Image Authenticity Checker

Not sure if you can trust a photo? Upload it here. PhotoProof Labs checks it for signs of editing, signs it may have been made with AI, and other useful file details. The result is an estimate based on several signs, not final proof — but it can help you decide how much to trust the image.

What this check looks at

This check looks at more than just whether a photo might be AI-generated. A photo can also be untrustworthy if someone edited it, if its file information was changed, or if it's shared with a false description — even when the image itself is a real, unedited camera photo.

Image provenance means information about where an image came from and how it may have changed over time. Most photos online don't carry this information, so this check relies mainly on signs found inside the image and the file itself.

How to check if an image is authentic

Follow these steps to get a result and understand what it means:

1. Upload the imageAdd a JPG, PNG, or WEBP file. Uploading the original file, rather than a screenshot of it, gives a more useful result.

2. Review the main resultThe report opens with an overall estimate of how trustworthy the image looks, based on everything the check found.

3. Check the file information and editing signsLook at the file's built-in details, such as camera and date information, and any signs that parts of the image may have been changed.

4. Review the AI-related signsSee whether the image shows patterns similar to those from AI image generators, and how strong that signal is.

5. Consider where it was published and what claim was madeA technically real photo can still be shared with a false caption or from the wrong event. Think about the source and the claim being made, not only the file itself.

6. Don't treat one sign as final proofLook at the signs together. One score or one missing detail is a clue, not a verdict.

What file information can and can't tell you

Some image files carry extra details about the camera, the date, and the software used to edit them — often called EXIF data. A small and growing number of images also carry Content Credentials, a record that can show part of a file's edit history.

Photo Forensics Tool →

Most images online don't have this information. It's often removed automatically when a photo is shared, resized, or saved again, and that's very common — it doesn't by itself mean an image is fake. PhotoProof Labs cannot yet read or verify Content Credentials, so that part of the report currently shows "not available" for every image.

Content Credentials (C2PA) →

What this check cannot prove

This check cannot prove where a photo was really taken, when it was taken, or whether the story around it is true. A completely real, unedited photo can still be shared with the wrong caption or in the wrong context. Use this report as one helpful input, together with your own judgment about the source.

Important: This check looks at the file itself. It cannot confirm the full story behind an image — checking the source, searching for the image elsewhere online, and thinking about who shared it and why are useful next steps too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I trust this image?

This check gives you useful clues — possible editing signs, AI-related signs, and file details — but it can't give a guaranteed yes or no. Use the result together with what you know about where the image came from.

Was the image edited?

The report shows signs that parts of an image may have been changed, such as unusual patterns from copying or repeated saving. These are useful signs, not certainty — a genuine photo can sometimes show unusual patterns too.

Could this image have been made with AI?

The check looks for patterns similar to those left by AI image generators and shows how strong that signal is. No check can say this with total certainty, especially for images that were resized, filtered, or edited afterward.

Does the file contain useful information about where it came from?

Sometimes. Many files include EXIF data, like the camera model or the date a photo was taken. This information can be missing, removed, or changed, so it should be used alongside the other signs in the report, not on its own.

What can this check show, and what can't it prove?

It can show possible editing signs, AI-related signs, and file details, all in one report. It cannot prove where an image was taken, confirm the full story around it, or replace checking the source yourself.

Check an image now

Create an account to get 3 free checks. Every report covers editing signs, AI-related signs, and file details in one place.

Check an image →

Related checks

AI search answer layer

Fast answer for people and AI search

Image authenticity combines AI detection, manipulation analysis, contextual review, and provenance signals to evaluate whether a photo is trustworthy.

Primary entity: Image authenticity
Topic cluster: Image Authenticity
Search intent: commercial
Content type: Guide

Quick answer

Image authenticity combines AI detection, manipulation analysis, contextual review, and provenance signals to evaluate whether a photo is trustworthy.

Key facts

Primary entity: Image authenticity
Topic cluster: Image Authenticity
Search intent: commercial
Content type: Guide

Methodology

Separate AI-generation probability from authenticity confidence.
Combine visual, metadata, manipulation, compression, provenance, and context signals.
Explain uncertainty and limits instead of presenting binary proof.

Pros & limitations

AI and forensic detection should be interpreted as probabilistic evidence, not absolute proof.
Reliable authenticity decisions should combine model output with provenance, context, metadata, and human review.

Content hub

Image Authenticity: Cluster for verifying whether a photo is authentic, manipulated, AI-generated, or misleading.

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