Video Metadata and EXIF Data: What Your Files Contain
Video files embed metadata about creation date, camera settings, GPS location, and encoding parameters. Understanding this data helps with organization, privacy, and troubleshooting.
Key Takeaways
- Stored in the file container (MP4, MOV, MKV).
- Videos from smartphones contain GPS coordinates by default.
- Phone videos often have a rotation tag (0, 90, 180, 270 degrees) instead of physically rotated pixels.
- Critical for format compatibility troubleshooting.
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Types of Video Metadata
Container Metadata
Stored in the file container (MP4, MOV, MKV). Includes title, artist, creation date, and chapter markers. This is what media players and file managers display.
Stream Metadata
Technical properties of video/audio streams: codec, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, color space, and sample rate. Critical for format compatibility troubleshooting.
EXIF Data
Camera-specific metadata embedded during recording. Includes GPS coordinates, camera model, lens info, exposure settings, and orientation.
Privacy Concerns
Videos from smartphones contain GPS coordinates by default. Before sharing publicly:
- Strip GPS metadata using a metadata editor
- Check for embedded thumbnails (may show original uncropped frame)
- Remove creation timestamps if timing is sensitive
- Social platforms strip most metadata on upload, but direct file sharing does not
Useful Metadata Fields
| Field | Location | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Container | Display/organization |
| Resolution | Stream | Compatibility check |
| Codec | Stream | Playback troubleshooting |
| GPS | EXIF | Location tagging |
| Creation Date | Container/EXIF | Sorting/archiving |
| Rotation | Container | Orientation correction |
Rotation Tag
Phone videos often have a rotation tag (0, 90, 180, 270 degrees) instead of physically rotated pixels. Some players ignore this tag, causing sideways playback. Re-encoding with physical rotation fixes this permanently.