How can I fix the date placement of .Mov files in Photos? Exif data?

Question

Level 1

18 points

How can I fix the date placement of .Mov files in Photos? Exif data?

I'm coming from a multi-decade Windows background so please feel free to explain ALL the things in detail.

I imported a huge mess of .mov and photos into Photos Library. Some of the .Mov files are copied around from various other online Cloud storage services so their creation dates as a file are fubar. I want to know how I can edit these files so that when they are viewed in Photos they show up in the correct timeline next to their photos from the same date and time.

I would have thought this would be simple with command-I to access the Exif data but for some crazy reason it seems Apple has failed to allow this to occur. I am ADMIN, let me do ALL the things. Come on, Apple!

Do I need an app or some admin privilige in settings to fix these .mov?

It just isn't acceptable for a clip from 2012 Christmas to show a May 28 2015 date in Photos.

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), null

Posted on Jun 2, 2015 1:54 AM

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Answer 1

R C-R

Level 6

17,794 points

Jun 2, 2015 2:12 AM in response to Kaliena

In the Image menu there is an "Adjust Date & Time" item you can use to do that. It works for single & multiple selections. Be aware that for multiple selections it will change the date & time of each item by the same relative amount, not to the same fixed date & time.

If you need to change multiple items to the same fixed date & time all at once, this user tip may help with that.

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Answer 2

Kaliena Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 2, 2015 1:44 PM in response to R C-R

If you test this for yourself you will see that when you select a .mov video file that you can NOT select the function you describe. It is greyed out. That is why I specifically asked how to alter .mov files in my original post. Do you have any input on how to change .mov files as opposed to pictures?

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Jun 2, 2015 2:51 PM in response to Kaliena

Not sure what you are doing or seeing but if I select a vide and double click to enlarge it then the adjust time and date command is available under the Image menu

LN

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

215,622 points

Jun 2, 2015 2:52 PM in response to Kaliena

I'm able to change video/movie files with the Image ➙ Adjust Date and Time menu option.

Launch Photos with the Command+Option keys held down and repair the library. Then try again.

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Answer 5

Kaliena Author

Level 1

18 points

Jun 2, 2015 3:53 PM in response to Old Toad

That is the strangest thing. I think somehow it had to do with Photos uploading to the server for iCloud? I was uploading for several days many gigs of new data and it wasn't available on my new macbook. It just got done uploading and poof the option is working where it hadn't worked before the entire time I was using Photos. I re-tested this even a few hours ago and the option was complete grey and unavailable no matter which .mov I selected. Maybe it's correlation and not causation, but I don't know what else changed. I had tried Repair of Library once before and it didn't work then.

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