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GeoProof

How to get GPS coordinates from a photo on iPhone

A photo's coordinates can be in there somewhere even when nothing on screen shows them — invisible to anything but a specialised reader. Import the photo into a GeoProof project and open it: the Location data card shows the position in Decimal, DMS, MGRS and UTM, plus altitude, and the Map tab pins it.

3 min read · Updated 2026-09-16

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Where the location of a photo is stored

The iPhone Camera writes GPS latitude, longitude, altitude and the date into the photo's EXIF metadata whenever location services are on for it. Photos shows that as a small map in the info panel — useful for one photo, useless the moment you need numbers for a grid system, or a list for a whole folder of photos at once.

Steps: read a photo's coordinates in GeoProof

  1. Open Projects and open a project (create one with New Project if needed).
  2. Tap the photo-plus icon, Import photos, and pick up to 20 photos from your library.
  3. Tap an imported photo. The Location data card shows Decimal, DMS, MGRS, UTM and Altitude from the file.
  4. Open the Map tab to see each imported photo pinned where it was taken.
  5. Use Search to find photos by coordinate text, caption, address or project.

Example: one position in four formats

A photo saved at latitude -33.856784 and longitude 151.215297 shows these values in Location data:

Location data for a photo taken in Sydney
FormatValue
Decimal-33.856784°, 151.215297°
DMS33°51'24.4"S 151°12'55.1"E
MGRS56HLH 3490 5229
UTM56S 334900 6252291

Negative latitude means south of the equator and negative longitude means west. In DMS the sign becomes the S, N, E or W letter.

Get the coordinates of many photos into a spreadsheet or map

Open the project, tap the export icon for Export Report, then Generate and pick CSV Spreadsheet or Excel (XLSX). You get one row per photo with GPS: name, latitude, longitude, altitude, timestamp, caption and tags. KML (Google Earth) and GPX Waypoints give one point per photo for mapping and GPS software.

These data exports are part of Pro. On the free version, Watch ad for 1 free data export gives you one of them.

Why a photo shows Not available

  • Location services were off for the Camera when the picture was taken.
  • The copy came through a messaging app or social network that removed the location.
  • It is a screenshot or an edited export without metadata.

There is no fixing that from inside GeoProof. A location missing from the file stays missing.

Tips for working with imported photos

  • Import into the project the photos belong to, so they appear in that project's map pins, search and PDF report.
  • Pick the Coordinate format in Settings before you generate a report or export; the report prints coordinates in that format.
  • Add a Caption to each imported photo. Search and the PDF report both use it.
  • The photo date comes from the original capture date stored in the file, not from the day you import it.

What imported photos don't have

  • No accuracy, heading or address, because the file does not hold them in a form the app reads.
  • No Verification: imported photos are never signed, since GeoProof did not capture them.
  • They do not use the free allowance of 20 camera captures per month.

Questions and answers

Can I see a photo's coordinates in the iPhone Photos app?
Photos shows a map of where it was taken in the info panel. GeoProof adds the numbers in four formats, altitude and bulk export.
How do I get GPS coordinates off an iPhone photo someone sent me?
Save it to your library and import it into a GeoProof project. If the app shows Not available, the location was removed before it reached you.
Does importing change my photos?
No. GeoProof reads the location and date and keeps its own copy in the project.
Can I paste coordinates to convert them?
No. GeoProof converts positions from photos and your current location only; it has no manual converter.

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