Downloading files from Onedrive to local pc and keeping the dates files were originally created intact

Question

Downloading files from Onedrive to local pc and keeping the dates files were originally created intact

Jacqueline Moore 0

I managed to loose some files on my laptop which had fortunately previously been synced to OneDrive. I successfully downloaded them from OneDrive to my local laptop but found that all dates are now set to the day of download. How do I download the dates that are recorded for the files on OneDrive?

5 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hi Jacqueline,

When you download files directly from OneDrive, Windows usually resets the "Date Created" and "Date Modified" to the download date. To keep the original timestamps, the best method is using the OneDrive sync client. Once it's set up, it syncs your files to a local folder and usually preserves the "Date Modified" (though "Date Created" may show the sync date). Another option is downloading files as a ZIP from OneDrive web. Just select your files, click "Download," and extract the ZIP using Windows Explorer or 7-Zip. This typically keeps the "Date Modified" intact. I hope this clarifies your situation. Feel free to reach back if you have any questions.

Best,
Jeric.

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Answer 2

Jacqueline Moore 0

he ZIP method has worked this time despite it not working earlier today. Not sure if I did anything different but happy all the same!

Thanks.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Jacqueline Moore 0

Hi Jeric,

It's me again. I am hoping you can now help me with a new problem. Somehow when I was messing about with all my files and folders I managed to change their status to cloud storage only (cloud icon) and wipe them off my laptop. How do I change their status to being both cloud and resident on my laptop?

Your help would be much appreciated as I am getting pretty frustrated with time spent trying to figure it out.

Thanks, Jacqueline

Jeric 1,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-25T14:25:17.3833333+00:00

Hi Jacqueline,

It sounds like your files were set to “cloud-only,” meaning they’re stored in OneDrive but no longer physically on your laptop. To make them available both in the cloud and on your device, open File Explorer and go to your OneDrive folder. Find the files or folders you want to restore locally, right-click on them, and select “Always keep on this device.” This will download the files and ensure they stay stored on your laptop even when you're offline. Let me know if you need help applying this to multiple folders or setting up automatic sync for future files. Hope this helps.

Best,
Jeric.
Jacqueline Moore 0 Reputation points

2025-08-25T16:17:54.94+00:00

That has worked perfectly and, in the end, so simple to do! I may have some more questions later today so I will not close this query. I obviously have a lot to learn about OneDrive.

Thanks again, especially for saving me so much time.

J.
Jeric 1,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-25T16:26:54.6066667+00:00

Hi Jacqueline,

Glad I could help. Don't hesitate to reach back if you have any questions related.

Best,
Jeric.
Jacqueline Moore 0 Reputation points

2025-08-26T17:00:27.95+00:00

Jeric - not sure if I used the correct section to ask the question about duplicate files. I used the 'Your Answer' box. Let me know if you don't receive it.

Answer 5

Jacqueline Moore 0

Folders.pdf

Jeric,

I do have another niggling issue. I now have two sets of personal folders and also two sets of Documents folders. I have attached a screenshot of Windows Explorer file layout. How do I remove the duplicate set of folders?

Can I also assume that now my folders and files reside on my laptop, I can remove folders from OneDrive on the website and it will not affect my locally stored files?

Again, huge thanks!

Jeric 1,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-26T17:37:34.21+00:00

Hi Jacqueline,

I noticed that you're seeing duplicate folders in Windows Explorer—such as two sets of “Jacqueline - Personal” and multiple “Documents” folders. This is likely due to a misconfiguration in your Libraries or OneDrive sync settings.

To resolve this, start by checking your Library settings. Open File Explorer, right-click the Documents folder under Libraries, and select Properties. If you see multiple folder paths listed, remove any duplicates.

Next, review your OneDrive sync settings by clicking the OneDrive icon in the system tray. Go to Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup, and turn off backup for any folders you don’t want synced.

Also, confirm that your folders are stored locally by right-clicking them, selecting Properties, and checking the Location field. If it shows a path like C:\Users[YourName]\Documents, the folder is stored locally. If it says OneDrive, it’s still syncing.

Once you’ve confirmed your files are stored locally, you can safely delete folders from the OneDrive website without affecting the files on your laptop.

Best regards,
Jeric
Jacqueline Moore 0 Reputation points

2025-08-26T19:50:03.66+00:00

Documents.pdf

I am at your first step and not sure if there are multiple paths on this folder. Take a look at my screenshot attached. There are no green onedrive status icons on this view. However if I open a subfolder, the screen automatically jumps to the yellow Documents folder in which all the subfolders bear the green status icon. OpenFolder.pdf I also noticed the green status icon has a sort of head and shoulders image next to each file in the first subfolder only.

The second grey Documents folder is empty.

I don't know where to go or what to do next.
Jacqueline Moore 0 Reputation points

2025-08-26T19:56:12.5166667+00:00

Settings.pdf

The path on my folders include OneDrive yet my Settings, screenshot attached, is set to not synch.
Jeric 1,685 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-26T20:42:47.1166667+00:00
Hi Jacqueline,

To clarify things out. there are two "Documents" folders showing up due to how OneDrive handles backups:

The local "Documents" ( Gray folder ) (C:\Users[YourName]\Documents) is the default Windows folder. Since backup isn’t enabled for it in OneDrive settings, its contents remain stored locally and aren’t synced to the cloud.

The OneDrive "Documents" (Yellow folder) (C:\Users[YourName]\OneDrive\Documents) is the cloud-based version. This is the folder you're currently viewing in File Explorer, and it contains your synced files.

This setup happens because Windows allows users to choose which folders to back up to OneDrive. If the local folder isn’t selected for backup, it stays separate, which can lead to duplicate folder names with different contents and sync statuses.

Best regards,
Jeric.

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Downloading files from Onedrive to local pc and keeping the dates files were originally created intact

5 answers

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