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Fix OneDrive Upload Changing File Creation and Modification Dates
Question details
The user wants to prevent OneDrive from altering the original creation and modification dates of files when uploading them to the cloud.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Uploading local files to OneDrive by dragging and dropping them directly into a web browser interface.
- Observed behavior
- The displayed creation or modification dates of the uploaded files are overwritten with the exact date and time of the upload, rather than preserving the original file metadata.
Verify that your local original files still have the correct creation and modification dates on your computer, as you will need to re-upload them to fix the cloud versions.
Use the OneDrive Desktop Sync Client
Utilize the official OneDrive sync application instead of a web browser to ensure all original file metadata, including creation and modification dates, is accurately preserved during the upload process.
When you upload files by dragging them into a web browser, the cloud server often interprets the upload as the creation of a completely new file. This is a known limitation of browser-based uploads that overwrites your original timestamps.
To bypass this issue, the OneDrive desktop sync client operates differently. It accurately mirrors your local files to the cloud, retaining all original metadata and preventing the system from treating them as newly generated files.
Download and install the official OneDrive desktop application from the Microsoft website if it is not already installed on your system.
Launch the application, sign in with your Microsoft account, and follow the on-screen setup guide to designate a local OneDrive folder on your computer.
Open File Explorer (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) and navigate to the newly created OneDrive folder located in your sidebar.
Drag and drop the files or folders you wish to upload directly into this local OneDrive folder instead of using the web browser interface.
Wait for the sync client to automatically upload the files in the background. Once the sync icons indicate completion, check OneDrive online to confirm your original dates are perfectly preserved.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does uploading via a web browser change my file modification date?
When you upload files through a web browser, the server infrastructure often processes the incoming data stream as the creation of a brand-new file at that exact moment. Consequently, the cloud storage system stamps the file with the current upload time rather than extracting and retaining the local file's historical metadata.
Can I restore the original file dates if they were already changed by a browser upload?
Unfortunately, once the files are uploaded via the browser and the metadata is overwritten on the cloud server, you cannot revert the dates directly through the OneDrive interface. You must delete the affected cloud copies and re-upload your local original files using the desktop sync client.
Does the OneDrive mobile app preserve creation and modification dates?
Uploading directly through the official OneDrive mobile application generally behaves similarly to the desktop sync client, preserving file metadata much better than a mobile web browser. However, for bulk transfers of important historical files, utilizing the native desktop sync client remains the most reliable method.
