View photo metadata

In the Library module, the Metadata panel displays the filename, file path, rating, text label, and EXIF and IPTC metadata of selected photos. Use the pop-up menu to choose a set of metadata fields. Lightroom has premade sets that display different combinations of metadata.

With one or more photos selected in the Grid view, or with a single photo selected in the Filmstrip in Loupe, Compare, or Survey view, choose any of the following from the pop-up menu at the top of the Metadata panel:

Default: Shows the filename, copy name, folder, rating, text label, and a subset of IPTC and EXIF metadata.
All: Shows the filename, copy name, file path, rating, text label, and all EXIF and IPTC metadata.
All Plug-in Metadata: Displays custom metadata created by third-party plug-ins. If you don’t have any plug-ins installed, filename, copy name, and folder are displayed.
EXIF: Shows the filename, file path, and EXIF metadata.
IPTC: Shows the filename and all IPTC metadata.
Large Caption: Shows a large caption edit box and the copyright box.
Location: Shows the filename, copy name, folder, title, caption, and location fields.
Minimal: Shows the filename, rating, plus Caption and Copyright metadata.
Quick Describe: Shows the filename, copy name, file path, rating, and the following EXIF and IPTC metadata: Dimensions, Date Time, Camera, Title, Caption, Copyright, Creator, and Location.

In the Metadata panel, if an IPTC metadata field displays an arrow, clicking the arrow is a quick way to find and view all photos containing the specific metadata.

If multiple photos with different metadata settings are selected, the metadata fields display <mixed>. To show the metadata for the photo that’s targeted (active) within the selection, choose Metadata > Show Metadata For Target Photo Only. If more than one photo is selected in the Filmstrip in Loupe, Compare, or Survey view, the Metadata panel displays metadata only for the active photo.

If your camera records GPS metadata, the information will appear as EXIF metadata. If your camera does not support GPS, you can use a geotagging device to capture GPS coordinates, and then use third-party software to merge that data with the photo. Alternatively, Jeffrey Friedl’s GPS Support plug-in allows Lightroom to read data from a GPS device’s track log, or lets you directly “geoencode” a specific location. For more information on geotagging and Lightroom, see the Lightroom Killer Tips GPS info video, Geolocation and Lightroom by Richard Earney, GPS metadata and linking to Google Earth, by Martin Evening, and A GPS for your digital camera, by Terry White.