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Windows File Explorer lets you view a file’s creation and modification timestamps, but it does not provide editable fields for them. To change those timestamps, use PowerShell or a utility such as ExifTool.
Before changing anything, note that Windows file dates are different from dates stored inside documents and photos. For example, a JPEG can have an EXIF DateTimeOriginal value from the day it was taken while its Windows Date created value reflects when the file was copied to your PC.
Check the current dates in File Explorer
- Open File Explorer and browse to the file.
- Right-click the file and select Properties.
- On the General tab, check Created, Modified, and Accessed.
The Change attributes controls in this window only change attributes such as Read-only and Hidden. They do not change the creation or modification timestamps.
Change dates with PowerShell
PowerShell is the simplest built-in method. It uses these .NET properties:
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| PowerShell property | File Explorer value |
|---|---|
CreationTime |
Date created |
LastWriteTime |
Date modified |
LastAccessTime |
Date accessed |
Change both dates for one file
- Press Win + X and select Terminal or Windows PowerShell.
- Run the following command, replacing the path and date:
$file = Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:Pathfile.ext'
$file.CreationTime = [datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'
$file.LastWriteTime = [datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'The date is interpreted using your Windows regional settings and the local time zone. The format shown—yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss—is a good unambiguous format to use.
Change only one timestamp
To change only the creation date:
(Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:Pathfile.ext').CreationTime =
[datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'To change only the modified date:
(Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:Pathfile.ext').LastWriteTime =
[datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'Verify the new timestamps
Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:Pathfile.ext' |
Select-Object Name, CreationTime, LastWriteTime, LastAccessTimeClose and reopen the Properties dialog or refresh File Explorer if it still shows the old value.
Change dates for all files in a folder
This command changes the creation and modification dates of files directly inside one folder. It does not change the folder’s own timestamp.
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Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath 'C:PathFolder' -File |
ForEach-Object {
$_.CreationTime = $date
$_.LastWriteTime = $date
}To include files in every subfolder, add -Recurse:
$date = [datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'
Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath 'C:PathFolder' -File -Recurse |
ForEach-Object {
$_.CreationTime = $date
$_.LastWriteTime = $date
}Test a bulk command on a copy first. A mistake in the path or date affects every file returned by Get-ChildItem.
Use ExifTool for Windows timestamps and photo metadata
ExifTool is useful when you need to process many files or coordinate a photo’s embedded date with its Windows file dates. After installing ExifTool, run it from PowerShell or use its full executable path.
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Set Windows creation and modification dates
exiftool "-FileCreateDate=2024:01:02 03:04:05" "-FileModifyDate=2024:01:02 03:04:05" "C:Pathfile.ext"ExifTool uses FileCreateDate and FileModifyDate for the Windows filesystem timestamps. These are not the same as the embedded metadata tags CreateDate, ModifyDate, or DateTimeOriginal.
Set Windows dates from a photo’s original capture date
If photos contain a valid EXIF DateTimeOriginal value, use:
exiftool "-FileCreateDate<DateTimeOriginal" "-FileModifyDate<DateTimeOriginal" "C:PathPhotos"This changes the filesystem timestamps; it does not merely edit the displayed photo metadata.
Change embedded photo dates as well
To copy the original capture date into common embedded date fields and set the filesystem modified date:
exiftool "-AllDates<DateTimeOriginal" "-FileModifyDate<DateTimeOriginal" "C:PathPhotos"ExifTool’s AllDates shortcut refers to the embedded DateTimeOriginal, CreateDate, and ModifyDate tags. It does not refer to Windows’ creation and modification timestamps.
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When ExifTool writes metadata, it can update the filesystem modification time to the current time. Use -P when you want to preserve the existing filesystem modification date while changing embedded metadata:
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exiftool "-AllDates+=1" -P "C:PathPhotos"Why fsutil is not the answer
Some instructions recommend commands such as fsutil file setcreatedate or fsutil file setmodifieddate. Those are not documented operations of Windows’ fsutil file command. Its documented operations include commands such as createnew, seteof, setshortname, setvaliddata, and setzerodata, but not commands for changing file dates.
Use PowerShell for a built-in solution, or ExifTool when you also need to work with embedded media metadata.
Common problems
The path cannot be found
Use a complete path and -LiteralPath in PowerShell. This matters when a path contains wildcard characters such as [, ], or ?. For example:
Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:PhotosTrip [2024]image.jpg'Access is denied
Your account needs permission to modify the file and its filesystem metadata. Starting PowerShell as administrator may help with protected locations, but elevation does not override every NTFS permission, ownership rule, or security product restriction.
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The date changes back
An open application, antivirus scanner, backup program, or OneDrive/other synchronization client may rewrite the timestamp. Close programs using the file and pause synchronization before trying again.
Only the date in Photos changed
Photo applications may display embedded EXIF dates instead of Windows filesystem dates. Changing DateTimeOriginal does not automatically change Date created or Date modified. Conversely, changing Windows timestamps does not rewrite EXIF metadata.
The access date is unexpected
Date accessed is not a dependable historical record. Opening or scanning a file can update LastAccessTime or ExifTool’s FileAccessDate, depending on Windows settings and the software involved.
Important limitation: “Date created” is not always the real creation date
Windows records a filesystem creation time, not necessarily the moment a document was written or a photo was taken. Copying, downloading, extracting, restoring, or synchronizing a file can assign it a new creation timestamp. If the original event matters, check the file’s internal metadata, document properties, backup history, or other records as well.
FAQ
Can I change Date created from File Explorer?
No. File Explorer’s Properties dialog displays Created, Modified, and Accessed, but does not provide editable controls for those timestamps. Use PowerShell or ExifTool.
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What is the PowerShell command to change Date modified?
Use (Get-Item -LiteralPath 'C:Pathfile.ext').LastWriteTime = [datetime]'2024-01-02 03:04:05'. The LastWriteTime property corresponds to Windows’ Date modified value.
Can I change the date for a whole folder?
Yes. Use Get-ChildItem -File with a ForEach-Object block. Add -Recurse if files in subfolders should also be included. Test the path on a small copy first.
Does changing EXIF DateTimeOriginal change Windows Date created?
Not by itself. EXIF metadata and Windows filesystem timestamps are separate. With ExifTool, explicitly target FileCreateDate and FileModifyDate if Explorer’s dates must change.
Is Date created proof of when a file was originally made?
No. It records a filesystem timestamp on the current storage location. A copy, download, archive extraction, restore, or sync operation may give the file a different creation date.
The Bottom Line
For one or more ordinary files, use PowerShell’s CreationTime and LastWriteTime properties. Use ExifTool when you need batch processing or want to coordinate Windows timestamps with photo metadata. Do not rely on File Explorer’s attribute controls or undocumented fsutil date commands, and remember that filesystem dates and embedded media dates are separate.
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