Geotag Photos in Apple Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide
Adding Location Data to Your Photos with Apple Photos
While the usage of dedicated digital cameras is decreasing, a market still exists for them. If your camera lacks automatic geo-tagging functionality, you can manually add location information using Apple’s Photos application.
How Smartphones Automatically Geo-Tag
Typically, smartphones – both iPhones and Android devices – automatically embed location data into the photos they capture. This feature offers a high degree of precision, which is why some users opt to disable geotagging and remove personal data before sharing images online.
Related: What Is EXIF Data, and How Can I Remove It From My Photos?
Consider the following image, which includes location data associated with a smoothie. To view this information within Apple’s Photos app on a Mac, simply select the photo and press Command+I to access its metadata.
This metadata encompasses details like the image name, date, size (dimensions and file size), and more. You can also incorporate descriptions and identify faces within the photo.
The location data is displayed at the bottom of the metadata panel.
Geo-Tagging Photos from Cameras Without GPS
Here’s an example using a digital camera that doesn’t have built-in GPS capabilities. Consequently, the photo wasn’t automatically tagged with location data.
However, we can assign a location manually by clicking the "Assign a Location" option at the bottom of the info panel.
You aren't required to enter the complete location name. Typing just a few characters or the initial word will populate a dropdown list with suggestions.
Once you’ve chosen a location (accuracy will depend on the specificity of the address), press "Enter" to save the information to your photo.
Applying Location Data to Multiple Photos
What if you need to tag numerous photos simultaneously? It’s unlikely you only captured a few images during a trip.
The process is straightforward. Select the desired photos by clicking and dragging to create a selection, using the Command key to choose individual photos, or the Shift key to select a range.
The info panel will display the number of selected photos. You can then add relevant details such as a title, keywords, and, importantly, location.
In the "Assign a Location" field, simply type a few letters of the location name, and a dropdown list of options will appear. Because multiple photos are selected, the location information will be applied to all of them at once.
Platform Limitations
Currently, adding geo-tag information is only supported within the Photos app on macOS. Attempting to do so in Photos for iOS will not allow you to edit the metadata, including location data.
For iOS users, an application like GeoTagr can provide this functionality. However, given that iPhones and iPads already geo-tag photos by default, the need to manually tag photos from other cameras may be less pressing.