Windows 10 always updates file date as Modified

mlg · 15 Oct 2021

Windows 10, Version 21H1, Build 19043.1288
As soon as I open a file to read, even if I change nothing, Windows Explorer shows the Date Modified as the date I opened it.
If I'm reading a file and do something as minor as adding a comma, the file has a new Date Modified date.

I find this troubling because as time goes by I can't easily find a file I know I wrote last fall, or about two years ago because none of the file dates are accurate. Is there a way around this? I would like to keep the file with its original date unless I actually make substantive changes and save them. How would I implement this in practice?

Thanks.

Try3 · 16 Oct 2021

You can choose to show Creation date in File explorer, Details view.
- Right-click on any column header and you'll see the columns you can show and a More... entry at the bottom taking you to a longer list.

"As soon as I open a file to read, even if I change nothing, Windows Explorer shows the Date Modified as the date I opened it. "
That should not happen.
- Please post a screenshot showing the date you are reading.
Perhaps it's Date accessed?

All the best,
Denis

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mlg · 18 Oct 2021

Hi,
Here's what happened when I tried to re-create it.
Here is a shot of my Drive D:

Windows 10 always updates file date as Modified-image.png

Note that the folder Audio Info has a Date Modified in June.
I opened the folder and then opened the first document, a Word document about frequency bands.
I read a few words in the file, changed nothing and closed out of Word using the upper right corner X

The Date Modified of the file was not changed - contrary to what I posted.
However... the Date Modified of the entire folder (Audio Info) was changed to today's date.

I'm pretty sure sometimes this happens to many files if I open and close them, perhaps individually.

Hope this is clear and thanks again,.

Try3 · 18 Oct 2021

Both folder diagrams show the Audio info DLM as 01:48 18th Oct 2021. Your reference to June seems to be a misreading [the Android folder has a DLM in June].

Or have you accidentally posted the same diagram twice?

Denis

mlg · 19 Oct 2021

So sorry - here's the clip of Windows Explorer before I opened the Audio Info folder:

Then when I opened the file but made no changes it didn't change date
And then when I closed down and re-opened Windows Explorer the Audio Info folder had changed dates although nothing had been changed.

Farvatten · 19 Oct 2021

mlg said:

I opened the folder and then opened the first document, a Word document about frequency bands. I read a few words in the file, changed nothing and closed out of Word using the upper right corner X.

However... the Date Modified of the entire folder (Audio Info) was changed to today's date.

I'm guessing this only happens on *.docx files? If so there's some history of Word opening a temp file in the folder in preparation for possible changes that's then later deleted and this triggers a folder modification date change.

According to your description, it seems that you encountered the same situation in Windows 8. However, your colleagues pointed out its because Word creates the temp document in the folder as soon as you open it.

Viewing a word document in a folder changes the Date Modified of the folder