Read, write, and remove metadata from 150+ file formats using ExifTool
mcp-name: io.github.joshmsimpson/exiftool
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides access to ExifTool for reading, writing, and removing metadata from a wide range of file types.
Image Formats:
Video Formats:
Audio Formats:
Document Formats:
Archive Formats:
Other Formats:
ExifTool must be installed on your system. This MCP server is a wrapper that calls the ExifTool command-line tool.
macOS:
brew install exiftool
Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt-get install libimage-exiftool-perl
Windows: Download from https://exiftool.org/
Verify installation:
exiftool -ver
pip install exiftool-mcp
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"exiftool": {
"command": "exiftool-mcp"
}
}
}
The server communicates via stdio and follows the Model Context Protocol specification.
read_metadataRead metadata from a file using ExifTool.
Parameters:
file_path (required): Path to the file (absolute or relative)tags (optional): Array of specific metadata tags to extract (e.g., ["DateTimeOriginal", "Make", "Model"])Example:
{
"file_path": "/path/to/image.jpg",
"tags": ["DateTimeOriginal", "Make", "Model", "GPSLatitude", "GPSLongitude"]
}
write_metadataWrite or update metadata tags in a file using ExifTool. Creates a backup by default.
Parameters:
file_path (required): Path to the file (absolute or relative)tags (required): Dictionary of metadata tags to write (e.g., {"Artist": "John Doe", "Copyright": "2025"})overwrite_original (optional): If true, overwrites the original file without creating a backup. Default is false.Example:
{
"file_path": "/path/to/image.jpg",
"tags": {
"Artist": "John Doe",
"Copyright": "2025",
"Comment": "Beautiful sunset"
},
"overwrite_original": false
}
remove_metadataRemove metadata from a file using ExifTool. Can remove all metadata or specific tags.
Parameters:
file_path (required): Path to the file (absolute or relative)tags (optional): Array of specific metadata tags to remove (e.g., ["GPS*", "Comment"]). If not specified, all metadata is removed.overwrite_original (optional): If true, overwrites the original file without creating a backup. Default is false.Example:
{
"file_path": "/path/to/image.jpg",
"tags": ["GPS*", "Location*"],
"overwrite_original": false
}
list_supported_formatsList all file formats supported by ExifTool.
Parameters: None
Use the read_metadata tool with file_path: "photo.jpg"
Use the read_metadata tool with:
- file_path: "photo.jpg"
- tags: ["DateTimeOriginal", "Make", "Model", "LensModel"]
Use the write_metadata tool with:
- file_path: "photo.jpg"
- tags: {"Artist": "Jane Smith", "Copyright": "2025", "Rating": "5"}
Use the remove_metadata tool with:
- file_path: "photo.jpg"
- tags: ["GPS*"]
Use the remove_metadata tool with:
- file_path: "photo.jpg"
(no tags specified removes all metadata)
Use the list_supported_formats tool
git clone https://github.com/joshmsimpson/exiftool_mcp.git
cd exiftool_mcp
pip install -e .
python -m exiftool_mcp.server
MIT
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
Source-derived launch command. Check the maintainer’s required arguments and credentials before running:
uvx exiftool-mcpMerge this template into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Keep existing servers. Add any arguments, credentials, and permissions required by the maintainer; this template has not been install-tested.
{
"mcpServers": {
"io-github-joshmsimpson-exiftool": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"exiftool-mcp"
]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect. Confirm the server appears connected in the client’s tool list, then try a read-only example from its documentation.
Claude Desktop setup referenceio.github.joshmsimpson/exiftool works with any MCP-compatible client. Copy the config snippet from the Configuration section above and add it to the file shown for your client, then restart the application.
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonRestart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect.~/.cursor/mcp.jsonRestart Cursor for changes to take effect..vscode/mcp.jsonReload VS Code window for changes to take effect.~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.jsonRestart Windsurf for changes to take effect..mcp.jsonSave at the project root, then start Claude Code in that project and review the MCP server approval prompt. Keep real credentials out of shared files.