User profile for user: creosormur256
creosormur256 Author
User level: Level 1
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How can I download photos from iCloud with their original date.

I have a Windows PC. I am logged into iCloud using Chrome Browser. When I download photos from iCloud via the browser all photos end up with the current datetime.


How can I download my photos so that the original date is retained? (Note that I don't have a Mac and I am not a regular user of Mac or Apple software).


The question has been asked a million times in the forum, but the answers provided are confusing and unclear about exactly what is required. What I have found are screen shots from Mac users, or references to Finder without any reference to exactly what Finder is. (I even found many answers where people accept advice to only look at their photos on Apple devices. How ridiculous!)


If retaining the date is not possible when accessing photos via a browser, it would make sense to highlight this limitation in iCloud when you export photos. That way would Apple would save themselves a lot of unnecessary questions.


Thanks very much for any advice!



Posted on May 14, 2023 1:26 AM

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User profile for user: mingoslkd
mingoslkd
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on May 16, 2023 9:08 AM

Hello there,


We'd be happy to provide you with some information. We tested for this issue on our Mac and we think we understand what's happening. There is a lot of EXIF information (metadata) with photos and some field titles may be confusing.


When we downloaded photos from iCloud.com it shows the modified date and created date with the same time stamps. That's because the created date shows when the file was created on that device and the modified date shows the last time the file was edited on that device using Preview on Mac. After downloading a photo those times would be the same until the photo is edited (modified). The date the photo was taken would be called something different. To simplify, those are the dates the file was created on your device, not when the photo was taken.


We know you're not using a Mac, but the situation should be similar. When you download a photo all of the metadata is downloaded with it (even from iCloud), so you just have to find the right metadata on your PC. On Mac to view the original date the photo was taken you need to find the "Date Time Digitized" under EXIF (metadata). The verbiage may be different on PC or other non-Apple devices but should be very similar.


Because you're reaching out to the Apple Support Communities we're not able to help with your Windows PC as we're not well-versed with them, and the app you're using will impact the steps to find the date the photo was taken. That said, you should be able to Contact Microsoft or ask the Microsoft Community "How do I view EXIF data for a photo on my Windows [X] PC?" to learn more. Or you may be able to find an app on the Microsoft Store or find your answer in an internet search.


We hope that gets you headed in the right direction.


Thanks.

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User profile for user: mingoslkd
mingoslkd
User level: Community Specialist

May 16, 2023 9:08 AM in response to creosormur256

Hello there,


We'd be happy to provide you with some information. We tested for this issue on our Mac and we think we understand what's happening. There is a lot of EXIF information (metadata) with photos and some field titles may be confusing.


When we downloaded photos from iCloud.com it shows the modified date and created date with the same time stamps. That's because the created date shows when the file was created on that device and the modified date shows the last time the file was edited on that device using Preview on Mac. After downloading a photo those times would be the same until the photo is edited (modified). The date the photo was taken would be called something different. To simplify, those are the dates the file was created on your device, not when the photo was taken.


We know you're not using a Mac, but the situation should be similar. When you download a photo all of the metadata is downloaded with it (even from iCloud), so you just have to find the right metadata on your PC. On Mac to view the original date the photo was taken you need to find the "Date Time Digitized" under EXIF (metadata). The verbiage may be different on PC or other non-Apple devices but should be very similar.


Because you're reaching out to the Apple Support Communities we're not able to help with your Windows PC as we're not well-versed with them, and the app you're using will impact the steps to find the date the photo was taken. That said, you should be able to Contact Microsoft or ask the Microsoft Community "How do I view EXIF data for a photo on my Windows [X] PC?" to learn more. Or you may be able to find an app on the Microsoft Store or find your answer in an internet search.


We hope that gets you headed in the right direction.


Thanks.

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How can I download photos from iCloud with their original date.

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