EXIF tag · (ExifTool will also accept a number when writing this tag, positive for east

GPSLongitudeRef

E or W for GPSLongitude.

0x0003
Tag ID (3 decimal)
(ExifTool will also accept a number when writing this tag, positive for east
IFD / group
string
Data type
GPS
Table

What GPSLongitudeRef means#

E or W for GPSLongitude.

Read, write and remove it#

# read
exiftool -GPSLongitudeRef photo.jpg
# write
exiftool -GPSLongitudeRef="…" photo.jpg
# remove
exiftool -GPSLongitudeRef= photo.jpg
# all files in a folder, as CSV
exiftool -csv -GPSLongitudeRef -r ./photos > gps-longitude-ref.csv

In Python with Pillow:

from PIL import Image
exif = Image.open("photo.jpg").getexif()
value = exif.get(0x0003)  # GPSLongitudeRef
print(value)

Frequently asked questions#

What is the EXIF tag ID of GPSLongitudeRef?

0x0003 (3 decimal), in the (ExifTool will also accept a number when writing this tag, positive for east directory.

How do I see GPSLongitudeRef in a photo?

Run exiftool -GPSLongitudeRef photo.jpg, or open the file's info panel in Lightroom, Photoshop, Windows (Properties → Details) or macOS Preview (Tools → Show Inspector).

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources