TL;DR: Microsoft Teams is enhancing user privacy by automatically stripping EXIF metadata (GPS, device info, timestamps) from shared images starting in February 2026. This feature is on by default and affects all desktop and web platforms. To preserve metadata, users must utilize OneDrive sharing links. This should be rolling out in February according to Microsoft.
What is EXIF Metadata and Why is it a Risk?
Every time you take a photo with a smartphone or digital camera, the device embeds Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data into the file. While invisible to the naked eye, this data includes:
- Precise GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken.
- Device hardware details (Manufacturer, model, and software version).
- Technical settings (Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed).
In a corporate environment, this poses a significant ‘ operational security ‘ risk. An executive sharing a photo from a private event or a field worker sharing a site photo could unintentionally reveal restricted locations or daily routines to anyone with access to the chat.
The Microsoft Teams Solution
Starting in early 2026, Microsoft Teams will automatically sanitize images shared directly in chats and channels. This update targets Teams for Windows, Mac, and the web, ensuring a consistent security posture across the entire organization.
The sanitization process happens during the upload phase. The visible pixels of the image remain identical, but the ‘ technical sidecar ‘ of data is stripped away. This follows the industry standard already set by consumer platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, bringing enterprise-grade privacy to the workplace.
[Placeholder for Image: A conceptual graphic showing a photo being ‘ cleaned ‘ of its GPS and device tags as it enters a Teams chat]
How to Preserve Metadata When Necessary
While this is a win for privacy, certain workflows—such as site surveys, forensic reporting, or technical inspections—require the metadata to remain intact.
Microsoft has provided a clear workaround for these scenarios:
- Upload to OneDrive: Upload the original image to a OneDrive or SharePoint folder.
- Share a Link: Use the ‘ Share ‘ button to generate a link and paste that link into the Teams chat.
- Download via Link: When the recipient accesses the file via the link, the original file (including all EXIF data) remains untouched.
Rollout Timeline for 2026
The rollout is phased across different tenant types to ensure stability:
- Targeted Release: Late January to early February 2026.
- Worldwide & GCC: Mid-February to early March 2026.
Strategic Recommendations for Admins
Because this feature is on by default and requires no administrative configuration, the primary task for IT teams is education.
- Update Training: Inform teams who rely on ‘ photo documentation ‘ (like maintenance or security teams) that their direct uploads will now be ‘ clean ‘ of location data.
- Review Integrations: If you have third-party bots or flows that ‘ scrape ‘ EXIF data from Teams messages, these will likely break once the update hits your tenant.
FAQ
Does this affect images sent as ‘ Files ‘ in the Shared tab? Yes. If the image is shared through the Teams interface (chat or channel), the metadata is removed.
Will this affect my old photos already in Teams? No. This policy applies to newly shared images from the date the feature is enabled in your tenant. Existing images will not be retroactively sanitized.
Is there an admin toggle to turn this off? No. At this stage, Microsoft has implemented this as a fundamental privacy improvement that cannot be disabled at the tenant level.
What file types are affected? Standard image formats such as JPEG, PNG, and HEIC are the primary targets for EXIF removal.