File Date Changer
Change file modification dates online for free. Modify timestamps on any file type. No software needed. Secure, browser-based processing.
How it works
100% private: all processing happens in your browser.
Drag & drop any files
or click to browse your files
Supports all file types: documents, images, videos, archives, etc.
Maximum: 100 files, 100MB per file
Why Change File Dates?
Organize Files by Date
Fix file sorting when dates got changed by copying, downloading, or transferring between devices
Restore Original Dates
Set files back to their original creation date after editing or batch processing changed timestamps
Document Management
Set consistent dates on documents for archiving or version tracking
100% Private
All processing happens in your browser using JSZip. Your files never leave your device
Understanding File Timestamps
| Timestamp | Description | Preserved by ZIP? |
|---|---|---|
| Modification Date | When the file content was last changed | Yes |
| Creation Date | When the file was originally created (OS-specific) | Set to extraction time |
| Access Date | When the file was last opened or read | Set to extraction time |
The ZIP format stores the modification timestamp for each file entry. When you extract the ZIP, the modification date will be set to the date you chose. Creation and access dates are set by your operating system at extraction time.
Why File Dates Get Lost or Changed
Every file carries timestamps that record when it was created, last modified, and last opened. These timestamps are part of the file system rather than the file itself, so they often do not travel with the file. When you copy a folder to a USB drive, upload it to cloud storage, sync it between devices, or restore it from a backup, the operating system frequently stamps the copies with the current date and time instead of the originals. The content is intact, but the history that made your files sortable by date is gone.
Bulk operations cause the same problem. Renaming a batch of files, converting images to a new format, extracting an archive, or running documents through an editor can all reset the modification date to the moment the tool touched each file. This tool rebuilds a clean timestamp for every entry so your files sort correctly again and your archive reflects when the work actually happened. Because everything runs locally with JSZip, your files are never uploaded: the browser reads each file, writes a fresh ZIP with your chosen dates, and hands the download straight back to you.
You can adjust files one at a time or use the batch field to apply a single date across every file at once, which is handy when a whole folder lost its timestamps in the same transfer. The tool accepts any file type (documents, images, videos, audio, archives, and more) up to 100 files and 100MB per file in a single batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this change the file creation date or the modification date?
It sets the modification date. The ZIP format stores one timestamp per file entry, which your operating system applies as the modification date when you extract the archive. Creation and access dates are assigned by the operating system at extraction time, so they reflect when you unzipped the files.
Will the new dates survive after I extract the ZIP?
Yes, for the modification date. Windows, macOS, and Linux all read the stored timestamp from each ZIP entry and apply it when extracting, so your chosen modification dates are preserved. Use your operating system's built-in extractor for the most reliable result.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens in your browser using the JSZip library. Your files are read locally, repackaged with the new timestamps, and downloaded straight back to your device. Nothing is sent to or stored on any server.
What file types and sizes are supported?
Any file type works: documents, images, videos, audio, archives, and more. You can process up to 100 files at once, with a limit of 100MB per file in a single batch.
Can I apply the same date to many files at once?
Yes. When you have more than one file loaded, a batch field lets you pick a single date and apply it to every file with one click. This is useful when a whole folder lost its original timestamps during the same copy, sync, or backup restore.
Common Use Cases
- • Fixing dates on files that lost their timestamps after copying to USB or cloud storage
- • Setting consistent dates on batches of scanned documents
- • Correcting modification dates changed by bulk rename or conversion tools
- • Organizing downloaded files by their actual creation date instead of download date
- • Preparing files for archival with proper date metadata
Discussion
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