How to Geotag Photos on Android (Camera, Gallery, Browser)
October 21, 2026
On Android, turn on location in your camera app's settings (often called "Location tags" or "Save location") and keep device location switched on, so new photos get GPS coordinates automatically. For photos you already took, add a location in your gallery app, or write exact coordinates with a browser-based tool such as Geotagr.
Menu names differ between Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola and other brands, and between Android versions. The steps below describe the usual path and tell you what to look for if your phone words things differently.
What do you need before you start?
You need an Android phone with GPS and location services, a camera app that supports location tags, and a few minutes outdoors or near a window for your first test photo. For editing existing photos, you also need a computer or a mobile browser.
Have this ready:
- Device location turned on. Check Quick Settings for a Location toggle, or go to Settings > Location.
- Your camera app's location setting. This is separate from the system toggle, and it is the one people miss.
- A way to check the result. The free photo metadata checker shows whether a photo contains GPS coordinates.
- The address or coordinates, if you plan to tag photos after the fact.
How do you turn on geotagging in the Android camera?
Open the camera app's settings and switch on the location option. Without it, the phone can have GPS running and still save photos with no coordinates.
- Switch on device location. Pull down Quick Settings and tap Location, or open Settings > Location and turn it on.
- Open the camera app and tap the settings (gear) icon.
- Find the location option. On Samsung Galaxy phones it is usually called "Location tags". On Google Pixel it is usually "Save location" (sometimes under More settings). Other brands use similar wording.
- Turn it on and accept any permission prompt. The camera app may ask for location access. Choose to allow it while the app is in use.
- Take a test photo outdoors. Wait a few seconds for a GPS fix first. Indoors, a fix can be slow or inaccurate.
- Check the photo. Open it in your gallery app and look at the details, or run it through the metadata checker. You should see coordinates.
If you want to know what the data looks like inside the file, EXIF Data Explained: What It Is and How to Read It covers the GPS fields.
How do you add a location to photos you already took?
Open the photo in your gallery app, view its details, and look for an option to add or edit the location. Which app you use decides how this works.
Google Photos. Open the photo, swipe up (or tap the info icon) and look for the location line. If there is an option to add or edit location, you can search for a place and apply it. Google Photos stores this in its own library, and it is not guaranteed to be written into the original file. Do not assume the JPG on your phone now contains those coordinates. Download or share the file and check it.
Samsung Gallery. Open the photo, tap the three-dot menu or swipe up to see details, and look for an edit option next to the location. Depending on your One UI version, the option may be labeled differently.
Other gallery apps. Some have a location editor and some do not. If you cannot find one, use a browser-based tool instead (next section).
Gallery apps are fine for putting a photo on a map in your own album. They are less useful when you need exact coordinates, a consistent set of keywords, or business details inside the file.
How do you write exact GPS coordinates into Android photos?
Use a metadata editor that writes the coordinates into the file itself. That gives you control over the exact location, no matter where the photo was taken or whether the camera recorded anything.
Geotagr is a browser-based editor. You open Geotagr in your browser, add photos, set the location, and save. It writes GPS coordinates, a title, description, keywords and business details (IPTC/XMP) into the photo files. The files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to Geotagr's servers.
A simple workflow:
- Transfer or select your photos. For a big batch, a computer is usually more comfortable. You can also open the editor in a mobile browser such as Chrome.
- Open the editor at /app and add your photos.
- Set the location. Enter coordinates or pick the place.
- Add a title, description and keywords if they matter for how you use the photos.
- Apply to the whole batch if the photos share a location, or tag them individually if not.
- Save the files and keep the saved copies.
- Verify with the metadata checker.
Geotagr can open JPG, HEIC, PNG and WebP files. HEIC, PNG and WebP are converted and saved as JPG, so expect JPG output. If you are tagging many photos, presets and batch tagging save time. Matching photos to a GPX track and importing from CSV are available as paid features; see pricing. For a step-by-step on the web workflow, see How to Add GPS Coordinates to Photos Online.
Why are my Android photos missing GPS data?
The usual causes are the camera's location setting being off, device location being off, or a file picker or app removing the data. Work through the list below.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No coordinates on any new photo | Camera location tag is off | Turn on Location tags / Save location in camera settings |
| Coordinates missing only indoors | No GPS fix when the shot was taken | Wait for a fix, or take photos near a window or outside |
| Photo has location on the phone but not after you upload it | The app or platform strips metadata | Check the original file; see below |
| Photos from a messaging app have no location | Messaging apps often remove or recompress metadata | Use the original photo from the camera folder |
| Location is missing when you pick a photo in a browser | The system photo picker may hide location | Choose the file through the Files app instead of the photo picker, then check it |
| Wrong location | Poor GPS accuracy or a stale fix | Retake outdoors, or correct it with an editor |
Android has a permission specifically for apps to read location from photos, and some pickers deliberately redact it for privacy. Behavior varies by Android version and app, so test with one photo before processing a whole batch.
Do social networks and Google keep the location data?
Often not. Many platforms strip location metadata when you upload, to protect privacy. Others keep it for their own use but remove it from public copies. This varies by platform and can change.
That means a geotagged file is only reliably geotagged on your own device, in your own files, and wherever you send the original. If you are tagging photos for a Google Business Profile, read How to Geotag Photos for Google Business Profile so your expectations are realistic.
It is also worth being honest about the benefit. Google has not published how it uses photo metadata, and tagging is not a ranking guarantee. Does Geotagging Photos Help Local SEO? What We Know goes through what is and is not known.
Should you ever turn location tags off?
Yes, when the photo shows your home, your kids, or any place you do not want to reveal. Leaving location on all the time means every photo you share as an original file may carry your coordinates.
A practical split:
- Business photos (job sites, listings, storefronts): keep tags on, or add them deliberately afterward.
- Personal photos: consider turning off the camera's location option, or remove location before sharing.
To strip coordinates from photos, follow How to Remove Location Data from Photos.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on geotagging on a Samsung phone?
Open the Camera app, tap the settings gear and switch on "Location tags". Make sure device location is also on in Quick Settings or Settings > Location. Then take a photo outdoors and check its details to confirm the coordinates were saved.
How do I turn on geotagging on a Google Pixel?
Open the Camera app, go to its settings and turn on "Save location" (it may sit under additional settings, depending on your version). Keep device location enabled and allow the camera's location permission when asked.
Can I geotag photos I took months ago?
Yes. Your gallery app may let you add a location, though it may not write it into the file. A metadata editor writes coordinates into the file itself, so the data travels with the photo. Check the saved file afterwards to confirm.
Does geotagging drain my Android battery?
Using GPS does use some power, but a camera location tag only needs a position when you take a photo. How much it affects your battery depends on your phone and settings, so I can't give a fixed figure. If battery is a concern, test it over a normal day.
How can I check whether an Android photo has GPS data?
Open the photo's details in your gallery app, or upload the file to a metadata checker. See How to Check Photo Metadata on Any Device for several free methods. Check the original file, not a copy that came through a messaging app.
Can I geotag Android photos without uploading them anywhere?
Yes, with a tool that processes files locally. Geotagr works in the browser and does not upload your photo files to its servers. Check any other tool's privacy statement before using it for sensitive photos.