OneDrive File Issues

Does OneDrive Preserve Photo Metadata When Downloading Files?

Phi Hung Vo Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is asking if the original photo metadata, specifically the 'date taken', is preserved when downloading media files from OneDrive to a local Windows computer.

Does OneDrive Preserve Photo Metadata When Downloading Files?

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Downloading photos and videos from OneDrive storage to a local hard drive.
Observed behavior: When files are downloaded, the 'date modified' attribute often changes to the current download time, causing confusion about whether the original capture metadata is lost or preserved.

Before you start

Ensure that your photos have completely finished downloading from OneDrive to your local storage before checking their properties.

Solution 1Recommended

View the 'Date Taken' Metadata via the File Explorer Details Pane

Use the built-in Details pane in Windows File Explorer to reveal the true embedded EXIF metadata of your downloaded photos.

While downloading files from OneDrive updates the file's 'date modified' timestamp, the actual 'date taken' embedded within the EXIF metadata remains intact. You can easily view this preserved data by adjusting your File Explorer view settings.

Open File Explorer

Navigate to the folder where your downloaded OneDrive photos are saved.

Enable the Details Pane

Click on the 'View' tab at the top of the File Explorer window, then select 'Details pane' to display the sidebar on the right.

Select the Photo

Click once on the downloaded photo. Look at the Details pane on the right side to find the 'Date taken' field, which reflects the original capture date.

View the 'Date Taken' Metadata via the File Explorer Details Pane

Date Taken vs. Date Modified: Use the 'Date taken' field rather than 'Date modified' when organizing your photos, as the modification date reflects the time the file was downloaded or moved.

Solution 2

Check Photo Information Using the Microsoft Photos App

You can also verify the preserved capture date by opening the image directly in the default Windows Photos application.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the 'Date Modified' change when I downloaded my photos from OneDrive?

When you download a file from the internet or cloud storage, your operating system creates a new local file. This action is treated as a modification, which updates the 'Date Modified' timestamp to the exact time of the download. The embedded EXIF metadata (Date Taken) remains unchanged.

How do I sort my downloaded photos by the date they were actually taken?

In Windows File Explorer, change your view to 'Details'. Right-click the column headers (like Name or Date modified), select 'More...', and check the box for 'Date taken'. You can then click the new 'Date taken' column header to sort your files chronologically based on their original capture date.

Does OneDrive remove EXIF data from photos when uploading or downloading?

No, OneDrive does not strip or compress EXIF data (such as camera settings, geolocation, and date taken) from your photos. The original embedded metadata remains fully intact during both upload and download processes.

Document & File Issues