GPS in EXIF and XMP sidecars · Docs

LightGPX saves each photo's location in the photo's EXIF or in an XMP sidecar. This page lists which one each format gets, and why.

Where a location is saved

LightGPX saves a photo's location in one of three places.

Place	What it is
EXIF	EXIF is the information stored inside the photo file. LightGPX stores the location there, in the same place a camera with built-in GPS stores it. Apps that read photo locations then show it.
XMP sidecar	LightGPX creates a small file with the same name as the photo, such as `IMG_0412.xmp`, in the same folder. The photo file does not change. A RAW and a JPEG with the same name share one sidecar. If Lightroom Classic already made a sidecar, LightGPX safely adds the location to it without erasing your Lightroom Classic edits.
Nowhere	LightGPX does not write to Photoshop documents or to formats it does not open.

The setting Write GPS into photo EXIF in Settings > General decides where LightGPX saves the location. It is on by default. When it is on, LightGPX saves the location in each photo's EXIF. When it is off, LightGPX saves a sidecar for each photo and changes no photo file.

Some formats cannot hold a location in EXIF. These always get a sidecar, whatever the setting says. A photo that already has a location keeps it, and LightGPX does not write to it. LightGPX changes only the location, never the picture.

Support at a glance

This table covers every format LightGPX opens. LightGPX saves each photo's location in one place, either EXIF or a sidecar.

Result	Formats	What happens
EXIF or sidecar	`CR3CR2NEFNRWARWRAFPEFX3FJPGJPEGHEICHEIFTIFTIFFDNG`	The format can hold the location in EXIF or in a sidecar. Your setting picks which one LightGPX uses.
Sidecar only	`CRWSR2SRFORFORIRW2RAWRWLSRW3FRFFFDCR`	LightGPX saves the location in a sidecar next to the photo.
Not tested yet	`IIQMOSERFMRW`	These formats have not been tested yet. If LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF safely, it saves a sidecar.
Neither	`PSDPSBPNGGIFBMPWebPAVIFSVGJXLJP2`	LightGPX never writes Photoshop documents. It does not open the other formats.

LightGPX can still refuse a single file in an "EXIF or sidecar" format. The tables below explain when this happens.

RAW formats by vendor

EXIF says whether LightGPX writes the location into the RAW's EXIF. XMP sidecar says whether LightGPX can save the location in a sidecar next to the RAW instead.

Vendor	File type	EXIF	XMP sidecar	Why
Canon	`CR3`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of CR3 files.
	`CR2`	Most files	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of CR2 files. A few CR2 files hold data that the write would change. LightGPX saves a sidecar for those files.
	`CRW`	No	Yes	This old Canon format has no EXIF, so LightGPX saves a sidecar.
Nikon	`NEF`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of NEF files.
Nikon	`NRW`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of NRW files.
Sony	`ARW`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of ARW files.
	`SR2`	No	Yes	Writing a location into the EXIF of an SR2 file would change other data in the file, so LightGPX saves a sidecar.
	`SRF`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of SRF files, so it saves a sidecar.
Fujifilm	`RAF`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of RAF files, from current bodies and older FinePix models.
Olympus and OM System	`ORFORI`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write a location into the EXIF of these files without a risk to the picture, so it saves a sidecar.
Panasonic	`RW2`	No	Yes	Writing a location into the EXIF moves the picture data inside the file, so LightGPX saves a sidecar.
Panasonic	`RAW`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of the older .RAW format, so it saves a sidecar.
Leica	`RWL`	No	Yes	RWL files use the same layout as Panasonic RW2 files. Writing a location into the EXIF moves the picture data, so LightGPX saves a sidecar.
Leica	`RAW`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of the older .RAW format, so it saves a sidecar.
Pentax and Ricoh	`PEF`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of PEF files.
Pentax and Ricoh	`RAW`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of the older .RAW format, so it saves a sidecar.
Samsung	`SRW`	No	Yes	Writing a location into the EXIF of an SRW file changes other data in the file, so LightGPX saves a sidecar.
Hasselblad	`3FRFFF`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of these formats, so it saves a sidecar.
Sigma	`X3F`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of X3F files. macOS Photos and Finder cannot open X3F files, so they do not show the location.
Kodak	`DCR`	No	Yes	LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF of DCR files, so it saves a sidecar.
Phase One, Leaf, Epson, Konica Minolta	`IIQMOSERFMRW`	Not tested yet	Yes	These formats have not been tested yet. If LightGPX cannot write into the EXIF safely, it saves a sidecar.

JPEG, HEIC, TIFF, DNG and others

These formats belong to no single vendor. DNG is a RAW format from Adobe that many makers use, including Apple (ProRAW), DJI drones, Leica, Pentax, Ricoh and Sigma.

File type	EXIF	XMP sidecar	Why
`JPGJPEG`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of JPEG files, including drone JPEGs that hold a second image. LightGPX saves no sidecar for a refused JPEG.
`HEICHEIF`	Yes	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of HEIC and HEIF files. LightGPX saves no sidecar for a refused HEIC.
`TIFTIFF`	Most files	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of TIFF files. Canon EOS-1D and 1Ds RAW images saved as TIFF cannot be written. LightGPX saves no sidecar for a refused TIFF.
`DNG`	Most files	Yes	LightGPX writes the location into the EXIF of DNG files, including Apple ProRAW and DJI drone files. A few DNG files cannot be written safely. LightGPX saves no sidecar for a refused DNG.
`PSDPSB`	No	No	LightGPX never writes Photoshop documents, in EXIF or in a sidecar.
`PNGGIFBMPWebPAVIFSVGJXLJP2`	No	No	LightGPX does not open these formats, so it never writes to them.

When a file is refused

LightGPX refuses a write when it cannot add the location safely. Your original file stays untouched. What happens next depends on the format.

Refused file	What LightGPX does	Why
Any RAW except DNG	LightGPX saves the location in a sidecar and says so in the summary.	Lightroom Classic reads a sidecar next to a RAW.
DNG, JPEG, HEIC, TIFF	LightGPX writes nothing, lists the file in the summary, and tries again the next time you Synchronize.	Lightroom Classic ignores a sidecar next to these formats. Lightroom Classic keeps a DNG's metadata inside the file.

A file can also fail for other reasons: it is not downloaded yet from iCloud Drive or Dropbox, your Mac cannot write to it, or it is a link or alias to another file. LightGPX leaves these files untouched, lists them in the summary, and tries again at the next Synchronize.

Choosing the setting

When the setting is on (the default), each photo holds its location in its own EXIF, so the location stays with the file when you copy, export or upload it. Formats that cannot hold a location still get a sidecar.
When the setting is off, no photo file changes and every photo gets a sidecar. Lightroom Classic reads a sidecar next to a RAW, but it ignores one next to a JPEG, HEIC, TIFF or DNG. Those photos show no location in Lightroom Classic until you turn the setting on.

Switching the setting does not change any photo by itself. The next Synchronize uses the new choice.