OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Changing Dates on Scanned Photos Before 1970

Khadija Khan Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users report that when they upload scanned historical photographs with dates prior to 1970 to OneDrive, the date metadata is changed or displayed incorrectly in the cloud.

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Uploading scanned historical photos and reviewing their metadata in the OneDrive cloud interface.
Observed behavior: Dates on scanned photos prior to 1970 are altered, resulting in incorrect metadata display after the upload to OneDrive completes.

Before you start

Ensure your Windows PC has enough local hard drive space to download the original photo files from OneDrive so you can verify their embedded metadata.

Solution 1Recommended

Download Files Locally Using "Always Keep on This Device"

Downloading the files forces Windows to read the actual embedded metadata of the file rather than relying on OneDrive's cloud preview data, which struggles with pre-1970 dates.

Many cloud platforms, including OneDrive, rely on Unix Epoch time for web interfaces and indexing. Because Unix time starts on January 1, 1970, dates preceding this can cause integer underflows or display errors online. However, the original EXIF data is usually preserved within the file itself.

Open the OneDrive Folder

Open File Explorer on your Windows PC and navigate to your synced OneDrive folder.

Keep the Files Locally

Locate the scanned photos with incorrect dates. Right-click the photos (or the entire folder) and select "Always keep on this device" from the context menu.

Verify the Metadata

Wait for the status icon to change to a solid green circle with a white checkmark. Right-click the downloaded photo, select "Properties", and go to the "Details" tab to confirm the original date has been correctly preserved.

Download Files Locally Using "Always Keep on This Device"

Metadata Preserved: If the local file shows the correct date, your metadata is safe. The issue is purely a visual limitation of the OneDrive cloud interface.

Solution 2

Submit Metadata Feedback to Microsoft

If the local files still show incorrect dates or you want to request a fix for the cloud interface bug, submitting feedback directly alerts the Microsoft product team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive struggle with photo dates before 1970?

Many computing systems and databases use Unix time, which calculates time in seconds starting from January 1, 1970. Processing dates prior to this epoch can sometimes cause integer underflows or display errors in web-based cloud applications like OneDrive.

Can I edit the metadata of my scanned photos directly in the OneDrive web view?

No, you cannot reliably edit EXIF date metadata through the OneDrive web interface. To change historical dates, you must download the file to your Windows PC, right-click it, select Properties, and edit the date field in the Details tab.

Will the original historical dates be permanently lost if OneDrive changes them online?

In most cases, the original EXIF data remains completely intact embedded within the file itself, and only the cloud display interface is affected by the bug. Downloading the file locally usually restores your access to the correct original date.

Document & File Issues