EXIF tag · ExifIFD

Flash

Whether the flash fired, its mode and return-light detection — encoded as a bit field.

0x9209
Tag ID (37385 decimal)
ExifIFD
IFD / group
int16u
Data type
EXIF
Table

What Flash means#

Whether the flash fired, its mode and return-light detection — encoded as a bit field.

Read, write and remove it#

# read
exiftool -Flash photo.jpg
# write
exiftool -Flash="…" photo.jpg
# remove
exiftool -Flash= photo.jpg
# all files in a folder, as CSV
exiftool -csv -Flash -r ./photos > flash.csv

In Python with Pillow:

from PIL import Image
exif = Image.open("photo.jpg").getexif()
value = exif.get_ifd(0x8769).get(0x9209)  # Flash
print(value)

Frequently asked questions#

What is the EXIF tag ID of Flash?

0x9209 (37385 decimal), in the ExifIFD directory.

How do I see Flash in a photo?

Run exiftool -Flash photo.jpg, or open the file's info panel in Lightroom, Photoshop, Windows (Properties → Details) or macOS Preview (Tools → Show Inspector).

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources