When I download a file from my dropbox account, it gets a new time-date stamp. When I download a folder and extract the zipped folder, all the files get new time-date stamps. It's important for me to preserve the original time-date stamps. How can I retrieve my files and folders with the original time-date information they had when I uploaded them to Dropbox? Using Windows 7.

Hi John, when you’re downloading the files from the website, indeed with any site, the ‘date modified’ or ‘date created’ will be for that moment, since the file didn’t exist before that period. If you’re using the Dropbox desktop application, then when the files sync down to your machine the dates and times will remain as they were, though the date modified would be the last time someone has edited the files. Hope this helps to clarify matters!

Preserving time-date stamps | The Dropbox Community

Jay
Dropbox Staff
6 years ago
Hi John, when you’re downloading the files from the website, indeed with any site, the ‘date modified’ or ‘date created’ will be for that moment, since the file didn’t exist before that period.

If you’re using the Dropbox desktop application, then when the files sync down to your machine the dates and times will remain as they were, though the date modified would be the last time someone has edited the files.

Hope this helps to clarify matters!
- mensa0505
  New member | Level 2
  3 years ago
  How do I do this with my iphone? I am trying to download or "move" my dropbox pictures to my iphone but when I do, it gives it a new timestamp. I had downloaded 7 pictures and they did download with the original timestamp and now, it is not doing that. Why would it change?
- jaresing
  Helpful | Level 6
  6 years ago
  That is sooooo upsetting. So I drag a folder into dropbox and the modified time is now! I then down load it five minutes from now and the modified time is also five minute from now. Is this true? Seems like it. Sorry, that is messed up. I wish I could stay, but that will never ever do.
  - Jay
    Dropbox Staff
    6 years ago
    If you’re dragging a folder onto the Dropbox site, then technically you are creating those files online for the first time, hence the modification date would be now.
    
    If instead you moved the folder into the Dropbox folder, assuming you have the Dropbox desktop application installed, you’ll keep the original dates, like I mentioned above.
- Heenanmeister
  New member | Level 2
  5 years ago
  Thanks, works for me.
  - Jazzee
    Helpful | Level 6
    5 years ago
    For the record, we use both Dropbox and Google Drive and we use the web interface. Google preserves the original file date and time and displays it as such. Also, any FTP program for file transfer to an FTP or Webserver preserves the date and time. Dropbox is in the minority as far as it not reading the file date and time and preserving it when you upload to Dropbox.
John64
Explorer | Level 4
6 years ago
Jay - thank you - that's very helpful. I did a test with the Dropbox desktop app. I did selective sync on a folder - unchecked it. It disappeared from the dropbox folder on my computer. Then I went back to selective sync and checked it. It came back to my dropbox folder and each file had the original time-date stamp. Problem solved - thank you. Now I want to do this with all my folders because my hard drive is nearly full. I'll get a new laptop and sync all the folders to the new laptop. Just to be clear - this is the correct process for moving all of my folders through Dropbox to the new laptop while preserving original time-date stamps on the files. Is that correct?
- Jay
  Dropbox Staff
  6 years ago
  That’s correct, though technically you’re not moving the files to the new laptop, but simply adding another device to sync your account to!
  
  Since it is a new link, the Dropbox desktop application will sync the files down to that machine, just like they did with your current machine, with the timestamps as listed on the site.
  
  Since I assume you’re going to stop using the old laptop, make sure to unlink it from the desktop app to prevent any accidental deletions from your account, if you intend to format or sell it later and delete the files from the machine.
  
  Glad to hear that the solution worked for you, John!
- robnyland
  New member | Level 2
  2 years ago
  This doesnt work for me—with folders, the date shown is the date it synced to the computer, not the date it was last used . This messes up the whole "recently used" at top order that I rely on. It drives me insane. I get a new laptop and sync w deskptop app and all tjhe folders that sync to new computer have that day. Inside the contents ahev their last used date but th fodlers are all the same date. It's insane, everyone hates it and I dont know why they cant fix it. is there a workaround? I want my folders to stay with last used/opened date. Even on new Mac.
  - jaresing
    Helpful | Level 6
    2 years ago
    Welcome to the big dropbox problem.

Forum Discussion

Preserving time-date stamps

About View, download, and export

Need more support

Related Content

Preserving time-date stamps when uploading content from iPhone.

Re: Preserving 'creation' time and date stamps

Can I transfer files keeping date and time stamps in tact from one account to another?

Preserving time-date stamps when uploading from Photos on Mac or iPhone

How to sort photos in a Dropbox folder by creation date( date/time photo taken)

Recent Discussions

I've left comments for some students, but they can't see them after sharing the files.

I can't see my folders in offline only mode on Mac OS 15.1

Special folder act as "web server"

File in Dropbox on my HP, but not in Dropbox on my iPhone 12

Can't open recordings.