Keep original Photo Date on download to PC

Question

Keep original Photo Date on download to PC

I have lots of photos stored in iCloud from my iPhone.

Whilst using iCloud I can see the date of the photo was taken as the photos are organised by “date taken” by default.

However, I like to also download my Photos to my Windows PC where I edit and organise some of my collections. My first way of organising the files is by the date/time of each photo file.

When I download photos from iCloud, they are first added to a zip file automatically to make the transfer more efficient (I think). When I then extract the photos from the downloaded Zip file they have a new creation date of the date/time I downloaded them from iCloud.

Does anyone know how I can download files from iCloud, to my Windows PC, but keep the same creation date for each photo file?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 12:52 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Zack-Greenman Author

Level 1

13 points

Jun 10, 2020 6:26 AM in response to chuck_3rd

Hi Alex,

Thank you for your reply - which helped me sort my problem out.

As an example, I had taken a photo on my iPhone and that photo was stored on my phone. In the Photos App on my Phone I could easily tell when the photo was taken. It shows the Date and time at the top of my phone screen.

However, when I downloaded the files, via the Zip folder, and extracted them to my PC I had a problem. Looking at the files using Explorer they were all showing the date and time that I had downloaded them from iCloud. Following your advice, I looked at the detailed properties for the Photo file and saw that there was a parameter of the file called Date Photo Taken which was accurate. Then I realised that the heading in the Explorer view was "date created" - which was the date the file was "unZipped" and the "file created" on my hard drive. By right clicking the column headings banner in Explorer I was able to add a column showing the "Date Photo taken" which was how I was trying to sort the photos. My problem solved....

Thanks you for your help....

Zack

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Answer 2

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Jun 9, 2020 8:05 PM in response to Zack-Greenman

Zack-Greenman,

I'm glad you decided to reach out on the Apple Support Communities. If I understand correctly you’re downloading your iCloud Photos content from the iCloud website and it creates a .zip file that you then have to unzip, which changes the creation date of your media as outlined in the Photos and videos section here:

Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

I would try using iCloud for Windows to manage your downloads. Check out the “Download your photos and videos from iCloud Photos” instructions here:

Set up and use iCloud Photos on your Windows PC - Apple Support

This should allow you to designate a download location. When you right click on the photo for details, you should see the original creation date preserved.

All my best.

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Keep original Photo Date on download to PC

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