iPhone GPS not being read correctly.

[johna34796437]

When I import iphone pictures to LrClassic and I am West of the meridian for some reason the Maps module assumes I am East and ends up getting the location wrong. The way to fix this is to manually append a N & W to the co-ordinates, as in 51°21'17.022" N 2°12'1.062" W.  As it just imports 51°21'17.022" 2°12'1.062" from the phone metadata.
Just noticed this with the new verion of LrClassic as in the past it has got this right.

[Aleke]

Hi @johna34796437!

Thanks for reaching out! Could you let us know which exact version of Lightroom Classic you're using, as well as your iOS version? Also, does this issue happen with every photo or just certain ones?

If you’re able to share a few sample photos from your iPhone, that would be super helpful for testing on our end. You can upload them via Google Drive, WeTransfer, or any file-sharing service you prefer.

Thanks so much!
Alek

[johna34796437]

Thanks for reaching out! Could you let us know which exact version of Lightroom Classic you're using, as well as your iOS version? Also, does this issue happen with every photo or just certain ones?

If you’re able to share a few sample photos from your iPhone, that would be super helpful for testing on our end. You can upload them via Google Drive, WeTransfer, or any file-sharing service you prefer.

Thanks so much!
Alek


Hello Alek


I am using LrClassic version 14.3.1, iOS version 18.5.

Yes it seems to happen with all photos I import from my phone.

Here is a picture as an example.

Kind regards

John Atherton

[johna34796437]

Hi Alek

I have replied to your email.

What I have noticed is in the xml file that the phone produces it contains the data that the co-ordinates are N and W but somehow this is not recognised by LrClassic.

<x:xmpmeta xmlns:x="adobe:ns:meta/" x:xmptk="XMP Core 6.0.0">
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description rdf:about=""
xmlns:exif="http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/"
xmlns:photoshop="http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/">
<exif:GPSHPositioningError>3.5355339055557087</exif:GPSHPositioningError>
<exif:GPSImgDirection>240.48394768133176</exif:GPSImgDirection>
<exif:GPSAltitudeRef>1</exif:GPSAltitudeRef>
<exif:GPSAltitude>-0.62856674191356243</exif:GPSAltitude>
<exif:GPSLatitudeRef>N</exif:GPSLatitudeRef>
<exif:GPSLatitude>53.494728333333335</exif:GPSLatitude>
<exif:GPSLongitudeRef>W</exif:GPSLongitudeRef>
<exif:GPSLongitude>3.0585249999999999</exif:GPSLongitude>
<exif:GPSImgDirectionRef>T</exif:GPSImgDirectionRef>
<exif:GPSSpeed>0.0</exif:GPSSpeed>
<exif:GPSSpeedRef>K</exif:GPSSpeedRef>
<exif:GPSTimeStamp>2024-10-20T15:56:47Z</exif:GPSTimeStamp>
<photoshop:DateCreated>2024-10-20T16:56:48+01:00</photoshop:DateCreated>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
</x:xmpmeta>

[johna34796437]

By comparison thia picture was taken East of the meridain and displays correctly on the map. The xml file contains East and North.

<x:xmpmeta xmlns:x="adobe:ns:meta/" x:xmptk="XMP Core 6.0.0">
<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<rdf:Description rdf:about=""
xmlns:exif="http://ns.adobe.com/exif/1.0/"
xmlns:photoshop="http://ns.adobe.com/photoshop/1.0/">
<exif:GPSHPositioningError>4.7486515293433671</exif:GPSHPositioningError>
<exif:GPSImgDirection>85.933532735127955</exif:GPSImgDirection>
<exif:GPSAltitudeRef>0</exif:GPSAltitudeRef>
<exif:GPSAltitude>207.36800785083415</exif:GPSAltitude>
<exif:GPSLatitudeRef>N</exif:GPSLatitudeRef>
<exif:GPSLatitude>51.248713333333335</exif:GPSLatitude>
<exif:GPSLongitudeRef>E</exif:GPSLongitudeRef>
<exif:GPSLongitude>0.208705</exif:GPSLongitude>
<exif:GPSImgDirectionRef>T</exif:GPSImgDirectionRef>
<exif:GPSSpeed>0.28999999165532486</exif:GPSSpeed>
<exif:GPSSpeedRef>K</exif:GPSSpeedRef>
<exif:GPSTimeStamp>2025-05-07T10:43:16Z</exif:GPSTimeStamp>
<photoshop:DateCreated>2025-05-07T11:43:17+01:00</photoshop:DateCreated>
</rdf:Description>
</rdf:RDF>
</x:xmpmeta>

[johnrellis · Accepted solution]

Are the photos synced from the Iphone to Mac Photos, exported from Mac Photos, then imported into LR? If so, you're tripping over a longstanding bug in Mac Photos.

Mac Photos version 5 and later doesn't obey the industry standard for representing GPS coordinates in XMP files:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/iphone-gps-not-being-read-correctly/td-...

There are two workarounds:

1. Use the Exiftool utility to correct the .xmp files:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/gps-location-imported-from-iphone-has-w... 

2. Uncheck the Photos option Export IPTC as XMP, which won't be helpful if you've added GPS coordinates to the photos in the Photos app.

[johna34796437]

Thank you @johnrellis 

Thought I couldn't be the first person to have this problem.

I don't understand xml files but could see someting which should work but didn't. I will now export from the Photos app and uncheck Export IPTC as XMP.

The Exiftool utility looks brilliant but I have no clue how I would use it in practice.

Many thanks for your answer.

John A.

[jslsvg]

Hace tiempo que me di cuenta de este problema que en realidad tienen fácil solución. En MacOS si marco la casilla Exportar IPTC como XMP las coordenadas no son bien interpretadas y la ubicación no es correcta.

Sin embargo si exporto las fotos con la opción "exportar original sin modificar" exporta las fotografías en HEIC y cuando las importo en LR Classic la ubicación es exacta.

Saludos

José Luis