How to Check the DPI of a Photo on Windows, Mac, and Online

Where to find DPI information in your photo files

DPI (dots per inch) is stored in the photo file itself as metadata — information about the image that sits alongside the pixels. You do not need special software to see it. On Windows, right-click the photo, select Properties, then Details. On Mac, select the photo in Finder, press Command+I, and look for Resolution. Both show DPI without opening the image.

If those built-in tools do not show DPI clearly, or if you want to see all the metadata at once, free online tools like Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer or Verexif let you upload a photo and read everything stored in it. These tools work in any browser and show DPI alongside camera model, date taken, and other details.

Some photos have no DPI information at all — screenshots, images from the web, and photos edited in certain programs often lose this data. If DPI is missing, the file was either created without it or stripped during editing or export.

Key Takeaways

Windows shows DPI in Properties > Details; Mac shows it in Command+I > Resolution without opening any other program.
Online metadata viewers like Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer work on any device and show DPI alongside all other file information.
Photos from the web, screenshots, and some edited images may have no DPI data stored, even though they display on screen at a certain size.
DPI matters for printing — 300 DPI is standard for quality prints, while 72 DPI is typical for screen display.

Checking DPI on Windows

Right-click the photo file and select Properties. A window opens showing file size, creation date, and other basics. Click the Details tab at the top. Scroll down until you see Resolution — this is listed as DPI or PPI (pixels per inch, which means the same thing for this purpose).

If the Details tab shows nothing under Resolution, the photo does not have DPI metadata. This is common with images downloaded from websites or created as screenshots. The image still has a pixel size (like 1920 × 1080), but no DPI value is attached to it.

For a faster view without opening Properties, you can also use Windows Photo Viewer or the built-in Photos app — open the photo and look for image information or details in the menu. The exact location varies by Windows version, but both show resolution data somewhere in the info panel.

Checking DPI on Mac

Select the photo in Finder and press Command+I (or right-click and choose Get Info). A window titled "Info" appears. Look for a section called Image or Resolution — this shows the DPI value. On newer Macs, you may see it listed as "Resolution" with a number followed by "ppi" or "dpi".

If you open the photo in Preview (the built-in image viewer), you can also check DPI through the Tools menu. Select Adjust Size and look for Resolution — Preview shows both the pixel dimensions and the DPI setting together.

Like Windows, Mac photos from the web or screenshots often have no DPI information. If the Info window shows only pixel dimensions (like 2560 × 1440) with no resolution number, the DPI is not stored in the file.

Using online tools to read DPI from any device

Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer (online at regex.info/exif.html) lets you upload any photo and see all its metadata in one place. Upload your file, and it displays DPI, camera model, lens, date, location (if available), and dozens of other details. No account needed, and the file stays on your device — nothing is saved on their server.

Verexif (verexif.com) works the same way and shows metadata in a cleaner layout. Both tools handle JPG, PNG, TIFF, and other common formats. If you prefer not to upload to a website, these tools are just alternatives to the built-in Windows and Mac methods — they show the same DPI number that is already in your file.

Online tools are useful when you are on a borrowed computer, using a phone or tablet, or working with a file format your operating system does not recognize easily. They also let you check DPI on multiple photos at once by uploading them in sequence.

Understanding what DPI means for your use

DPI tells you how many dots (or pixels) fit into one inch of physical space. A photo with 300 DPI has 300 pixels in every inch — this is the standard for quality printing. A photo with 72 DPI has 72 pixels per inch, which is typical for screen display and web use.

The same photo file can have different DPI values depending on how it was exported. A 1920 × 1080 pixel image could be set to 72 DPI (making it about 26 inches wide when printed) or 300 DPI (making it about 6 inches wide). The pixel count stays the same; only the DPI setting changes how large it prints.

For printing, 300 DPI is the minimum for good quality. Below 150 DPI, prints look pixelated. For web use, screen display, and social media, DPI does not matter — only the pixel dimensions matter. A 1920 × 1080 photo displays the same way on screen whether it is marked as 72 DPI or 300 DPI.

What to do if DPI is missing or wrong

If a photo has no DPI information, you can add it during export. In Photoshop, go to File > Export As, click Options, and set Resolution to 300 (or your target DPI). In GIMP (free), go to Image > Scale Image and change the Resolution field. In Preview on Mac, use Tools > Adjust Size and set the Resolution value.

Adding DPI after the fact does not change the pixels themselves — it only changes the metadata. If you have a 1920 × 1080 photo and set it to 300 DPI, it will still print at about 6 inches wide. The pixel count is fixed; DPI just tells the printer how to interpret that count.

For photos you plan to print, set DPI during export, not after. If you are working with a photo that already has DPI information but it is wrong (like 72 DPI when you need 300), re-export it with the correct DPI value rather than trying to change the file in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I increase DPI to make a low-resolution photo print better?

No. DPI is just metadata — changing it does not add pixels to the image. A 1920 × 1080 photo will print at about 6 inches wide at 300 DPI, or 26 inches wide at 72 DPI. Changing the DPI number does not make the photo sharper or larger; it only changes how the printer interprets the pixels you already have.

Why do some photos show DPI and others do not?

Photos from the web, screenshots, and images edited in certain programs often have no DPI metadata. Professional cameras and editing software like Photoshop usually include DPI. If DPI is missing, the file was created without it or lost it during editing or export.

Is PPI the same as DPI?

For practical purposes, yes. PPI (pixels per inch) and DPI (dots per inch) mean the same thing when you are talking about digital photos and printing. Technically, DPI refers to printer dots and PPI refers to screen pixels, but most software and tools use the terms interchangeably.

What DPI should I use for social media photos?

DPI does not matter for social media. Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms only care about pixel dimensions — like 1200 × 630 for a Facebook cover. You can set DPI to anything (72, 300, or anything else) and the photo will look the same when posted online.

How do I check DPI on a phone or tablet?

Use an online metadata viewer like Jeffrey's Image Metadata Viewer or Verexif. Open the tool in your phone's browser, upload the photo, and it shows the DPI. Some phone photo apps also display metadata, but the online tools work on any device and show the most complete information.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.