OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Changing File Creation Dates on macOS

Khadija Khan Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users notice that files downloaded from OneDrive to macOS display the download date as the creation date in Finder, instead of the original file creation date.

How to Fix OneDrive Changing File Creation Dates on Mac

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Downloading or syncing existing files from OneDrive cloud storage to a local Mac computer.
Observed behavior: macOS Finder overwrites the 'Date Created' property with the exact time the file was downloaded, although the 'Date Modified' property correctly retains the original file's metadata.

Before you start

Log into the OneDrive web interface to verify your original file creation dates before attempting to modify any local file attributes on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Use 'Date Modified' to Sort and Organize Files in Finder

Since macOS natively assigns the download time as the creation date for downloaded files, relying on the modified date is the most effective way to view chronological file history.

When downloading files via OneDrive to a Mac, the macOS file system registers the download event as the creation of a new local file. This is a known OS-level behavior.

Fortunately, the 'Date Modified' metadata is preserved during the transfer, which typically matches or closely aligns with your original file creation timeline.

Open Finder

Launch Finder on your Mac and navigate to your local OneDrive folder.

Change View Options

Click on 'View' in the top menu bar of your Mac and select 'as List' to display detailed file information.

Enable Date Modified Column

Right-click on the column headers (such as Name or Size) and ensure 'Date Modified' is checked so it becomes visible.

Sort by Date Modified

Click the 'Date Modified' column header to accurately sort your files based on their original timeline rather than the download date.

Use 'Date Modified' to Sort and Organize Files in Finder

Web Interface Verification: You can always view the true original creation date by accessing your files directly through the OneDrive web portal.

Solution 2

Correct File Creation Dates Using Mac Terminal

Advanced users can manually change the creation date of a file to match its original creation or modification date using Terminal commands.

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the macOS version and install the application.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does macOS change the creation date of downloaded OneDrive files?

macOS treats a file downloaded from cloud storage as a newly created local instance on your hard drive. Therefore, Finder automatically assigns the exact time the download finished as the 'Date Created.'

Is the original file creation date lost permanently when downloaded to Mac?

No, the original creation date is safely stored on the OneDrive servers. You can view the authentic file creation date anytime by logging into the OneDrive web interface.

How can I prevent OneDrive from altering the creation date on my Mac?

There is currently no built-in OneDrive or macOS setting to prevent this metadata behavior during standard file downloads. Relying on the 'Date Modified' field in Finder is the recommended workaround.

Document & File Issues