Metadata removal is a verification task, not just a save operation. An image may contain EXIF, a thumbnail, color information, descriptive fields, or application-specific blocks. A new encode often drops some of them, but “often” is not enough for a sensitive workflow.
Start with a preserved source
Keep the original outside the working folder. Create a derivative for sharing and use a filename that makes the distinction clear. Avoid repeatedly re-encoding the only copy, because lossy formats can accumulate visible damage.
Re-encode locally, then inspect
The local image compressor decodes and re-encodes JPEG, PNG, or WebP on your device. That process can remove or change metadata, but the product is not a metadata viewer and does not certify complete removal. Open the output in a trusted metadata inspector appropriate to your environment and check the fields that matter to your policy.
Also inspect orientation and colors. Metadata removal can affect display when software relied on an orientation tag or color profile. Confirm the result in the actual destination application.
Avoid stronger claims than the evidence
Do not assume that changing the extension removes metadata, that a smaller file contains no metadata, or that one inspector reports every possible block. For regulated or high-risk material, follow the organization’s approved sanitization and review process.
The EXIF fundamentals guide explains common fields. The local processing guide describes what stays inside the browser and what still requires network verification.