Restore EXIF metadata in photos and videos
Restoring EXIF means recovering technical and descriptive information that may have been removed, separated or ignored during an export.
Microsoft Store will be the recommended path when the link is available. The classic installer remains available from the site.
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When this guide helps
The problem often appears after social networks, messaging apps, cloud exports or editors remove important fields.
Not everything can be restored. A good process separates existing fields, sidecar data and information that is no longer available.
What usually goes wrong
The most expensive mistakes happen when an entire batch is changed before the source metadata is understood. In large libraries, one wrong decision multiplies quickly.
- Inventing metadata when no reliable source exists.
- Overwriting useful fields with weaker sidecar data.
- Forgetting that video metadata may not be EXIF.
- Treating thumbnails or edited copies as originals.
Recommended safe method
The most reliable path is to work from a sample, keep a backup and record each exception. That protects the archive and makes the result easier to explain later.
- Find the best source: original files, backup, JSON, XMP or folder context.
- Test restoration on copies.
- Compare before and after fields.
- Keep files with uncertain sources in a review group.
How MetaVault Studio fits
MetaVault Studio helps restore available metadata locally while making uncertain or failed items explicit instead of hiding them in the result.
The focus is local processing: your photos and videos are not automatically sent to a server. The site and server handle license, purchase and support only when those flows are used.
Checklist before processing everything
- Is every restored field tied to a source?
- Did the destination app read the restored value?
- Were originals protected?
- Does the report explain failures?
How this appears in the MetaVault Studio workflow
The app is designed to import a folder, apply or extract metadata, track progress and review results through a report. That turns metadata repair into a verifiable process.
Transparency and limits
Not every lost metadata field can be reconstructed. When there is no reliable source, the best result is to separate the case for review instead of inventing information. Google, Microsoft, Apple, ExifTool and other names mentioned here belong to their respective owners; use is descriptive.
Related guides
Common questions
Can I process the whole library at once?
The safer path is to start with a sample. After dates, reports and exceptions are validated, the same profile can be applied to the full batch.
Does MetaVault visually change my photos?
The metadata workflow is meant to write or extract information, not recompress the visual content. Still, keep a backup and use copy mode when there is risk.
What happens to files without reliable metadata?
They should appear in the report or in review folders. This keeps uncertain files from silently contaminating the final result.