How do you keep the original photo time when exporting from photos to a local folder? I am able to keep the original date by selecting Export Unmodified Original, but the time still changes.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: How do you keep the original photo TIME when exporting from photos?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 13.7
The EXIF data is the canonical source, not the file system metadata. The latter is a little too volatile, and can get changed when macOS wants.
Building custom photo-management apps atop the file system metadata tends to encounter problems with this, too. You can better use the EXIF data for that, or store the EXIF data and filename and such in a database and build on that, or use one of the various available photo-management apps.
One of various related useful tools:
Some discussions:
When you export a picture from Photos, its creation "date and time" is exported with it in its Exif metadata. Of course, Finder (like Explorer) is a File Manager, so it shows the date the file was created in Date Modified column. But Finder shows the original creation date in the Date Created c"olumn. Here's a picture I just exported that I had taken in Australia in 2005:
As you can see, Finder's creation date shows June of 2005.
I used "File>Export>Export 1 Photo to produce this image.
Hold it-- I think I see the problem! You are using macOS 13.7 High Sierra, is that right? I think that I remember that Finder was different then. Can you upgrade?
One way to see that the original date is still there is to use the free ExifTool Reader. Check it out.
Thank you for the reply. This is a bit over my head so I am not able to really follow. Is getting an accurate time not possible? Here are some screenshots to show you what's happening. the "info" image shows the actual image info with the correct time. The image of the details after exporting to a local folder shows the correct date but the time is has changed. I have hundreds of photos to do this with so updating the time manually isn't a feasible option.
I'm not sure what's going on with your case, but here is the info window of that picture I exported yesterday:
And here is an expansion of the exported file data in Finder:
Both say 6:51 am June 8 2005.
What did you find, as I suggested, with ExifTool Reader? What did you see when you looked at the picture file in another image viewer, like Preview, as we discussed? As I asked earlier, are you, in fact, using High Sierra?
I just discovered yesterday that I am not able to upgrade any higher because I have a 2017 model. The preview2 shows a completely different time than both of the images I posted earlier. I tried to install the tool, but I can't figure it out.
and ExifTool? That's the data you need to look at.
Does this happen with every picture, or just this one? Where did this picture come from? TIFF format is quite unusual for phones.
How did you export this file?
The photo was taken with my iPhone 13XS Max. I'm not sure why the preview info is showing it as a TIFF because the file itself is showing as a HEIC. That photo is from 2022 but I've tested it with more recent photos, and I am having the same issue. I downloaded it by clicking file > export > export unmodified original.
I just tried it from my PC laptop as well. On there I am able to download the photos and get the correct time and date. The only difference is I have to add DATE TAKEN to the columns to see the original date and time. Date Created and Date Modified show today's date. My concern, though, is that I am a MAC user and these photos will get passed down to family. I'd like the info to show properly when they open a finder window so they know what they are looking at when they were taken for memories sake. most photos I wouldn't care as much about, but these matter.
ExifTool? That's the data you need to look at.
Again, what Finder does depends on the version. You have an old one. If it shows in Photos, that it's OK.
If the original was heic, then "file > export > export unmodified original" will be heic. What you've done is not what you're saying that you've done.
There are two sources of truth here, the EXIF data, and the file system metadata.
The EXIF data is what you want. EXIF does what you want. EXIF is what you want.
Please stop looking at the file system metadata. That won’t ever do what you want.
The file system metadata will do EXACTLY what you are objecting to here, always, inevitably, inexorably.
The file system metadata is relevant to the particular file. Not to the file contents. The container holding the data can and does change, and not when you might want, or might expect.
Which is also all part of why EXIF was invented.
For further discussions of file system metadata and EXIF, search for references to EXIF data around these forums.
PandaBear5 wrote:
Okay. I will keep trying to figure it out. I just need the files to display properly. Thank you.
The files are displaying properly.
You can ask Apple to add a column to Finder for EXIF certainly, but the usual path for photographers and others seeking to manage their own separate libraries is to create and use an app or library or script to manage photos and photo libraries.
That tool can utilize the EXIF data, as well as displaying whatever additional metadata you might choose to add (such as the location, contract, people, whatever).
Or less effort, use one of the available apps for managing a photo library. That includes the Apple Photos app and its photo libraries, as well as third-party options, as well as custom-written options.
I am using the Apple Photos app, which shows the correct date. It's just that the date changes when I export them to another folder outside the app. I am trying to get them off my Apple devices, though. Thinking about the future, if I were to put these photos on a hard drive for family to access years from now, I just want them to be able to have the date and time available. They won't get into EXIF data and all that. I need a straightforward solution.
PandaBear5 wrote: … it's just that the date changes when I export them to another folder outside the app.
The dates don't change; you just see a date representing something different-- information about the file rather than the contents. We've been through that.
The Image Creation date will be shown with any Image Viewer. A File viewer will show the file date. Makes sense. But, Finder in newer OSs will show the creation date, as well.
You can use 3rd Party apps to change the File creation date to the Image creation date. I see one called Photo Date Adjuster in the App Store. I haven't used it. There are others.
But when you move the file to another place, you may get a whole new date.
Thank you for the reply. Yes, I’ve been able to get the original date when exported but the time is what changes. How can I get that to remain original as well?
Okay. I will keep trying to figure it out. I just need the files to display properly. Thank you.
The problem is I don’t understand any of this stuff. I may have to just adjust the time manually on the photos it matters most.
How do I keep original photo time when exporting from Photos?
