How to Remove Midjourney Metadata from Your Images
April 12, 2026
Every image you export from Midjourney carries metadata: XMP creator fields, a job ID UUID, and version information embedded directly in the file. Most people don't know it's there. Platform scanners, print-on-demand services, and forensic tools do.
This guide covers exactly what Midjourney embeds, why it matters beyond Instagram, and how to strip all of it cleanly without re-encoding or degrading the image.
What Midjourney embeds in your images
Midjourney does not use C2PA (unlike Adobe Firefly, DALL-E 3, or Microsoft Copilot). Instead it writes XMP metadata and EXIF fields directly into the image binary. The specific fields vary slightly by export method and model version, but standard Midjourney exports include:
- xmp:CreatorToolSet to "Midjourney" — the primary AI tool identifier
- xmp:Creator / dc:creatorCreator attribution field, also set to Midjourney
- Midjourney job IDA UUID identifying the specific generation, stored in UserComment or custom XMP
- Model versionv6.1, niji 6, etc. recorded in XMP in some export paths
- EXIF Make/ModelMay be blank or set to Midjourney depending on the export method used
Example XMP snippet (Midjourney v6.1 export)
<x:xmpmeta xmlns:x="adobe:ns:meta/">
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description
xmp:CreatorTool="Midjourney"
xmp:CreateDate="2026-04-12T14:23:00"
dc:creator="Midjourney"
photoshop:Source="Midjourney"
>
<exif:UserComment>
Job ID: f4a2c891-3d77-4b12-a9f0-7e1234567890
</exif:UserComment>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
</x:xmpmeta>Midjourney and C2PA: what you need to know
As of 2026, Midjourney does notembed C2PA Content Credentials in standard exports. C2PA is a signed binary certificate format used by Adobe Firefly, DALL-E 3, and Microsoft Copilot Designer. When present, it sits in JPEG APP11 bytes or PNG caBX chunks and triggers Instagram's "Made with AI" label automatically and reliably.
Midjourney skips C2PA entirely. This means Midjourney images do not trigger the Instagram label through the C2PA detection pathway.
However
Instagram runs a visual AI classifier in parallel with metadata scanning. This classifier reads pixels, not metadata. High-quality Midjourney images may still receive the "Made with AI" label through the visual classifier regardless of metadata state. Stripping metadata addresses the metadata detection layer but does not guarantee Instagram's visual classifier won't apply the label independently.
If Instagram labels are your primary concern, see the dedicated guide on Midjourney and the Instagram AI label for a full breakdown of both detection layers.
Why Midjourney metadata matters even without C2PA
Even though Midjourney doesn't use C2PA, the embedded XMP metadata creates real exposure across four use cases:
Reverse-engineering and forensics
Tools like ExifTool, Forensically, and platform-side scanners can identify Midjourney images by reading xmp:CreatorTool and related fields. Journalists, stock agencies, and content investigators routinely check metadata before publishing or licensing.
Print-on-demand platforms
Etsy, Redbubble, Printful, and similar platforms scan uploaded files for AI art indicators. xmp:CreatorTool set to "Midjourney" is a direct flag. Several sellers have had listings removed after metadata scans identified the generating tool.
Privacy and account linkage
The job ID UUID embedded in your image corresponds to a specific generation in Midjourney's systems. Whether it can be linked back to your account depends on who has access to Midjourney's internal records — but stripping it removes that ID from public view entirely.
Platform-level AI detection
LinkedIn, Pinterest, and a growing number of platforms read xmp:CreatorTool directly to flag AI-generated content. Even platforms that don't yet enforce policies are collecting this data. Metadata-clean images give you control over how your content is categorized.
Upscaled vs non-upscaled: does it matter?
Midjourney's V6 upscaler and standard grid outputs may differ slightly in which metadata fields are preserved. The upscaling pipeline can modify or drop certain XMP fields during processing, meaning upscaled exports sometimes contain a different metadata footprint than the base grid image.
Download source also matters. Downloading via the Midjourney web interface versus from the Discord bot can produce files with different metadata content, since the two delivery paths process the image differently before export.
Export types StripShot handles
StripShot performs a binary-level scan across all XMP, EXIF, IPTC, and PNG text chunk locations regardless of export method.
How to remove Midjourney metadata
Drop your image into StripShot
JPEG, PNG, or WebP. Up to 25MB. No account needed for 3 free strips per day.
Review the detection panel
StripShot surfaces XMP creator fields, job ID strings, and any Midjourney-specific signatures found in the file before you strip.
Strip
Removes all XMP, EXIF, IPTC, and PNG text chunks at binary level. Pixel data is not touched, re-encoded, or degraded.
Enable Ghost Mode (Pro)
Optional. Injects a neutral camera EXIF profile so the image reads as a photograph rather than a metadata-stripped file. Helpful for platforms that flag suspiciously empty metadata.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Midjourney embed C2PA?
No. As of 2026, Midjourney does not embed C2PA Content Credentials in standard image exports. It embeds XMP metadata including creator tool fields and job IDs. C2PA is embedded by Adobe Firefly, DALL-E 3, and Microsoft Copilot — not Midjourney.
Will removing Midjourney metadata stop the Instagram AI label?
Removing XMP and EXIF removes the metadata signal. However, Instagram also uses a visual classifier that can flag AI art based on pixel patterns, independent of metadata. Stripping metadata addresses the metadata detection layer; the visual classifier is a separate system.
Can I remove Midjourney metadata on my phone?
Yes. StripShot runs in your browser with no installation. Works on iOS Safari and Android Chrome.
Does removing metadata change image quality?
Not with binary-level removal. StripShot strips only the XMP and metadata bytes — the pixel data is identical to the original. Canvas-based tools re-encode and cause quality loss.
Does Midjourney's job ID identify me?
The job ID is a UUID that corresponds to a specific generation in Midjourney's systems. Whether it's linkable to you depends on whether someone has access to Midjourney's internal records. Stripping it removes the ID from public view.
Related guides
Midjourney
Midjourney and the Instagram AI Label
Metadata
What Metadata AI Puts in Images
AI Images
Remove AI Image Metadata
Tools
Best AI Metadata Remover 2026
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