Can a Photo Reveal Your Camera’s Serial Number? Checking and Removing It from Exif
Few people realise that the serial number of their camera can be read from photos they post on a blog or social media. Photos from DSLRs and mirrorless cameras may have the serial numbers of the camera body and lens recorded in their Exif. This article explains which fields hold serial numbers, what can happen if someone reads them, how phone photos differ, and how to check for and remove them.
Where serial numbers are stored in Exif
Since Exif 2.3 in 2010, Exif has had dedicated fields for the serial numbers of the camera body and lens. Even before that, manufacturers wrote serial numbers into their own area, the maker notes. These are the main places in a photo where a number that identifies your equipment can appear.
| Field | Contents | Mainly written by |
|---|---|---|
| BodySerialNumber | Serial number of the camera body | DSLRs and mirrorless cameras |
| LensSerialNumber | Serial number of the lens | Cameras fitted with interchangeable lenses that communicate with the body |
| Maker notes (MakerNote) | Manufacturer-specific data. Depending on the model, the serial number or shot count (shutter count) | Most digital cameras |
| ImageUniqueID | A unique ID for each photo | Some cameras and phones |
| XMP aux:SerialNumber and similar | Serial number copied over by editing software | Photos exported from Lightroom and similar apps |
| CameraOwnerName | Owner name set in the camera | Cameras where an owner name has been set |
The format of maker notes differs from one manufacturer to another, and ordinary viewers sometimes can’t read them. Even if they can’t be read, they may still contain a serial number.
What can happen if someone reads your serial number
Unlike location data, a serial number won’t reveal your address on its own. The problem is that it lets someone link photos posted in different places as “taken with the same camera”.
- If photos from an account that posts anonymously and photos on a blog run under your real name share a serial number, someone can guess they belong to the same person
- Even if your real-name account only has photos with the location removed, they can be linked to the location data in the anonymous account’s photos
- From the shot count, someone can estimate how heavily you use the camera and even its rough resale value
Do phone photos contain serial numbers too?
Photos from iPhones and most Android phones generally don’t record the device’s serial number. Depending on the model, though, they may contain a per-photo unique ID (ImageUniqueID) or manufacturer-specific data. A unique ID differs for every photo, so it doesn’t identify the device by itself, but it can help trace a photo that has been reposted elsewhere.
| Device | Body serial number | Information to watch |
|---|---|---|
| DSLRs and mirrorless cameras | Often present | Serial numbers, maker notes, owner name |
| Compact digital cameras | Depends on the model | Maker notes |
| Smartphones | Usually not present | Location, model name, unique ID |
| Photos exported from Lightroom and similar apps | May carry over the original camera’s values | Serial numbers copied into XMP, edit history |
Models vary a lot, and even within one manufacturer it changes between generations. The surest way to know what your own equipment does is to check a photo you actually took.
How to check for a serial number
- 1
Get a photo straight from your camera
Use a JPEG exactly as imported from the camera, not an image you saved back from social media. Images that have passed through social media usually have their Exif stripped, so they won’t tell you anything.
- 2
Put it into the Photo Exif & Location Checker
When you drop in the photo, the “Serial numbers & unique IDs” item is shown with a red “High risk” badge. The photo is read only inside your browser and is never sent to a server.
- 3
See where it’s stored
Use “Show all items” to check the camera body serial number, lens serial number, image unique ID and the size of the maker notes. Numbers copied into XMP are shown under the same category.
Remove only the serial number and keep everything else
When you post photos as your work, you may want to keep the shooting settings (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) and camera model. In that case, rather than removing all Exif, choose to remove only the serial numbers.
- Select “Serial numbers & unique IDs” under “Choose what to remove” to strip the body and lens serial numbers, the image unique ID, the maker notes and any numbers copied into XMP in one go.
- Removed items are filled with zeros and the positions of other items don’t move. The image data isn’t redrawn, so the quality is unchanged.
- If you also want to remove the owner or photographer name, select “Names, copyright & comments” as well.
- If the photo also has a location, select “Location (GPS)” too. A serial number together with a location has the biggest impact if the photos are linked.
Embedded thumbnails that keep the uncropped picture are covered in Exif thumbnails that keep the uncropped photo, and the full picture of removing Exif without losing quality in how to remove Exif without losing quality.
FAQ
- Can someone tell my camera’s serial number from a photo?
- Photos from DSLRs and mirrorless cameras often have the camera body’s serial number in the Exif BodySerialNumber field or the maker notes, and any tool that reads Exif can show it. Smartphone photos usually don’t contain the device’s serial number.
- What is BodySerialNumber?
- It’s a field added in Exif 2.3 for the serial number of the camera body. LensSerialNumber, for the lens serial number, and CameraOwnerName, for the camera owner’s name, were added at the same time.
- Can I remove only the serial number and keep the shooting settings?
- Yes. In the Photo Exif & Location Checker, select only “Serial numbers & unique IDs” under “Choose what to remove”. It strips the serial numbers, unique IDs and maker notes, and keeps shooting settings such as shutter speed and aperture, the camera model and the date taken.
- Can I find a stolen camera by the serial number in photos?
- If photos taken with the stolen camera are posted online with their Exif intact, you may be able to find it by its serial number. That’s why it’s useful to note your camera’s serial number from a photo you have. Photos posted to social media usually have their Exif stripped, though, so there’s no guarantee.
Tools in this article
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