How to Bulk Remove Metadata in Photoshop

Removing metadata from client files before publishing is essential for protecting private client information, copyright details, device serial numbers, and location data. This guide covers how to quickly bulk scrub metadata from multiple images using Adobe Photoshop’s built-in automation features and Adobe Bridge, ensuring your final deliverables are clean, lightweight, and privacy-compliant.

Method 1: Use an Action with the Batch Automation Tool

The most reliable native method inside Photoshop is creating an Action that strips metadata via the Export engine, then applying it across an entire folder.

Step 1: Create the Scrub Metadata Action

  1. Open any image in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. Open the Actions panel (Window > Actions).
  3. Click the Create New Action icon (plus icon), name it "Scrub Metadata," and click Record.
  4. Navigate to File > Export > Export As....
  5. In the export settings dialog, locate the Metadata dropdown and set it to None.
  6. Select your preferred file format (JPEG, PNG, etc.) and click Export. Choose a temporary location.
  7. Close the active file without saving changes (File > Close).
  8. In the Actions panel, click the square Stop Recording button.

Step 2: Run the Batch Process

  1. Go to File > Automate > Batch....
  2. Under Play, set the Set to the group containing your action and choose Scrub Metadata from the Action list.
  3. Under Source, select Folder, click Choose..., and select the directory containing your client files.
  4. Under Destination, select Folder and choose a target output folder to avoid overwriting your original masters.
  5. Check Override Action "Save As" Commands if necessary, or configure file naming conventions as required.
  6. Click OK to process and strip metadata from all images in the folder.

Method 2: Batch Export via Adobe Bridge

If your workflow includes Adobe Bridge (bundled with Adobe Creative Cloud), it offers a faster workflow that avoids opening Photoshop for every individual image.

  1. Open Adobe Bridge and navigate to the folder containing your client files.
  2. Select all files you want to clean (Ctrl + A on Windows or Cmd + A on macOS).
  3. Open the Export panel on the left dock.
  4. Click Custom Export or drag your selected files onto the Export to JPEG preset.
  5. In the export configuration dialog, go to the Metadata section.
  6. Check Include Metadata and select None from the dropdown menu.
  7. Specify the output location and quality settings.
  8. Click Start Export to strip all EXIF, IPTC, and proprietary camera tags simultaneously.