How to Change File Date Modified
In the digital age, file management is a crucial aspect of maintaining organized data. One common task that users often encounter is the need to change the date and time of a file’s last modification. Whether it’s for privacy reasons, to deceive system checks, or simply to reset the file’s timestamp, altering the file date modified can be a useful skill. This article will guide you through the process of changing the file date modified on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Windows Users: Using the Command Prompt
For Windows users, the Command Prompt is a powerful tool that allows you to manipulate file properties, including the date and time of the last modification. To change the file date modified, follow these steps:
1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Navigate to the directory containing the file you want to modify.
3. Use the following command format: `cmd /c powershell “(Get-Item ‘path\to\file’).LastWriteTime = Get-Date”` (replace ‘path\to\file’ with the actual file path).
4. Press Enter to execute the command.
This command will set the last write time of the specified file to the current date and time.
macOS Users: Using Terminal
MacOS users can also change the file date modified using the Terminal. Here’s how:
1. Open Terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory containing the file you want to modify using the `cd` command.
3. Use the following command: `touch -mt YYYYMMDDHHMMSS file_name` (replace ‘YYYYMMDDHHMMSS’ with the desired date and time in the format of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second).
4. Press Enter to execute the command.
This command will update the file’s modification date to the specified time.
Linux Users: Using the touch Command
Linux users can use the `touch` command to change the file date modified. Here’s how:
1. Open a terminal.
2. Navigate to the directory containing the file you want to modify using the `cd` command.
3. Use the following command: `touch -m file_name` (replace ‘file_name’ with the actual file name).
4. Press Enter to execute the command.
This command will update the file’s last modification date to the current time.
Conclusion
Changing the file date modified can be a useful skill in various situations. By following the steps outlined in this article, Windows, macOS, and Linux users can easily alter the date and time of their files’ last modification. Whether it’s for privacy, system checks, or personal organization, knowing how to change file date modified can save you time and effort in managing your digital files.
