<![CDATA[Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker.]]>Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker.

Doesn't seem to be any workaround that'll let you pick a photo and have a web browser see the geolocation.

Like, I get the privacy issues, but it is rather frustrating for location-based web apps.

(Before reply-guying, please test if the code you found on a 4 year old StackOverflow post actually works on modern Android, thanks.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/a2b26e8e-7689-48ae-8a34-e18f57a8a23f/getting-rather-frustrated-that-the-latest-android-strips-location-exif-from-the-web-file-picker.RSS for NodeThu, 16 Apr 2026 06:09:23 GMTSun, 05 Apr 2026 13:34:27 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:08:04 GMT]]>@jon agreed. Most services (FB, Insta, WhatsApp, etc) automatically strip it.
I remember when they didn't and it was very easy to find celebs accidentally sharing their home locations.
Given we have geolocation prompts in the browser, I don't think it is too much of a hardship - but I too am wary of prompt fatigue.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358858936459834https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358858936459834Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:08:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:03:15 GMT]]>@Edent I’m so very divided on this. I think it’s absolutely the right behaviour for photo sharing to strip location data by default, and I see the use cases for allowing it with user consent, what I’m struggling with is how to expose that to users in an understandable way because “this photo has high precision location data attached” is still really surprising behaviour to most people I think.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://activitypub.blankpad.net/@jon@blankpad.net/posts/564027335454605912/https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://activitypub.blankpad.net/@jon@blankpad.net/posts/564027335454605912/Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:03:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:53:55 GMT]]>I've also raised a bug with Firefox. Android has a specific permission which will allow the browser to access the *full* location metadata of a photo.

Link Preview Image
2029620 - Geolocation EXIF stripped from media due to lack of Android Permission ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION

UNCONFIRMED (nobody) in Firefox for Android - Media. Last updated 2026-04-11.

favicon

(bugzilla.mozilla.org)

Not sure if it is worth raising bugs for Chrome and Samsung as well. Can't easily test them. If someone else wants to - please go ahead!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358331482193479https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358331482193479Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:53:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:47:20 GMT]]>@Edent

I actually logged in to Github to upvote this.

Slightly tangentially I get why back in the mists of time sites stripped metadata, all those bytes add up in bandwidth.

But it absolutely infuriates me that what was once done of necessity now seems to be blind habit — because that's the way it's always been done.

Regardless of the site I find an image on I want to be able to see *all* the metadata the original author provided.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/calmeilles/statuses/116358305605886902https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/calmeilles/statuses/116358305605886902Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:47:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:26:22 GMT]]>@jezhiggins @dracos
I *think* you need https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission#ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358223123772801https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116358223123772801Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:26:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:18:27 GMT]]>@Edent Ironically, libvips in it current settings in Mastodon adds a exif header to PNG-files and change to color mode from palette to truecolor, making optimized png larger in file size.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/aslakr/statuses/116358191977538250https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/aslakr/statuses/116358191977538250Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:18:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:04:48 GMT]]>@Edent As long as it can be overruled by the user/owner I'd have no problem with it, but I can't see any purpose it would serve me.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/hoare_spitall/statuses/116358138329970917https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.world/users/hoare_spitall/statuses/116358138329970917Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:04:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:49:37 GMT]]>@Edent Doesn't appear to be unique to the Web based file picker. I've just had a little go with the CycleStreets app (which I wrote). Taking a photo using the stock intent is geolocated, using the built in image picker to select an existing photo is not geolocated.

If I get a chance, I'll apply the change @dracos made in his code, and let you know if it makes any difference

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/jezhiggins/statuses/116358078636751390https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.me.uk/users/jezhiggins/statuses/116358078636751390Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:49:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:44:06 GMT]]>@Edent Useful to know ... I'll be transferring images from my laptop backup of my phone anyway, but useful to know.

I understand that the OS might be privacy aware (though I have my doubts) but annoying to have the choice taken from me.

CC: @openbenches

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mathstodon.xyz/users/ColinTheMathmo/statuses/116358056910535934https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mathstodon.xyz/users/ColinTheMathmo/statuses/116358056910535934Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:44:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:48:35 GMT]]>@Edent If I use the same photo with Chrome as the photo in that bench I linked to in the upload field, it tells me the right location. (I didn't save it, as that'd be a duplicate obviously)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116357838656721253https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116357838656721253Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:48:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:45:33 GMT]]>@derickr Yes please. I've tried both and still can't get it to show geodata. I'm on Android 16 though.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357826691877608https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357826691877608Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:45:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:44:51 GMT]]>@Edent @openbenches That seems to be talking about Android 14 already. But I don't think it's the Android *OS* that does the stripping, as even with Android 15 I managed to add https://openbenches.org/bench/42085

Though I'm on a Fairphone 5 (with stock Android), and I used Firefox.

Would you like me to try Chrome to see if that's the problem?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116357823935511405https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116357823935511405Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:44:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:37:24 GMT]]>@LaChasseuse you have to click on the link to GitHub and leave the reaction there.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357794665291973https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357794665291973Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:37:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:30:25 GMT]]>Anyway, if you think the web should have a way to get the *full* photo a user uploaded - including geolocation metadata - please leave a 👍 reaction on this request https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/11724#issuecomment-4192228562

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357767212360645https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357767212360645Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:30:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:18:25 GMT]]>]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chven.us/snac/sam/p/1775474305.403641https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chven.us/snac/sam/p/1775474305.403641Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:18:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:12:04 GMT]]>@dracos just tried this photo which has geolocation - looks like FMS can't see the EXIF.

Link Preview ImageLink Preview Image
]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357459134132778https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357459134132778Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:12:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:55:11 GMT]]>@InsertUser I don't know. It seems to be a problem on the defaults.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357392750287577https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357392750287577Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:55:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:54:37 GMT]]>@Edent @openbenches is this affecting non-Google camera roll backup too?

Mine still seems to get location but I don't know if it's because I'm on an old version.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://en.osm.town/users/InsertUser/statuses/116357390512757020https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://en.osm.town/users/InsertUser/statuses/116357390512757020Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:54:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:40:46 GMT]]>@dan Yeah, we can ask for GPS but, as you say, people are rarely in the same place where they took the photo.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357336031838857https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357336031838857Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:40:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:40:07 GMT]]>@Edent @openbenches Much rage!

I suppose there's some value in adding an optional <geolocation> element or similar to the app anyway (I don't know about others, but I do most of my submissions while sat on the bench in question!). But I appreciate this is still a loss in quality.

Feels like this could be easily fixed by Google adding a toast popup that says "Location and other metadata was removed before uploading" with an "undo" button to re-try without that, maybe.

Anyway - for now: much rage.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.danq.me/users/dan/statuses/116357333459647225https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://m.danq.me/users/dan/statuses/116357333459647225Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:40:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:35:31 GMT]]>*sigh*

Looks like Android is stripping GPS EXIF from photos whenever they're shared.

Affects QuickShare / Bluetooth - https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/485307531
And the web photo picker - https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/40287342

Basically the only way to get geolocation is using USB transfer.

Like, I get the privacy aspect, but it is so annoying to explain to users of @openbenches that they can't upload via the mobile website any more.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357315400787214https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116357315400787214Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:35:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:05:25 GMT]]>@Edent The Chrome user agent string on Android is fixed to "Android 10" so I don't actually know if any Android 16 in the ones with successful geolocation, I can try and find out next week probably

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/dracos/statuses/116356253289921101https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/dracos/statuses/116356253289921101Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:05:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:58:47 GMT]]>@dracos Hmm. That's what I'm doing. But the file picker on Android 16 won't let EXIF through.
Wondering if it is a GrapheneOS issue now?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116354575710686568https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Edent/statuses/116354575710686568Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:58:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Getting rather frustrated that the latest Android strips location EXIF from the web file picker. on Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:23:28 GMT]]>@sam it's for the public to upload to a public website but needs the location the photo was taken for it to function and work as the photos need to be located on a map.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.green/users/smsm1/statuses/116353493107722714https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.green/users/smsm1/statuses/116353493107722714Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:23:28 GMT