MP4 metadata: what a video file can reveal
An MP4 or MOV video can carry GPS location, device make and model, recording software, creation dates, titles, XMP and C2PA data in container boxes, and DropMeta drops the udta, meta, ilst, keys, uuid, jumb, loci and Xtra boxes and zeroes header timestamps in your browser, copying the audio and video data unchanged with no re-encode.
Common MP4 / MOV metadata fields
| Field | What it reveals | Privacy risk | Removed by DropMeta? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location (©xyz in udta; QuickTime location key in meta/keys) | Where the video was recorded | High | Yes — udta, meta and keys boxes are dropped |
| 3GPP location (loci) | Recording location in 3GPP files | High | Yes — loci is dropped |
| Device make and model (udta / QuickTime keys) | Which phone or camera recorded it | Medium | Yes — dropped with udta/meta/keys |
| Software / encoder tag (udta) | Recording or editing app | Low | Yes — dropped with udta |
| Creation date tags (udta / QuickTime keys) | When the video was recorded | Medium | Yes — dropped with udta/meta/keys |
| Header times (mvhd, tkhd, mdhd) | Creation and modification timestamps | Medium | Yes — zeroed |
| Title, artist, comment tags (ilst) | Descriptive tags, sometimes names | Medium | Yes — ilst is dropped |
| XMP and vendor data (uuid boxes) | Editing history, vendor-specific fields | Medium | Yes — uuid boxes are dropped |
| C2PA content credentials (jumb box, ftyp brands) | Provenance manifest, possibly creator identity | Medium | Yes — jumb dropped; c2pa/jumb/c2ma/c2as brands replaced in ftyp |
| Windows properties (Xtra) | Tags written by Windows Explorer / Media Player | Low | Yes — Xtra is dropped |
| Encoder strings inside the video stream (mdat) | Encoder name/settings embedded in the bitstream | Low | No — media data is copied as-is |
| Telemetry stored as a separate track (e.g. action-camera GPS track) | Continuous location or sensor data | High | Not targeted — tracks are kept |
| Fragmented MP4 (moof) | — | — | Rejected |
| Files larger than 100MB | — | — | Rejected |
How to remove MP4 metadata
Use the video tool: it rebuilds the MP4 or MOV container in this browser tab without re-encoding, for files up to 100MB.
- Open Remove metadata from video and drop or choose an MP4 or MOV up to 100MB.
- Run strip. Metadata boxes are dropped and header timestamps zeroed locally; audio and video data are copied unchanged.
- Download the cleaned video.
FAQ and limits
Does removing MP4 metadata re-encode the video?
No. DropMeta rebuilds the container and copies the media data (mdat) as-is, so there is no transcode and no quality change.
Does DropMeta remove GPS location from iPhone videos?
It drops the udta, meta and keys boxes where MOV/MP4 location tags such as ©xyz and the QuickTime location key are stored. GPS recorded as a separate telemetry track is not targeted.
What video files are not supported?
Fragmented MP4 (fMP4) and files over 100MB are rejected. The video tool is built for MP4 and MOV containers.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The container is parsed and rebuilt in your browser tab. No account, no upload.