Location data can add context to your images, but it’s completely optional. VSCO gives you control over whether to include or remove location information when publishing. Here’s how it works and what to keep in mind.

How Location Sharing Works for Content on VSCO
How to Control Location Sharing for Content on VSCO
Important Considerations for Privacy-Minded Creators
FAQs

How Location Sharing for Content Works on VSCO

Your VSCO settings default to allow for the app to collect location data of where content was captured, and you then have the option to display this information or keep it private when posting to VSCO.

If you choose to include location information when posting to VSCO, our app will pull the location data from your content’s metadata (if available) and display it under the image or video after publishing.

If you choose not to have location data included on your post, it will not be added to the metadata of the new image or video created for your post.

How to Control Location Sharing on VSCO

VSCO App Level Settings

VSCO provides privacy controls within the app that let you decide when location data should be kept private or shared while using VSCO. You can change these settings at any time.

1. Open the VSCO app
   
   
2. Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-left
   
   
3. Go to Privacy & Data
   
   

You’ll see the following options:

On media capture: Turn this off to prevent location info from being saved when taking photos within the VSCO app To your VSCO profile: Turn this off to avoid publishing location data with your content   To camera roll: Turn this off to exclude location when saving content back to your phone   To email: Turn this off to remove location data from images sent via email To other networks: Turn this off to avoid passing location info when sharing to other platforms

Control Location at Time of Publishing

If you want to manage sharing of location data associated with your content when you share content on VSCO, you can select to share or not share at the point of posting.

Once you’ve selected the image you want to post, look for the location toggle to the bottom right on the content on the Post to VSCO screen. Toggle on to include location info (toggle will show as black), or off to keep it private (toggle will show as grey). Tap Post to publish. Note: Once a post is published, you cannot edit the location. If you want to change this setting, you will need to delete the post and re-post that image again without location data by ensuring the location toggle is off.

Important Considerations for Privacy-Minded Creators

If you do not want to share location data, here are some best practices:

• Strip Metadata Before Uploading
  Use your phone or a photo editing app to remove location metadata (EXIF data) from your images before importing them into VSCO.
  
  
• Avoid Sharing Sensitive Locations
  Even if location sharing is enabled, be mindful of where the photo was taken:
  • Avoid revealing private homes, workplaces, schools, or frequently visited spots.
  • When in doubt, leave location toggled off.
    
    
• DSLRs and Other Cameras
  Photos taken with external cameras may still contain GPS metadata depending on your camera settings. Check and strip metadata before transferring them to VSCO.

FAQs

If I disable location sharing in VSCO, does it remove location data from my original image or video?
No. Disabling location sharing in VSCO only affects whether VSCO uses or displays that data. If the original image contains location metadata, it will remain unless you remove it using your device or a third-party tool.

Can I remove location data from a photo or video after it’s been published?
No. Once content is published with location info, it cannot be edited to remove it. You’ll need to delete the post and re-upload the image or video with location sharing disabled.

What if my photo was taken with a DSLR or imported from another app, will VSCO still show the location?
If the photo includes embedded GPS metadata, VSCO may display it if location sharing is turned on. If you want to keep your location private, disable sharing in VSCO and consider stripping metadata before importing.

Need More Help?

Visit our Help Center or submit a request if you have questions about privacy and image sharing.

Last Updated May 30, 2025