README.md

September 1, 2026 · View on GitHub

GeoTag for macOS -- macOS 26 or later for GeoTag 6

GeoTag is a free OS X single window application that allows you to update image metadata with geolocation tags by selecting one or more images then panning and zooming within a a map to the place the image was recorded. Clicking on the map will add the location to the selected photos. Clicking on a new location will change the geolocation for the selected photos. Zoom in on the map and fine tune the location with a click. The built in ExifTool utility is used to write location data to the images when you save your changes. ExifTool only modifies image metadata -- your image pixels are not touched.

See http://exiftool.org for information about ExifTool. ExifTool is built-in to GeoTag.

Current versions of GeoTag can also update geolocation information in images from your Photos Library. Apple's Photos framework is used instead of ExifTool for such updates. The original image file is not changed.

Version requirements

  • GeoTag 6.0+ requires macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later
  • GeoTag 5.7 requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later.
  • GeoTag 5.2 thru 5.6 requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
  • Use GeoTag 5.1 if running on macOS Ventura.
  • Those running earlier versions of macOS can use GeoTag version 4.15.

WIP

  • Treat sidecar file metadata as overrrides to image metadata, not a complete replacement. Some image editors apparently create sidecar files with only differences instead of the complete set of metadata.
  • Add a settings option to respect the GPSStatus tag in GPS Metadata. GeoTag will ignore GPSStatus unless the reported latitude and longitude are 0.
  • exiftool 13.59

GeoTag 6.0

Mostly the same user interface, but restructured and rewriten under the hood.

[!NOTE] 6.0.2 improves map search

[!NOTE] 6.0.1 fixes these issues found in the 6.0 release

  • Using finder 'open with' when multiple images are selected would open multiple windows.
  • Save was not enabled when the only change was to image timestamps

A side effect of the multiple window fix is that closing the window no longer terminates the app. You must use ⌘Q or the menu.

Updates

  • Better Undo/Redo support with ability to undo more things. The undo and redo menu items now work correctly.
  • ⌘f to select map search field, ⌘F to select table search field.

Bug Fixes

  • Table of images was not focused when leaving search or text fields; a cause cut/copy/paste intermitent failures. Resolved.
  • option to update file modification time used the previous time if the timestamp was also updated; resolved
  • issues reading elevation from xmp files resolved
  • undo/redo menu
  • using open with... from finder or open -a GeoTag ... from the command line no longer causes the app to quit when it was already running.
  • Apple added Fuji compressed raw image file support

Known issues

  • Images from the Photos Library can not always be displayed. This appears to be an Apple issue that has been reported many times over the years. No known workaround.
  • Undo/Redo are disabled in text and search fields.
  • When showing pins for all selected locations the red (most selected) pin may be hidden by the pin of another location near by unless the zoom level is such that both locations are slightly separated on the map.
  • when changing the selection to an image that has a location some of the pin may off the map view. In an extreme case only the point of the pin is on the map and can not be seen. If you do not see a pin when you expect to zoom out slightly.
  • Double clicking to zoom in or option-double clicking to zoom out will move the pins of selected items. Deselect all items or use a different zoom method to workaround this issue.

Operating Instructions:

See https://www.snafu.org/GeoTag/GeoTagHelp/ for more information.

Run Program. Use the Open command from the menu or ⌘O to select files to modify. You can also drag files from the finder into the table on the left side of the application window. Or you may select images from your Photos Library. File names shown in a light grey color are not recognized as valid image files or are disabled for other reasons. Such files can not be modified. Dragging or opening a folder will add all the files in the folder and any subfolders.

Select one or more images. When selecting multiple images one of the images is considered the "most selected". The name of the most selected image is shown in yellow using a bolder font. The thumbnail of the most selected image is displayed in the image well (upper right portion of the window). Its location (if any) is marked on the map.

Click on the map to set or change the location of all selected images. Existing location can be changed by clicking on the desired location. Hitting the delete key will remove location information from all selected images. You can Undo/Redo image location changes.

Double click the map to zoom in. Option-double click to zoom out. Or use pinch gestures to zoom in and out if using a touch pad.

Five map styles --- Standard, Imagery, Hybrid, Standard with traffic, and Hybrid with traffic --- are supported. Right click on the map to select the desired map style. If you find yourself working in a specific area of a map you can save the location and zoom level by right clicking on the map and selecting Save map location. When GeoTag is launched the map will load to the last saved location using the last map style selected.

You may cut or copy location information from a single image and then paste that information into one or more images. If you make an error you can undo/redo your changes. You can undo all changes to all images by selecting "Discard changes" from the "File" menu. All Undo/Redo information is cleared once changes are discarded or saved.

The original versions of images that have been updated are saved are in a backup folder. The backup folder may be changed using GeoTag Settings. The first time GeoTag is run it will prompt you to select a backup folder. Images updates can not be saved until a backup folder is selected or backups are disabled (not recommended).

Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, and Clear Image List can be accessed from a pop up menu by right clicking on an entry in the list.

Build Instructions for developers

  • Get current sources from github -- https://github.com/marchyman/GeoTag
  • GeoTag uses a project.yml file and xcodegen to generate the GeoTag.xcodeproj bundle. Install and run xcodegen.
  • Open the generated project in Xcode
  • ⌘R will build and run, ⌘B to build only
  • UI testing requires odiff -- install with brew

Please report bugs, make requests, etc. here