Flash: What This Metadata Tag Means
Flash records whether the flash fired when a photo was taken, and in which mode, for example Off, Did not fire or Auto, Fired.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
What it means
The value combines several facts: whether the flash fired, whether it was set to auto, on, or off, and sometimes whether red-eye reduction was used.
Example
- Tag
- Flash
- Group in ExifMeta
- EXIF
- Example value
- Off, Did not fire
This is how the tag appears in ExifMeta’s results. The value in your file will differ.
Typical values
ExifTool spells out the meaning, for example Off, Did not fire; Auto, Fired; On, Fired, Red-eye reduction; or No flash function for devices without a flash.
Where it comes from
The camera writes it at capture, including phones with an LED flash.
What it is useful for
It explains harsh light, hard shadows, or red eyes in a photo, and it helps sort indoor and night shots in an archive.
Watch out for
It reports what the camera itself triggered. An external or studio flash may be recorded only partly, or not at all.
Find it in your file
Upload a file to ExifMeta, then type Flash into the “Search tags and values” box under All metadata. If nothing matches, the file does not contain this tag.
Learn more in the guide: How to See What Camera Settings a Photo Used
See the tags in your own file
Upload a photo, video, audio file, or document to see every tag it contains. Free, no account needed.