SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint lastModifiedBy Not Updating After Moving Files

Olivia Miller Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to understand why a file moved from one drive to another retains its original lastModifiedBy metadata instead of updating to show the user who executed the move.

Why Does lastModifiedBy Stay the Same After Moving a SharePoint File?

Product: SharePoint / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving a document between different drives or SharePoint sites.
Observed behavior: The lastModifiedBy value remains identical to its state before the move rather than reflecting the account of the person who moved the file.

Before you start

Determine whether the file was moved manually through the SharePoint interface or automatically via a background script or Power Automate flow, as this determines how metadata is processed.

Solution 1Recommended

Investigate Custom Power Automate Flows

Use this solution to check if an automated background process moved the file, which frequently causes metadata to be retained or updated incorrectly.

In standard manual cross-site or cross-OneDrive moves, the createdBy and modifiedBy fields normally update to reflect the user performing the action. If they do not, it is highly likely that a custom Power Automate flow or another automated migration process is handling the move. Many automation tools are explicitly configured to retain original metadata during file transfers.

Check the flow run history

Navigate to the Power Automate portal, locate any flows tied to the specific SharePoint document library, and check the Run History around the time the file was moved.

Compare metadata values

Look at the document's version history in SharePoint. Compare the lastModifiedBy values immediately before and after the move operation was recorded.

Review the Move file action settings

If a flow is responsible, open the flow in edit mode and inspect the 'Move file' or 'Copy file' action. Check if it is running under a system account or if it is configured to carry over file metadata.

System Account Behavior: If a flow runs under a service principal or system account, it may not register your personal user account as the modifier unless explicitly configured to do so.

Solution 2

Perform a Manual Move Test

Manually moving a file helps isolate whether the issue is systemic to your SharePoint environment or isolated to a specific automated process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does copying a file in SharePoint update the modified by property?

Yes, copying a file usually creates a brand-new instance of the document. As a result, both the createdBy and lastModifiedBy properties will typically update to reflect the user who performed the copy action.

How do administrators preserve original metadata when moving SharePoint files?

To preserve original metadata such as creation dates and authors, administrators often use specialized third-party migration tools or the official SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) rather than the native web interface.

Can I manually edit the lastModifiedBy value of a document?

No, standard users cannot manually edit the lastModifiedBy field. It is a system-generated, read-only property that SharePoint updates automatically based on backend operations and user actions.

Document & File Issues