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How to Create a Report of File and Folder Modified Dates in Excel

John Wilson Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

A business needs an automated way to generate weekly or monthly Excel reports detailing when files and folders were modified and which user made the changes.

How to Create a Report of File and Folder Modified Dates

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating weekly or monthly file activity reports for team auditing and tracking folder updates.
Observed behavior: The user wants to export a consolidated report of modification times and user changes, but Microsoft 365 lacks a direct built-in button for generating this specific directory report.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrative or read access to the target folders (such as SharePoint or OneDrive) and that your Microsoft 365 account includes access to Power Automate.

Solution 1Recommended

Create an Automated Report Using Microsoft Power Automate

Since Microsoft 365 does not provide a simple built-in reporting tool for folder modifications, Power Automate is the recommended method to retrieve file activity and log it into an Excel spreadsheet automatically.

Microsoft Power Automate can connect to your SharePoint or OneDrive folders, retrieve the metadata for all files, and insert that data into a formatted Excel table on a schedule you define.

Create an Excel Destination Table

Create a new Excel file on your SharePoint or OneDrive. Add column headers such as 'File Name', 'Modified Date', and 'Modified By'. Highlight the headers, go to Insert > Table, and save the file.

Launch Power Automate

Log into your Microsoft 365 account and open Power Automate. Click 'Create' and choose 'Scheduled cloud flow'. Set the flow to run on your preferred schedule (e.g., weekly or monthly).

Retrieve File Properties

Add a new step and search for the 'Get files (properties only)' action under SharePoint. Select your Site Address and Library Name to pull the metadata of your files.

Populate the Excel Table

Add another step using the 'Add a row into a table' action under Excel Online. Select your destination Excel file and table. Map the dynamic content fields (like 'Modified' and 'Modified By') from the SharePoint step into your Excel columns, then save and test your flow.

Create an Automated Report Using Microsoft Power Automate

Community Assistance: If you need customized logic, such as filtering out specific file types or specific users, consider asking for tailored workflow assistance in the official Microsoft Power Automate Community.

Solution 2

Export File Details via SharePoint Library View

If you are storing files in SharePoint, you can use the built-in library views to quickly export a manual report to Excel.

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Manage and Analyze Your Data Reports with WPS Office

While generating automated cloud reports may require ecosystem tools like Power Automate, viewing, analyzing, and sharing those downloaded Excel reports is seamlessly handled by WPS Office. Enjoy a lightweight, highly compatible spreadsheet experience without the premium subscription costs.

1. Open Your Report: Launch WPS Office, select 'Spreadsheets', and open your downloaded file modification report.
2. Analyze the Data: Navigate to the Data tab and use the 'Filter' tool to sort the files by 'Modified Date' or 'Modified By' to quickly find the information you need.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats, ensuring your automated reports open perfectly.Lightweight software architecture that opens large data reports blazing fast.Familiar spreadsheet interface so you can start filtering and sorting your modification data with zero learning curve.Built-in PDF conversion for securely finalizing and sharing your audit reports with stakeholders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who modified an Excel file without generating a full report?

Yes, if the file is stored in a cloud environment like OneDrive or SharePoint, you can open the file, go to 'File' > 'Info', and view the 'Last Modified By' property. You can also view the 'Version History' to see a timeline of specific user changes.

Why doesn't Excel have a built-in button for folder auditing?

File and folder auditing is generally managed at the operating system or server level (such as Windows File Explorer, SharePoint, or OneDrive) rather than within individual spreadsheet applications like Excel. Excel is meant to process the data once it is retrieved.

Do I need a premium license to use Power Automate for file reporting?

Basic file metadata retrieval from OneDrive or standard SharePoint libraries is included in most standard Microsoft 365 enterprise or business plans. Premium connectors are generally only required if you are integrating with third-party external services.

Is there a simple Command Prompt trick to get local folder modified dates?

Yes, for strictly local files on a Windows PC, you can open Command Prompt, navigate to your folder, and type 'dir /T:W > report.txt'. This outputs a text file with file names and modified dates, which you can then import into an Excel spreadsheet. However, this method will not show which specific user made the change.

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