OneDrive File Issues

How to Preserve Original Photo Dates When Downloading from OneDrive

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users downloading photos or ZIP files from OneDrive notice that the local file creation dates reflect the time of download rather than the original date the photo was taken.

How to Preserve Original Photo Dates When Downloading OneDrive Albums

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Downloading photo albums or image ZIP files from OneDrive to a local computer or device.
Observed behavior: The local file system assigns the current download date as the file creation date, seemingly losing the original chronological capture dates of the photos.

Before you start

Ensure you have successfully downloaded your photos from OneDrive and have a standard file explorer or metadata reader available to inspect the image properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Use EXIF Metadata to View Original Capture Dates

While the file system creation date changes upon download, the original capture date remains safely embedded inside the photo's EXIF metadata.

When a file is downloaded, your operating system creates a new local file, assigning it a new creation date. However, digital cameras and smartphones store the actual date the photo was taken inside the image file itself as EXIF metadata. This data is not altered by OneDrive downloads.

Access file properties

Right-click the downloaded photo on your computer and select 'Properties' (on Windows) or 'Get Info' (on Mac).

Navigate to file details

Switch to the 'Details' tab in the Windows Properties window, or look under the 'More Info' section on a Mac.

Locate the original date

Scroll down to find the 'Date taken' or 'Content created' field. This displays the actual date and time the photograph was captured.

Use metadata-aware software

Import your downloaded images into photo management software like Apple Photos, Adobe Lightroom, or Google Photos. These programs automatically read EXIF data to organize your albums chronologically.

Use EXIF Metadata to View Original Capture Dates

File Date vs. EXIF Date: The file creation date tells you when the file was saved to your current local drive, whereas the EXIF date tells you when the camera actually captured the image.

Solution 2

Submit Feature Request to Microsoft

Since OneDrive currently overrides the file creation date by design, submitting feedback is the official way to request a change in this download behavior.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does downloading from OneDrive change my photo dates?

When you download a file, your operating system creates a brand new local file on your hard drive. The system automatically assigns the current date and time as the 'creation date'. The original capture date is still preserved, but inside the file's internal EXIF data.

Can I force OneDrive to keep the original file creation date during download?

Currently, OneDrive does not support retaining the original file system creation date upon download. You must rely on EXIF metadata for chronological organization.

Does downloading photos as a ZIP file fix the date issue?

No. Extracting files from a downloaded ZIP archive will typically apply the extraction date as the new local creation date for all the unzipped files.

How can I sort my downloaded OneDrive photos by the date taken?

Import the downloaded photos into a dedicated photo management application. These applications read the internal EXIF metadata rather than the local file system dates, ensuring your albums are sorted correctly by the time they were captured.

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