Preserving Original Creation Dates When Exporting Videos from Apple's Photos App

Introduction

Apple's Photos app is a powerful tool for managing and editing media on macOS. However, users may encounter an unexpected challenge when exporting videos: the original creation date can be lost or altered. This issue has perplexed many users, leading to confusion and frustration.

This blog post will delve into the problem and provide a solution using ExifTool, a free and open-source command-line tool capable of reading, writing, and editing metadata.

The Problem with Apple's Photos App

When exporting videos from the Photos app, you may notice that the original creation date is replaced with the export date. This happens whether you drag and drop the videos or use the "File > Export" option.

Here are some common scenarios where this issue arises:

• Exporting Videos from iCloud: If videos are downloaded from iCloud, the creation date may be reset to the download date.
• Using Different Devices: Exporting videos from an iPhone to a Mac via AirDrop may preserve the original creation date, but exporting the same videos from a Mac Mini or MacBook may not.

This inconsistency has left users puzzled, especially since the Photos app does display the correct creation and modification information within its interface.

Solution: Using ExifTool

While the Photos app may not offer a built-in solution to this problem, ExifTool provides a workaround.

Installation

MacOS: Use Homebrew and run brew install exiftool or download the DMG file from the official website.

Modifying the Creation Date

After exporting the video with the Photos app, use ExifTool to modify the creation date to the original value.

exiftool "-CreationDate=2023:08:02 21:11:00+08:00" IMG_8361.mov

You can verify the changes by reading the metadata again:

exiftool IMG_8361.mov

Conclusion

Apple's Photos app's behavior regarding the preservation of original creation dates in videos may be inconsistent and frustrating for users who rely on accurate metadata. However, tools like ExifTool provide a way to correct this information manually.

While this solution may not be as convenient as a built-in option within the Photos app, it does allow users to retain control over their metadata. For detailed documentation and more examples, visit the ExifTool official website.