GPS metadata lost when uploading from iOS app (both auto/manual), but preserved via web.

[KNocTis]

I have searched the existing issues, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate report.

• Yes

The bug

When uploading photos using the Immich iOS app (both automatic backup and manual upload), all GPS/EXIF metadata is stripped. However, when uploading the same photos via the Immich web interface, GPS and other EXIF metadata are preserved.

• Verified with exiftool: GPS-related fields (GPS Latitude, GPS Longitude, GPS Altitude, GPS Date/Time, etc.) are missing from files uploaded by the iOS app.

• Photos taken with the Lumina app (third-party camera) always lose GPS metadata when uploaded via Immich iOS, while photos taken with the built-in Camera app usually preserve it.

• The app has “All photos” and “Always” location permissions.

• Tested on multiple devices:

• iPhone 13 Pro (iOS 18.5 & 18.6.2): GPS data is stripped when uploading via the app.

• iPhone 14 Pro (iOS 18.5): GPS data is preserved.

• Uploading the exact same files through the web UI preserves all EXIF and GPS metadata.

The OS that Immich Server is running on

TrueNAS Scale 25.04.2.1

Version of Immich Server

v1.140.1

Version of Immich Mobile App

v1.140.1

Platform with the issue

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

Device make and model

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 18.5

Your docker-compose.yml content

I don't have it, it's created via TrueNAS App interface.

Your .env content

I don't have it, it's created via TrueNAS App interface.

Reproduction steps

1. Upload a photo with GPS data from Immich iOS app.
2. Check it from Immich app or web.
3. There is no location data.

Relevant log output

Additional information

Attached is a sample HEIC photo that will lose its GPS date after upload via Immich app.

ExifTool Version Number         : 13.30
File Name                       : IMG_9560.HEIC
Directory                       : /Users/noahchang/Downloads
File Size                       : 6.7 MB
File Modification Date/Time     : 2025:08:31 19:20:17+08:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2025:09:05 15:09:28+08:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2025:09:05 15:09:11+08:00
File Permissions                : -rw-r--r--
File Type                       : HEIC
File Type Extension             : heic
MIME Type                       : image/heic
Major Brand                     : High Efficiency Image Format HEVC still image (.HEIC)
Minor Version                   : 0.0.0
Compatible Brands               : mif1, miaf, MiHB, heic
Handler Type                    : Picture
Primary Item Reference          : 49
Meta Image Size                 : 4032x3024
Exif Byte Order                 : Big-endian (Motorola, MM)
Make                            : Apple
Camera Model Name               : iPhone 13 Pro
Orientation                     : Horizontal (normal)
X Resolution                    : 72
Y Resolution                    : 72
Resolution Unit                 : inches
Software                        : 18.5
Modify Date                     : 2025:08:31 19:20:17
Host Computer                   : iPhone 13 Pro
Tile Width                      : 512
Tile Length                     : 512
Exposure Time                   : 1/198
F Number                        : 1.5
Exposure Program                : Program AE
ISO                             : 40
Exif Version                    : 0232
Date/Time Original              : 2025:08:31 19:20:17
Create Date                     : 2025:08:31 19:20:17
Offset Time                     : +08:00
Offset Time Original            : +08:00
Offset Time Digitized           : +08:00
Shutter Speed Value             : 1/198
Aperture Value                  : 1.5
Brightness Value                : 5.866368763
Exposure Compensation           : 0
Metering Mode                   : Multi-segment
Flash                           : Off, Did not fire
Focal Length                    : 5.7 mm
Subject Area                    : 2015 1511 2217 1330
Maker Note Version              : 15
Run Time Flags                  : Valid
Run Time Value                  : 992559201006416
Run Time Scale                  : 1000000000
Run Time Epoch                  : 0
AE Stable                       : Yes
AE Target                       : 182
AE Average                      : 178
AF Stable                       : Yes
Acceleration Vector             : -0.3950608369 0.1566775889 -0.904147148
Focus Distance Range            : 0.06 - 0.97 m
Image Capture Type              : ProRAW
Live Photo Video Index          : 16384
Photos App Feature Flags        : 0
HDR Headroom                    : 0
AF Performance                  : 57 1 222
Signal To Noise Ratio           : 32.54931261
Photo Identifier                : 4B61352D-1101-4C83-A48B-B5041CB3B3D9
Color Temperature               : 3432
Camera Type                     : Back Normal
Focus Position                  : 83
AF Measured Depth               : 60
AF Confidence                   : 29
Sub Sec Time Original           : 057
Sub Sec Time Digitized          : 057
Color Space                     : Uncalibrated
Exif Image Width                : 4032
Exif Image Height               : 3024
Sensing Method                  : One-chip color area
Scene Type                      : Directly photographed
Exposure Mode                   : Auto
White Balance                   : Auto
Focal Length In 35mm Format     : 26 mm
Lens Info                       : 5.699999809mm f/1.5
Lens Make                       : Apple
Lens Model                      : iPhone 13 Pro back camera 5.7mm f/1.5
GPS Latitude Ref                : North
GPS Longitude Ref               : East
GPS Altitude Ref                : Above Sea Level
GPS Time Stamp                  : 11:20:16.92
GPS Date Stamp                  : 2025:08:31
GPS Horizontal Positioning Error: 21.77169043 m
Profile CMM Type                : Apple Computer Inc.
Profile Version                 : 4.0.0
Profile Class                   : Display Device Profile
Color Space Data                : RGB
Profile Connection Space        : XYZ
Profile Date Time               : 2022:01:01 00:00:00
Profile File Signature          : acsp
Primary Platform                : Apple Computer Inc.
CMM Flags                       : Not Embedded, Independent
Device Manufacturer             : Apple Computer Inc.
Device Model                    : 
Device Attributes               : Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
Rendering Intent                : Perceptual
Connection Space Illuminant     : 0.9642 1 0.82491
Profile Creator                 : Apple Computer Inc.
Profile ID                      : ecfda38e388547c36db4bd4f7ada182f
Profile Description             : Display P3
Profile Copyright               : Copyright Apple Inc., 2022
Media White Point               : 0.96419 1 0.82489
Red Matrix Column               : 0.51512 0.2412 -0.00105
Green Matrix Column             : 0.29198 0.69225 0.04189
Blue Matrix Column              : 0.1571 0.06657 0.78407
Red Tone Reproduction Curve     : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Chromatic Adaptation            : 1.04788 0.02292 -0.0502 0.02959 0.99048 -0.01706 -0.00923 0.01508 0.75168
Blue Tone Reproduction Curve    : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Green Tone Reproduction Curve   : (Binary data 32 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Image Width                     : 4032
Image Height                    : 3024
Image Spatial Extent            : 4032x3024
Rotation                        : Horizontal (Normal)
Image Pixel Depth               : 8 8 8
HEVC Configuration Version      : 1
General Profile Space           : Conforming
General Tier Flag               : Main Tier
General Profile IDC             : Main Still Picture
Gen Profile Compatibility Flags : Main Still Picture, Main 10, Main
Constraint Indicator Flags      : 176 0 0 0 0 0
General Level IDC               : 90 (level 3.0)
Min Spatial Segmentation IDC    : 0
Parallelism Type                : 0
Chroma Format                   : 4:2:0
Bit Depth Luma                  : 8
Bit Depth Chroma                : 8
Average Frame Rate              : 0
Constant Frame Rate             : Unknown
Num Temporal Layers             : 1
Temporal ID Nested              : No
Media Data Size                 : 6686948
Media Data Offset               : 3225
Run Time Since Power Up         : 11 days 11:42:39
Aperture                        : 1.5
Image Size                      : 4032x3024
Megapixels                      : 12.2
Scale Factor To 35 mm Equivalent: 4.6
Shutter Speed                   : 1/198
Create Date                     : 2025:08:31 19:20:17.057+08:00
Date/Time Original              : 2025:08:31 19:20:17.057+08:00
Modify Date                     : 2025:08:31 19:20:17+08:00
GPS Altitude                    : 10.1 m Above Sea Level
GPS Date/Time                   : 2025:08:31 11:20:16.92Z
GPS Latitude                    : xxxx
GPS Longitude                   : xxxx
Circle Of Confusion             : 0.007 mm
Field Of View                   : 69.4 deg
Focal Length                    : 5.7 mm (35 mm equivalent: 26.0 mm)
GPS Position                    : 31 deg 7' 59.46" N, 121 deg 36' 44.53" E
Hyperfocal Distance             : 3.29 m
Light Value                     : 10.1
Lens ID                         : iPhone 13 Pro back camera 5.7mm f/1.5

[jrasm91]

Unless you grant location permission to the app, the operating system will strip the GPS location when Immich accesses the file.

[MamoruDS]

iOS consistently strips GPS data from photos taken with third-party camera apps. On my iPhone 16, I've observed this behavior on both iOS 18 and iOS 26, the GPS gets removed unless the transfer is handled by iOS itself (for instance, using AirDrop or saving to Files first) actively shared from the Photos app via sharesheet. This appears to be an iOS thing that's completely irrelevant to location permissions or the immich client.

[brent20]

This is correct. In the Share Sheet- there's an indicator and option to include or remove location information:

[aitkja]

I am getting this on my iphones uploaded images as well.
I can redownload that same image back out of immich to my PC and check its meta data. The GPS data is all there in the file, they just don't show up as locations in Immich anymore.

I have had cases a few months back where I took photos in a building and about 80% had location data and random ones did load load location data to Immich.

Is there a way to regrab all this data if it technically exists in the files to sync it all back to immich to see?

Immich Server Version: 2.2.1

[horstt]

I have the same issue, latest version of the server and app. When uploading a photo through web, the GPS coordinates are retained, but uploading from the iOS app strips the GPS data. Using immich-native by arter97, in a Debian Trixie LXC container.

[duckfullstop]

Also experiencing this issue on Server 2.3.1, app 2.3.0.build.236, iOS 26.2.

I don't think it's related to the absence (or presence) of the location permission, as forcing the app to request this permission (by opening the map in Places and requesting current location) leaves all photos in the picker with "Add a location" in their respective drawers. This persists even if I take new photos; these new shots also don't appear with any location information.

Did something in the photo access APIs change in iOS 26? I can't see anything in the documentation regarding CLLocation or anything related...

[davidschlachter]

I thought I had the issue where GPS metadata was retained in the file uploaded to the library, but that it didn't show up in the app (only after downloading the file from Immich). But what was really happening was that immich was still scanning metadata (first import) and hadn't parsed the GPS tags yet. Once the metadata scanning completed, all the GPS locations appeared in the app.