How to Change Created Date of a File on Mac
The created date of a file on your Mac represents the date and time that the particular file was originally created. However, there may be instances where you need to change the created date of a file for various purposes, such as organizing files or maintaining consistency. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to change the created date of a file on your Mac.
Changing the created date of a file on Mac requires the use of Terminal, a built-in application that allows you to access the command line interface of your Mac. Follow these steps to change the created date of a file:
Step 1: Launch Terminal on your Mac navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
Step 2: Once Terminal is open, navigate to the folder where the file whose created date you want to change is located. You can do this using the “cd” command followed the folder’s path.
Step 3: Use the “ls” command to list the files in the current directory and find the file whose created date you want to change.
Step 4: Once you have identified the file, use the following command to change its created date:
touch -t YYYYMMDDHHMM filename
Replace “YYYY” with the desired year, “MM” with the desired month, “DD” with the desired day, “HH” with the desired hour, “MM” with the desired minute, and “filename” with the name of the file whose created date you want to change.
For example, if you want to change the created date of a file named “example.txt” to January 1, 2022, at 12:00 PM, you would use the following command:
touch -t 202201011200 example.txt
Step 5: Press Enter to execute the command. The created date of the file should now be changed to the specified date and time.
Common Questions:
1. Can I change the created date of multiple files at once?
No, you need to change the created date of each file individually.
2. Will changing the created date affect the modified date of the file?
No, changing the created date will not affect the modified date of the file.
3. Can I change the created date of system files?
It is not recommended to change the created date of system files as it may cause instability or issues with your Mac.
4. Can I change the created date of a file to a future date?
Yes, you can change the created date of a file to a future date.
5. Can I revert the changed created date back to the original date?
Yes, you can revert the changed created date using the original date and time in the touch command.
6. Will changing the created date of a file affect its metadata?
No, changing the created date of a file will not affect its metadata.
7. Can I change the created date of a file without using Terminal?
No, changing the created date of a file on Mac requires the use of Terminal.
8. Is it possible to change the created date of a file using third-party software?
Yes, there are third-party software available that allow you to change the created date of a file on Mac.
9. Can I change the created date of a file that is locked or read-only?
No, you cannot change the created date of a file that is locked or read-only.
10. Will changing the created date of a file affect its file size or content?
No, changing the created date of a file will not affect its file size or content.
11. Can I change the created date of a file that is stored on an external drive?
Yes, you can change the created date of a file that is stored on an external drive.
12. Will changing the created date of a file affect its visibility or accessibility?
No, changing the created date of a file will not affect its visibility or accessibility.
13. Is it possible to change the created date of a file on other operating systems?
The method described in this article is specific to Mac. However, other operating systems may have similar methods to change the created date of a file.
In conclusion, changing the created date of a file on Mac can be done using Terminal. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you can easily modify the created date of a file to suit your needs. However, it is important to exercise caution and avoid altering system files to prevent any unwanted consequences.