如何在Google Drive同步后保留图片的元数据（注释、标签）？

Hey Nico, sorry to hear your image metadata went missing after syncing—this is a common hiccup due to how Mac and Windows store metadata differently, plus Google Drive's default sync behavior. Let’s go through reliable fixes to keep your comments intact:

1. Embed Metadata Directly Into the Image File #

This is the most foolproof method because the metadata lives inside the image itself, not as a system-specific attachment.

• On Mac: Use Preview (built right into macOS) — open your image, go to Tools > Show Inspector, switch to the "i" tab (More Info), and type your comment in the "Comments" field. This saves the comment as part of the image’s EXIF/IPTC data, which Google Drive won’t strip, and Windows will recognize when you check the file’s properties.
• For power users, use exiftool via the terminal to batch-add metadata:

  exiftool -Comment="Your custom note here" /path/to/your/image.jpg
  

2. Enable Extended Attribute Sync in Google Drive (Mac) #

Mac stores some metadata as "extended attributes" (xattrs), which Google Drive doesn’t sync by default. Turning this on ensures those attributes are passed along, though Windows will need extra tools to read them:

• Open Google Drive for Desktop, click the menu icon in the top-right corner, then go to Preferences > Settings.
• Check the box labeled "Sync extended attributes" (this option only appears on Mac installations).

3. Use Cross-Platform Tools to Access Metadata on Windows #

If you’ve synced files with Mac’s extended attributes, Windows can’t read them natively. Use these tools to access embedded metadata:

• ExifTool: A cross-platform command-line tool that can read/write metadata from any system. On Windows, run this command to view your comments:

  exiftool -Comment "C:\path\to\your\synced-image.jpg"
  

• IrfanView: A free image viewer that can display and edit embedded EXIF/IPTC metadata—just open the image, go to Image > Information to see your comments.

4. Avoid System-Specific Metadata #

Skip adding comments to folders or using Mac-only Finder tags—these are stored as system-specific attributes that Google Drive won’t sync properly to Windows. Always attach your notes directly to the image file itself.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Nico