Metadata++ is a freeware metadata manager for Windows that reads and changes information in photos, videos, audio files and documents. It combines a folder browser, tag editors and metadata searches with file previews and image tools. Jean Piquemal develops the application, which remains free for personal and professional use.
Reading a folder’s metadata
The folder tree and address bar lead to files on your computer. Metadata++ can show them as a report, tiles, thumbnails or large Jumbo previews. Report view places files in rows, with columns for names, file properties and metadata values.
For photographs, those columns can show shooting dates, camera and lens models, focal lengths and ISO values. Tiles can place GPS information beside an image preview. You can inspect several files in this layout while the folder tree remains available for navigation.
A separate metadata panel shows tag names and their values for the file you choose. It groups entries under their metadata sections, including camera information, GPS coordinates, color profiles and system properties.
Camera metadata includes image orientation, resolution units and separate horizontal and vertical resolution fields. The panel can also expose the thumbnail that an image carries internally. Its thumbnail entry identifies binary data and offers a click-to-edit action.
For location records, Metadata++ shows latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes and seconds, alongside their hemisphere references. It can also show altitude with a sea-level reference, GPS dates and times, movement speed and image direction. Companion fields identify the speed unit and directional reference.
Adding and changing tags
Metadata++ provides controls for EXIF, IPTC, XMP, GPS and miscellaneous metadata. These groups organize different kinds of information within the same file. The editing tools can update fields such as titles, authors, descriptions, keywords and ratings.
You choose the file and the relevant metadata group, then supply the value that you want to change. Metadata++ uses ExifTool for metadata reading and writing. It also lets you remove individual metadata entries from the metadata list, alongside changing the values you want to retain.
Files and metadata containers
The application works across several file families:
- Photos and images include JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, HEIC and camera RAW formats such as CR2 and CRW.
- Audio metadata support includes MP3, MP4, OGG and WAV.
- Video inspection covers formats such as AVI, MP4, DivX and WebM.
- Document formats include DOC, DOCX, XML, OOXML, PDF and RTF.
The information that a file contains determines which values appear during inspection.
Sidecars beyond the file format
Some file formats cannot carry metadata internally. Metadata++ can create a sidecar containing your own metadata for those files. The sidecar supplies a separate place for information such as ratings and notes.
You choose the file and create its sidecar through the metadata tools.
Finding files through metadata
You supply the criteria through the search tools, and the application finds files that match. A search can use multiple criteria within the same operation.
File Passport and origin records
File Passport gathers information about a file’s origin, provenance and history into a concise view. It also examines metadata consistency and information that could reveal sensitive details. This presents an overview alongside the application’s individual tag inspection.
Metadata++ also analyzes C2PA records and related JUMBF or CBOR data. It looks for manifests, creation or modification declarations involving AI, and information about the generator or software agent. C2PA actions and signature presence form part of that analysis.
Previewing and saving images
The Space bar opens a preview of the file you choose. The fullscreen viewer provides visual effects and a Save As command. Metadata++ can convert images that it opens into JPEG, PNG or WebP output.
You can also choose an image enhancement to remove its background automatically, reduce blur or increase its resolution through upscaling.
