How to change date taken on photos in Windows 10?

You can easily change the "Date Taken" information for photos in Windows 10 directly through File Explorer.

Changing Date Taken Using File Explorer

The most straightforward method on a Windows computer, as highlighted in the reference, is to use the built-in File Explorer. This allows you to modify the metadata associated with your photo files, including the date and time they were captured.

For a Single Photo

To change the date for an individual picture:

1. Find the file: Navigate to the folder where your photo is located in File Explorer.
2. Right click on the desired photo file.
3. Select Properties from the context menu.
4. In the Properties window, click on the Details tab.
5. Under the "Origin" section, find the field labeled Date Taken.
6. Click on the value next to Date Taken to make it editable.
7. Enter the correct date and time.
8. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

This process updates the metadata embedded within the photo file itself.

For Multiple Photos (Batch Change)

According to the reference, you can batch change the dates by selecting multiple files and following the same steps. This is incredibly useful for organizing large collections where the camera clock was incorrect or missing.

1. Select multiple files: In File Explorer, select all the photos you want to modify. You can do this by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking individual files, or holding Shift while clicking a range of files.
2. Right click on any one of the selected photo files.
3. Select Properties from the context menu.
4. In the Properties window (which will show common properties for the selected items), click on the Details tab.
5. Find the Date Taken field under the "Origin" section.
6. Click on the value next to Date Taken.
7. Enter the desired date and time. Note: When batch editing, all selected photos will have their 'Date Taken' set to the exact same date and time you enter.
8. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes for all selected photos.

Using File Explorer provides a simple way to correct or add the Date Taken metadata without needing third-party software.