GPSImgDirection: What This Metadata Tag Means
GPSImgDirection is the compass direction the camera was facing when a photo was taken, in degrees from 0 to 359, where 0 is north.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
What it means
0 is north, 90 east, 180 south, and 270 west. GPSImgDirectionRef says whether the value is measured from true north (T) or magnetic north (M).
Example
- Tag
- GPSImgDirection
- Group in ExifMeta
- EXIF
- Example value
- 212.4
This is how the tag appears in ExifMeta’s results. The value in your file will differ.
Typical values
Values are plain numbers such as 212.4. Around 0 the camera faced north, around 90 east, around 180 south, and around 270 west.
Where it comes from
Phones write it using their built-in compass. Few dedicated cameras record it.
What it is useful for
With the coordinates it shows not only where the photographer stood but which way they pointed the camera. That helps match a photo to a street-level view of the place or confirm what the picture shows.
Watch out for
Phone compasses are easily disturbed by metal, magnets, and some cases, so the direction can be off by many degrees.
Find it in your file
Upload a file to ExifMeta, then type GPSImgDirection 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 Where a Photo Was Taken (GPS Location)
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.