FixlensGPS Map Camera

Field guide
4 minute read
Updated Nov 2026

Add GPS location to any photo

Your phone already knows where and when a photo was taken. Here is how to put that on the photo itself, where anyone can see it.

In short
  • Print coordinates, address and time on the photo so they survive WhatsApp
  • Wait for a small ± accuracy figure before you shoot
  • Coordinates and time work offline; address and map need internet

Why print the location on the photo

Most phone cameras can save location in the photo's hidden EXIF data. That is useful, but it is easy to lose. Many messaging apps, including WhatsApp, remove EXIF data when you send a photo, and most people who receive the photo never look for it.

A visible stamp solves both problems. The coordinates, address, date and time are part of the image, so they survive sharing, printing and being pasted into a report. Fixlens does both: it prints the stamp and also writes GPS and time into the EXIF data for mapping and GIS tools.

Step by step

  1. Install Fixlens from Google Play. It is free and has no ads.
  2. Allow camera and location when asked. Location is used only while the app is open.
  3. Wait for the GPS fix. The stamp shows an accuracy figure such as ±4 m. Smaller is better.
  4. Pick a stamp layout. Swipe across the stamp to switch between Standard, Minimal, Detailed, Compact and Modern.
  5. Take the photo. It is saved to the Fixlens album in your gallery with the stamp on it.

Getting a good GPS fix

  • Step outside or near a window. Concrete roofs and basements block GPS signals.
  • Give it a few seconds after opening the camera, especially the first time in a new place.
  • Turn on your phone's high-accuracy location mode in Android settings.
  • Check the ± accuracy figure before you shoot. If it is large, wait or move to open sky.

GPS accuracy depends on your phone and surroundings. The address comes from map services and can occasionally be wrong in new layouts or rural areas, so the coordinates are the most reliable part of the stamp.

Which coordinate format to use

FormatExampleGood for
Decimal degrees9.92520° N, 78.14302° EPasting into Google Maps, spreadsheets and most portals
Degrees, minutes, seconds9°55'30.7" N, 78°08'34.9" ESurvey drawings and older forms

Does it work without internet?

Yes for the essentials. GPS works without mobile data, so coordinates and time are stamped offline. The street address and map thumbnail need a connection to look up.

Next steps

For work-specific advice, read the guides for construction progress photos, survey number and land area and property verification visits.