There are three common ways to restore metadata from a Google Takeout export:
- Command-line tools (for example scripts built on ExifTool) – powerful and free, but you need to be comfortable with a terminal and the many Takeout naming quirks.
- Desktop apps – install software on your computer; some are paid.
- This browser tool – nothing to install, works on Windows, Mac and Linux in Chrome or Edge, and the photos never leave your computer.
Whatever you choose, check that it handles .supplemental-metadata.json, truncated long names, (1) duplicates and -edited copies. This fixer handles them and shows a per-file report, so you can see which photos had no JSON at all.
How it works
- Download your Google Photos export from Google Takeout (one or more .zip parts).
- Open the fixer and select all the zip parts (or the extracted folder). JSON files are often in a different part than their photo – selecting all parts lets the tool match them.
- Click Fix metadata. You get a new ZIP with the same folders; your original files are not changed. A CSV report lists every file and what was done.
Everything runs in your browser: photos are not uploaded. The free version handles up to 500 files per run; the planned Pro version (not on sale yet) removes the limit and fixes video dates.