What the checker looks for
Every photo carries blocks of metadata next to the pixels. The checker opens those blocks in your browser and tells you which ones are there and what they say.
| Marker | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| C2PA / JUMBF | Content credentials: a signed record of which tools created or edited the image | Written by AI generators such as ChatGPT, and by some editors and cameras. Platforms read it as provenance. |
| XMP · DigitalSourceType | A standard IPTC field describing how the image was made | Values such as trainedAlgorithmicMedia say the image was AI-generated (see the table below). |
| EXIF | Camera model, settings, time taken and often GPS location | Rarely the cause of an AI label, but it can reveal where you were. |
| IPTC / Photoshop | Caption, credit, copyright and editing records | Can carry the same AI fields as XMP. |
| PNG text | Free-form text inside PNG files | Stable Diffusion and ComfyUI store the full prompt and settings here. |
| Data after image end | Extra data appended to a JPEG, such as an HDR gain map or a phone's edit history | Can hide a second image with its own metadata. |
How to read DigitalSourceType
When the checker finds this field, it shows the value and what it means. These are the values defined by the IPTC standard. The ones that describe AI involvement are highlighted.
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| trainedAlgorithmicMedia | Generated by an AI model |
| compositeWithTrainedAlgorithmicMedia | Partly generated or edited with AI, for example generative fill or object removal |
| algorithmicMedia | Created by an algorithm without a trained model, for example procedural graphics |
| compositeSynthetic | A composite that includes synthetic elements |
| algorithmicallyEnhanced | A camera image enhanced by an algorithm |
| digitalCapture | Captured by a digital camera |
| minorHumanEdits | A camera image with minor human edits |
| compositeCapture | A composite of several camera images |
| digitalArt | Created by a person using digital tools |
| screenCapture | A screenshot |
| negativeFilm · positiveFilm · print | Scanned from film or a print |
| dataDrivenMedia · virtualRecording | Created from data, or recorded in a virtual environment |
What your result means
AI markers found
The file itself records AI involvement. If a platform labeled your post, this is the likely reason. If you edited your own photo and the record no longer describes what you made, you can remove the metadata and post the cleaned copy — see the Instagram guide for the steps.
Only camera or privacy metadata found
Nothing in the file points to AI. Removing the EXIF and GPS data is still a good idea before sharing, but it is unlikely to change a label.
Nothing found
The file carries no removable metadata. If it still gets labeled, the label comes from somewhere else: a label you or a collaborator added when posting, or the platform's own analysis of the image.
What a metadata checker can't tell you
- It doesn't analyse pixels. An AI image whose metadata was removed will show as clean.
- It can't read invisible watermarks such as SynthID, which live in the pixels, not in metadata.
- It doesn't verify signatures. It shows that content credentials are present and what they mention; it does not check whether the signature is valid.
So treat the result as "what this file says about itself" — not as proof of how an image was made.
FAQ
How do I check if a photo has AI metadata?
Drop the file into the checker at the top of this page. It reads the file's metadata blocks in your browser and lists any C2PA content credentials, XMP DigitalSourceType value, EXIF, IPTC or PNG text it finds, including AI tools named in the file.
Does the checker upload my photo?
No. The file is read inside your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, and the checker works with your internet connection turned off once the page has loaded.
Can the checker tell if an image was made by AI?
Only if the file says so in its metadata. It reports what the file records about itself. It does not analyse pixels, so it cannot detect AI images whose metadata was removed, or read invisible watermarks such as SynthID.
My photo has no AI metadata but still got labeled. Why?
The label came from another signal, such as a self-applied label when posting or the platform's own analysis. Removing metadata won't change it in that case.
What does trainedAlgorithmicMedia mean?
It is an IPTC Digital Source Type value meaning the image was created by a generative AI model. compositeWithTrainedAlgorithmicMedia means part of the image was generated or edited with AI.
Use on files you own and follow platform terms and applicable law. See the disclaimer.