface. ![](https://1309898043-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F9hJwt9oZ5CYj9I9YIUa9%2Fuploads%2FsKzEVyTJQi6ueEBKre0F%2FCleanShot%202022-04-05%20at%202.59.08%402x.png?alt=media\&token=2e06a3f1-5859-46da-b8c4-943165283281)