There are times when it may be necessary change the date of a fileIf you are a Windows user, you can do this quickly and easily.
Do you want to know how to make this adjustment? Then keep reading, because we are going to explain it to you step by step. At the end of this article you will know how to do it.
What does changing the date on a file mean?
All files have three time properties associated with them:
- Creation date. Indicates the time at which that file was created.
- Modification date. Reflects the last time changes were made to it.
- Access date. This is the date it was last opened.
The creation date of a file is metadata. A time stamp that tells us the exact moment in which it was generated and, although it may seem like a minor detail, in reality has significant importance.
Through the creation date we can:
- Sort files sequentially according to their creation date, which helps us search and locate documents, images, etc., corresponding to a very specific period.
- Track the evolution of a file over time, including recovering old versions.
- Identify peaks of activity and periods of inactivity in file generation.
- Check the security of your computer, because a sudden change in file creation may indicate some kind of suspicious activity.
Why change the date of a file?
This adjustment may seem simple, but it has implications that go beyond just changing the data, so you need to think carefully before making it.
Among the many reasons for changing the date of a file, these are the most common:
Organization and management of archives
When syncing files between different devices or platforms, changing the date can be helpful to keep them organized.
If what we have is a file that we have restored through a backup, We can adjust the date to match the original creation or modification date.
In other cases, the date change is used to group files that are part of the same project or event, so that it is easier to locate them.
Errors and maintenance
It is not unusual that the change in the date is due to the system clock being incorrectly configured at the time the file was created and It may be necessary to correct the creation date to match reality.
In some cases, we may encounter maintenance or backup tools that automatically modify the dates of files. If this happens, you as a user may prefer to reset it to the actual date.
Privacy
Other reasons for making the adjustment are to maintain privacy, hiding the actual creation or modification date of a file.
How to change the date of a file in Windows?
There are several ways to achieve this setting, here they are:
Manipulating the system clock
The date and time that files acquire when we create or modify them is the one marked by the operating system clock. Therefore, if we manipulate it, we can adjust the date.
What you have to do is:
- Access Settings.
- Go to “Date & Time.”
- Disable the “Set time automatically” selection.
- Click on “Change”.
- For the date and time that interests you.
Now you just have to create the file or modify one you already have ready. The date and time attributes will be changed to those marked by the system, which are no longer the real ones.
Although this is a simple method, it is not highly recommended, because adjusting the system date and time can cause you problems with some files.
Using PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is a command line tool and scripting language that has many features, and one of them is that it allows us to change the date of a file using codes.
You can do it in the following way:
- Open Windows PowerShell on your computer.
- Copy this code: (Get-Item "C:\Users\ADMIN\Dropbox\PC\Desktop\dog.jpg").CreationTime=("February 2, 2011 12:30:00"). Making the necessary adjustments to the file path and setting the date and time you want for your file.
- If you want to change the modification date, the code is the same, but after indicating the file you have to add: LastWriteTime=(«date and time»).
- Press “Enter” and the changes take place.
Via NewFile Time
With this program you can make adjustments to the creation date, last access and last modification of different types of files.
- Install the program on your computer.
- Select the “Import” option from the menu and choose “Import” again from the drop-down menu.
- Choose the folder you want to change the date for and press “OK.”
- Set the new creation, modification and last access date and then click “Set date”.
- Find the file and click on “Properties” to check if the settings have been made.
Precautions if you are going to change the date of a file
If you are determined to make adjustments to the date and time a file is created, you should be aware that there are some risks involved.
- Synchronization problems. If the file is uploaded to the cloud, changing its date may affect how it syncs with other devices.
- Application compatibility. For some apps, the creation or modification date of a file is particularly important, so changing it can cause a compatibility issue.
- Avoid change detection. If you change the date of a file, this may reduce the system's ability to identify unauthorized modifications.
Therefore, it is only advisable to manipulate the date of the files if you are looking to improve the organization of the information on your computer or if you have to correct an incorrect date because there was an error in the system at the time.
Changing the date of a file is within your reach, but this is an option that should never be abused.