Document Editing Problems

Why PowerPoint Shows the Wrong Author and Date & How to Fix It

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to understand why a PowerPoint presentation displays incorrect author and creation date metadata and how to verify or correct the real document history.

Why PowerPoint Shows the Wrong Author and Date

Product: PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Submitting an assignment or sharing a presentation file where the document properties incorrectly attribute the work to someone else or display a past year.
Observed behavior: The author name and creation date in the presentation file properties do not match the actual creator or the current date, often showing a template creator's name or an older year.

Before you start

Before investigating the document metadata, ensure you are using the desktop application rather than the web version, as web interfaces often provide limited access to advanced file properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Review and Edit File Properties in PowerPoint

Check the presentation's built-in metadata to identify where the incorrect author information came from and manually correct it.

When you use a pre-made template, a custom theme, or copy slides from an older presentation, PowerPoint often retains the original creator's metadata and the initial creation date. This means the author listed in the file properties might not be the person who wrote the current content.

Open File Information

Open the presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint and click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon.

Access Document Properties

Select 'Info' from the left-hand menu to view the document's basic properties on the right side of the screen.

Modify the Author

Under 'Related People', right-click the incorrect author name and select 'Remove Person', or click 'Add an author' to insert your correct name.

Edit Advanced Properties

To edit more detailed metadata, click 'Properties' at the top of the Info pane and select 'Advanced Properties', where you can change the title, subject, and author.

Review and Edit File Properties in PowerPoint

Metadata Updated: Updating the properties ensures your name is properly attached before submitting your assignment or sharing the file.

Solution 2

Verify Creation via OS File Properties and Version History

If you need to prove that you created the content recently despite older metadata, check your operating system's file properties or cloud version history.

Metadata Management

Easily Edit Document Properties with WPS Office

WPS Presentation provides a straightforward way to view, manage, and correct document metadata, ensuring your assignments and professional slideshows correctly display your name and creation dates.

1. Open Presentation: Open your presentation file using WPS Presentation.
2. Access Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button located in the top-left corner of the interface.
3. Open Properties: Navigate to 'Document Information' or select 'Properties' from the drop-down menu.
4. Update Author: In the Summary tab, update the 'Author' field with your correct name.
5. Save Changes: Click 'OK' to apply the changes and save your document to lock in the new metadata.

Free and lightweight office suiteSeamlessly compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx, .ppt) formatsQuick access to document information and author editingFamiliar interface that requires no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can copying slides from another file change my author name?

Yes. If you copy slides from an existing presentation or apply an older custom theme, the document properties (including the author and original creation date) from that source file may carry over to your new presentation.

How do I change the default author name for all future presentations?

You can update your default user name. In PowerPoint, go to File > Options > General. Under the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section, type your correct name in the 'User name' box and click OK.

Why does my file creation date show a year before I even started the assignment?

This usually happens when you start your work by opening an older presentation or template and using the 'Save As' function. The internal creation date remains the date the original template was created, rather than the date you clicked 'Save As'.

Document & File Issues