GPSCoordinates: What This Metadata Tag Means
GPSCoordinates is where videos store location: latitude, longitude, and often altitude in a single QuickTime tag, written by most phones.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
What it means
Videos do not use the EXIF GPS tags that photos use. MP4 and MOV files keep the recording location in one GPSCoordinates value, which ExifTool shows in the QuickTime group.
Example
- Tag
- GPSCoordinates
- Group in ExifMeta
- QuickTime
- Example value
- 48 deg 51' 30.13" N, 2 deg 17' 40.13" E, 35.2 m Above Sea Level
This is how the tag appears in ExifMeta’s results. The value in your file will differ.
Typical values
The value lists latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds, often followed by altitude in meters, all in one line. ExifMeta’s location banner shows the same position in decimal degrees.
Where it comes from
iPhones and many Android phones write it when location is on for the camera app.
What it is useful for
It is the tag to check before you share a video, because it can reveal where you filmed. It also lets you place clips on a map next to photos from the same trip.
Watch out for
Screen recordings, edited exports, and videos sent through messaging or social apps usually lose it. It holds one position for the whole clip, even if you moved while filming.
Find it in your file
Upload a file to ExifMeta, then type GPSCoordinates 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 Check Video Metadata: Date and Location
See the tags in your own file
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