OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Removing GPS Metadata from Samsung Photos

Bushra Parveen Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Photos automatically backed up to OneDrive from a Samsung Android device lose their GPS location metadata.

How to Fix OneDrive Removing GPS Metadata from Samsung Photos

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Android (Samsung)
Scenario: Automatically backing up photos from a Samsung smartphone (like the Galaxy S20) to OneDrive via the mobile app.
Observed behavior: GPS EXIF metadata is stripped during the automatic upload process, while direct PC transfers preserve the location data.

Before you start

Ensure you do not delete the original photos from your Samsung device until you have successfully backed them up with their location metadata fully intact.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Manual PC Transfers to Preserve EXIF Data

Bypassing the automatic Android app backup by using manual transfers or PC uploads prevents EXIF data loss.

Since the issue is isolated to the automatic camera upload feature on the OneDrive Android app, utilizing a computer to handle the file transfers prevents the system from altering the files and successfully retains all GPS metadata.

Connect Device to PC

Connect your Samsung smartphone directly to your computer using a compatible USB cable and select 'File Transfer' mode on your phone.

Copy Original Photos

Navigate to the DCIM folder on your phone's internal storage and manually copy the original photos to a local folder on your computer.

Upload to OneDrive

Open the OneDrive desktop application or log in via the web browser portal, then manually upload the copied photos directly from your PC.

Use Manual PC Transfers to Preserve EXIF Data

Metadata Preserved: Direct PC transfers ensure that no unexpected file modifications, such as HEIC to JPG conversions, strip away your valuable GPS data.

Solution 2

Check HEIC Conversion Settings

Format conversions during upload often strip EXIF data. Disabling this can help preserve metadata.

Solution 3

Report the Issue to Microsoft Support

Since this is a known bug specific to certain Android/Samsung configurations, reporting it helps accelerate an official patch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive remove location data from my photos?

This generally occurs due to a bug in the mobile app's backup process or when the app automatically converts HEIC images to JPG format, which can inadvertently strip the EXIF GPS metadata during the conversion.

Can I recover the GPS data if it was stripped by OneDrive?

If the metadata was removed during upload and you have already deleted the original file from your phone, the data cannot be automatically recovered from OneDrive. You need the original photo from your device to restore the location information.

Does this EXIF metadata issue affect all Android devices?

Based on user reports, this specific GPS EXIF metadata removal primarily affects Samsung devices, particularly during automatic Camera Uploads via the OneDrive Android app.

How can I check if GPS data is saved on my photos?

On a Windows PC, right-click the image, select 'Properties', and check the 'Details' tab for GPS coordinates. On a smartphone, you can usually swipe up on the photo in your native gallery app to view the captured location details.

Document & File Issues