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How can I download my files with the original date they were created?

I moved from Samsung to iPhone and had to use Dropbox to move my pictures between devices. However there doesn’t seem to be a way to download from Dropbox and keep the original date the photo was taken, it defaults to the date of download. Is there any way to keep the original date so I can sort by date on my phone?

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Walter

Hi @MNSmith; welcome to our Community and happy Friday!

It sounds like you're looking at the date when the files were last modified and not the time they were created through the files' EXIF data.

If that's not the case, could you forward me a screenshot of where you're spotting this so I can have a better look?

Thanks a bunch!

MNSmith

Hi Walter, I’m afraid you lost me at EXIF file (I also couldn’t find any way to check this on the app).
But in simple terms I uploaded the original picture 5 years ago (when it was taken), but if I download it today, it appears in my camera roll with today’s date rather than the date from 5 years ago. Is there any way round this? Thanks

Walter

Thanks for the quick response @MNSmith.

For more info on EXIF data and how to retrieve them, I'd suggest a simple web search on your prefered web browser.

To better assist now, could you clarify on what device you're on and where exactly are you previewing your files from? Is it on a computer within your Dropbox folder, within the mobile app or maybe our website?

MNSmith

Thanks Walter. I’m on my iPhone (XR), using the Dropbox app

Walter

Thanks for that piece of information @MNSmith.

Can you also clarify how did you upload those photos to Dropbox in the first place and, if possible, try to access the same files on a computer and let me know if you can see their properties there?

MNSmith

Hi, I uploaded them from my Samsung phone to the Dropbox app, and still can’t see any properties when I use a computer. Thanks

Rich

Walter is correct. You're looking at the Created Date or Modified Date which will often change to the date of download (regardless of the platform). This is because that's the date that the file was created on THAT device. The date the photo was taken is still preserved within the EXIF date (or metadata) for your photo. This is data embedded into the image by the camera at the time it was taken.

Take Walter's advice and do a web search for EXIF and read up on it.

MNSmith

Hi Rich, I understand the logic of the EXIF date and the modification date, but that wasn’t my question.
Is there any way when downloading an old photo from Dropbox to my current device to keep the EXIF date (i.e. 5 years ago), rather than the date of download (i.e. today). Or is that a question for Apple rather than Dropbox? Thanks

rbens

I saw several post on that when one wants to download from Dropbox cloud his files back to his computer, he will get a "creation date" of the date the files download and not the date they were created.

Does someone know if this already address by Dropbox?

Thanks.

Ronny

Daphne

Hey there @rbens, thanks for reaching out to us here!

If you haven't already, I'd suggest having a look at this thread here for some more info on this, there are some great explanations by Walter and Rich there.

Let me know if you have any questions!

mpitt22

Have you found a solution to this? I am having the same issue. I download an old photo to mac and it doesn't preserve the date the photo was taken!