An .xmp file sitting next to a RAW photo, such as DSC_0412.NEF and DSC_0412.xmp, is a sidecar: a small text file that holds the photo’s metadata, and often its editing settings, because editors avoid writing into proprietary RAW files. Deleting it does not harm the RAW image, but it can erase keywords, ratings, copyright and edits that exist nowhere else, and it can also carry copies of personal data you meant to remove. MetaForge from Automata Labs handles RAW libraries with sidecars in mind: it creates and merges XMP sidecars non-destructively, keeps them in step with a Skip, Merge or Backup and Merge policy, and previews every change with Simulate Run before anything is written.
Clean and organize RAW photos without orphaning their XMP sidecars.
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What is an XMP file?
XMP stands for Extensible Metadata Platform, a metadata format created by Adobe and built on XML. Adobe’s Lightroom Classic metadata guide explains the key rule:
- “In the case of camera raw files that have a proprietary file format, XMP isn’t written into the original files. XMP metadata is stored in a separate sidecar file to avoid file corruption.”
- “For all other file formats supported by Lightroom Classic (JPEG, TIFF, PSD, and DNG), XMP metadata is written into the files.”
So you normally see .xmp sidecars next to RAW formats such as .CR2, .CR3, .NEF and .ARW, and not next to JPEGs or DNGs, which carry their XMP inside. Adobe also notes that metadata stored in other formats, “such as EXIF, IPTC (IIM), and TIFF, is synchronised and described with XMP.”
What is inside an XMP sidecar?
It depends on the program that wrote it, but typically:
| Kind of data | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Descriptive metadata | Title, caption, keywords, ratings, color labels | Hours of culling and tagging work |
| Rights | Creator, copyright notice, usage terms | Proves ownership when images travel |
| Edit settings | Exposure, white balance, crops, presets | The look of the photo in your editor |
| Synced camera data | Capture time, camera details, sometimes location | Can repeat personal data from the RAW |
Because a sidecar is plain text, you can open one in Notepad and read it. That is the quickest way to check what a given sidecar actually holds.
Can I delete XMP files?
Sometimes. Ask three questions first.
1. Where do your edits and tags live? Lightroom Classic writes to its catalog automatically, and writes to XMP only if you turn it on. Adobe’s guide says: “In order for changes made in Lightroom Classic to be recognized by other applications, metadata must be written to XMP.” If you work from a catalog, deleting sidecars usually just removes the copy other apps can read. If your edits live only in the sidecars, for example because you work file by file without a catalog, deleting them deletes the edits.
2. Will another app need them? Sidecars are how ratings, keywords and edits travel between programs. Delete them and the next app sees an untagged, unedited RAW file.
3. Are you about to share the files? If yes, a sidecar is something to check, not ignore. It can hold copies of location, names and captions.
| Situation | Safe to delete the .xmp? |
|---|---|
| You only use Lightroom Classic with its catalog, and do not need other apps to see edits | Usually, the catalog still has them |
| You edit in an app that stores settings in the sidecar, without a catalog | No, the edits are lost |
| You want ratings and keywords visible in another program | No |
| You are sending RAW files to someone and the sidecar holds personal data | Delete or clean it before sending |
| The RAW file it belongs to is already gone | Yes, it is an orphan |
What is the new .acr sidecar in Lightroom Classic?
Starting with Lightroom Classic version 15.0, released in October 2025, Adobe can write a second sidecar. Its sidecar files page says that if “heavy edits, masks, or AI settings like Super Resolution, Distraction Removal, and Denoise” are present, Lightroom “writes the heavy edits to the ACR sidecar while keeping the XMP sidecar lightweight.” So a RAW file may now have both .xmp and .acr companions. Treat them as a pair: deleting only one can leave edits half-described.
Adobe adds that “Lightroom also maintains the lifecycle of all sidecars when it’s used to move/rename/delete the image.” That is the catch for everyone else. If you move or rename RAW files in File Explorer or another tool, the sidecars do not automatically follow.
Why do XMP sidecars get orphaned?
Sidecars are linked to their RAW file by name only. They get separated when:
- You rename RAW files with a tool that does not rename the matching
.xmp. - You sort files into folders and only the RAW files are moved.
- You copy a card dump and leave the sidecars behind.
- A sync or backup tool filters out unknown extensions.
- You delete rejects but not their sidecars, leaving
.xmpfiles with no photo.
An orphaned sidecar is harmless clutter. A RAW file that has lost its sidecar has lost its tags and edits. The second is the one to avoid.
Can an XMP sidecar reveal personal data?
Yes. Since XMP describes and synchronizes EXIF and IPTC data, a sidecar can repeat fields such as location, creator name and captions. Removing GPS from the RAW, or from an exported JPEG, does not clean a sidecar you send alongside it. We go into the wider picture in EXIF vs IPTC vs XMP explained, and into why Windows’ own tool misses some of it in Remove Properties and Personal Information limits.
If you work from the command line, ExifTool’s sidecar documentation shows how to read and write XMP sidecars, for example exiftool -tagsfromfile SRC.EXT DST.xmp to build one from a source file. It is powerful, but it is easy to get wrong across a large library.
How does MetaForge handle RAW files and sidecars?
MetaForge is an offline EXIF editor, metadata remover and photo organizer for Windows. According to its Microsoft Store listing and product page:
- RAW-safe handling. Non-destructive XMP sidecar creation and merging for
.CR2,.NEF,.ARW,.DNGand more. - XMP Metadata Sync with a Skip, Merge or Backup and Merge policy, so companion sidecars for RAW photos stay consistent instead of orphaned.
- Simulate Run. A report of every planned move, rename and metadata change, including the number of RAW files in the batch, before anything is touched.
- Privacy scrubbing of GPS, altitude, device serial numbers and owner fields, including XMP location data that the built-in Windows tool leaves behind.
- Batch copyright, author and IPTC keywords across thousands of files.
- Auto-organize into folders by date, camera make, camera model or file type.
- Keep originals by copying instead of moving.
- 100% offline, with no account and no telemetry.
A sensible routine: run Simulate on a test folder, check the report, then open one resulting sidecar in Notepad to confirm it says what you expect before running the whole library.
Preview every change with Simulate Run, then strip, stamp and organize in one pass.
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How do I clean up XMP files safely?
- Back up first. Sidecars are small, so a copy of the folder costs little.
- Find orphans, meaning
.xmpfiles whose RAW partner is gone. Those are safe to remove. - Leave paired sidecars alone unless you are sure the edits live in a catalog you keep.
- Before sharing, check the sidecar’s contents or share without it.
- Move and rename RAW files with a tool that keeps pairs together, or with your editor.
For related workflows, see RAW plus JPEG metadata cleanup and organize RAW photos by EXIF.
Frequently asked questions
What opens an XMP file?
Any text editor can open it, since it is XML. Photo editors read it automatically when it sits next to the matching RAW file with the same name.
Why are there XMP files in my photo folder?
Your editor wrote them to store metadata and settings for RAW files, because it does not write into proprietary RAW formats.
Will deleting XMP files delete my photos?
No. The RAW file is untouched. You may lose ratings, keywords, copyright and edits stored only in the sidecar.
Why do JPEG files not have XMP sidecars?
Adobe writes XMP directly into JPEG, TIFF, PSD and DNG files, so they do not need a separate sidecar.
Does MetaForge work offline?
Yes. It runs on your PC with no cloud uploads, no telemetry and no account.
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Keep RAW photos, sidecars and metadata in order, entirely on your own PC.
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Adobe, Lightroom and XMP are trademarks of Adobe. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. MetaForge is not affiliated with or endorsed by Adobe or the authors of ExifTool.
Last updated 20 October 2026. Published by Automata Labs, a software company in Canada.