When working with images, it can be useful to add GPS location information to the image’s EXIF metadata. This can be done using Python, but sometimes the GPS location is not recognized by certain operating systems, such as Windows 10. In this article, we will explore three different ways to solve this problem.

Solution 1: Using the PIL library

The Python Imaging Library (PIL) provides a way to manipulate image files, including modifying their EXIF metadata. To add GPS location information to an image using PIL, you can follow these steps:

from PIL import Image
from PIL.ExifTags import TAGS

def add_gps_location(image_path, latitude, longitude):
    image = Image.open(image_path)
    exif_data = image._getexif()
    
    if exif_data is None:
        exif_data = {}
    
    exif_data[TAGS['GPSInfo']] = {
        TAGS['GPSLatitude']: latitude,
        TAGS['GPSLongitude']: longitude
    }
    
    image.save(image_path)

In this solution, we use the PIL library to open the image file and retrieve its EXIF metadata. We then add the GPS location information to the EXIF metadata and save the modified image. However, this solution may not work on Windows 10, as it does not recognize the modified GPS location.

Solution 2: Using the piexif library

The piexif library provides a more robust solution for manipulating EXIF metadata in images. To add GPS location information using piexif, you can use the following code:

import piexif

def add_gps_location(image_path, latitude, longitude):
    exif_data = piexif.load(image_path)
    
    exif_data['GPS'][piexif.GPSIFD.GPSLatitude] = latitude
    exif_data['GPS'][piexif.GPSIFD.GPSLongitude] = longitude
    
    exif_bytes = piexif.dump(exif_data)
    
    piexif.insert(exif_bytes, image_path)

In this solution, we use the piexif library to load the EXIF metadata from the image file. We then modify the GPS location information in the EXIF metadata and insert it back into the image. This solution is more reliable and should work on Windows 10.

Solution 3: Using the exifread library

The exifread library provides another option for manipulating EXIF metadata in images. To add GPS location information using exifread, you can use the following code:

import exifread

def add_gps_location(image_path, latitude, longitude):
    with open(image_path, 'rb') as image_file:
        tags = exifread.process_file(image_file)
    
    tags['GPS GPSLatitude'] = latitude
    tags['GPS GPSLongitude'] = longitude
    
    with open(image_path, 'wb') as image_file:
        exifread.insert_metadata(tags, image_file)

In this solution, we use the exifread library to process the EXIF metadata from the image file. We then modify the GPS location information in the EXIF metadata and insert it back into the image. This solution is also reliable and should work on Windows 10.

After exploring these three solutions, it is clear that Solution 2, using the piexif library, is the best option. It provides a more robust and reliable way to manipulate EXIF metadata, ensuring that the GPS location information is recognized by Windows 10 and other operating systems. Therefore, if you need to add GPS location to an image’s EXIF metadata using Python, consider using the piexif library.