This year, Apple is zeroing in on user security and privacy. As we’ve mentioned in all our prior posts, Apple has rolled out a bunch of new security features for iOS users. So, in the iOS 17 beta update, I stumbled upon a fresh feature in the iMessage app. This cool addition lets you send photos without location and caption metadata in iMessage.
We all understand that when you snap a photo with an iPhone camera app, it automatically logs your location when the picture is taken, along with the time, date, and other digital info. With iOS 17, you can tag your photos with captions, making it a breeze to sort through them and jot down brief notes. You can block all this data when sending photos to others via the iMessage app. You can also limit photo access on your iPhone to third-party apps. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of hiding location and caption info when sending photos through iMessage.
How to Prevent Location Data from Being Sent with Photos in iMessage
- Open the Messages app on your iPhone and tap the conversation where you want to send photos.
- Tap the “+” icon to pull up the new iOS 17 app drawer.
- Select the “Photos” option.
- Pick multiple photos to send over to iMessage.
- Once you’ve picked your pics, tap “Options” in the lower-left corner of your iPhone screen.
- A couple of options will appear on your screen. Uncheck both “Location” and “Captions” to stop sending that data with iMessage.
- If you’ve successfully turned off the data, you’ll spot the “Location Not Included” notice at the bottom of your screen. Tap “Done” to move on in the Messages app.
- Hit the blue arrow (Send) button to share photos with your friends.
Voilà! You’ve just kept your personal data from getting out there online with a single tap.
Prevent Your Data Now…
At the time of penning this post, this feature is available in the iOS 17 beta version, and Apple keeps polishing the Messages app with every update. Before the iOS 17 beta 5 release, you could tweak the photo-sharing format, like sending photos in compatible versions, and original versions, and adjusting quality levels automatically. But this feature got the ax in the latest iOS 17 beta 7 update and might return in a stable release.
So, what’s the verdict on this new update? Security could be the top priority for keeping our private life safe. If this guide hits the mark for you, share it with your buddies, and drop a comment below if you need help.
