Software: What This Metadata Tag Means
Software names the program or firmware that last wrote a file, such as a camera firmware version, a phone’s system version, or Adobe Photoshop.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
What it means
On a photo straight from the camera, Software is usually the camera firmware or the phone’s operating system version. After editing, it often names the editor that saved the file.
Example
- Tag
- Software
- Group in ExifMeta
- EXIF
- Example value
- Adobe Photoshop 25.0 (Windows)
This is how the tag appears in ExifMeta’s results. The value in your file will differ.
Typical values
Straight from a device you will usually see a firmware or system version, such as Ver.1.10 on a camera or 17.0.3 on an iPhone. After editing you may see names such as Adobe Photoshop 25.0 (Windows) or GIMP 2.10.
Where it comes from
Cameras write their firmware version at capture. Editors and some apps replace it when they save.
What it is useful for
It is one of the first tags to check when you want to know whether a photo was edited. An editor’s name where you would expect a firmware version means the file was saved by that program.
Watch out for
An editor’s name here suggests the file was saved by that program, not what was changed. Some apps keep the original value and others clear it, so check XMP CreatorTool and the edit history too.
Find it in your file
Upload a file to ExifMeta, then type Software 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 Tell If a Photo Was Edited
See the tags in your own file
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