How to change FileModifyDate from "[System]" to "[File]" metadata?

[MJT]

So, I'm having an issue with dates appearing wrong on some of the images I've uploaded to OneDrive. After a bit of prodding with exiftool I found that the "FileModifyDate" is in the "[System]" category for these images, not "[File]".

Example (the FileModifyDate and FileInodeChangeDate change to "2025:03:18" with this file after transferring to another system or OneDrive):

Code Select Expand

$ exiftool -G1 -a -s IMG_8862.PNG
[ExifTool]      ExifToolVersion                 : 13.25
[System]        FileName                        : IMG_8862.PNG
[System]        Directory                       : ./Backup/108APPLE
[System]        FileSize                        : 350 kB
[System]        FileModifyDate                  : 2022:12:30 17:36:16-08:00
[System]        FileAccessDate                  : 2025:03:18 14:54:40-07:00
[System]        FileInodeChangeDate             : 2022:12:30 17:36:16-08:00
[System]        FilePermissions                 : -rwxr-xr-x
[File]          FileType                        : PNG
[File]          FileTypeExtension               : png
[File]          MIMEType                        : image/png
[PNG]           ImageWidth                      : 1448
[PNG]           ImageHeight                     : 2048
...

How can I change the FileModifyDate to [File] for all my images, so that when I transfer them to different machines the dates stay the same? Thanks.

[MJT]

Actually, comparing these to the images that have their correct dates even after uploading, I'm seeing these properties retaining the correct dates:

Code Select Expand

[IFD0]          ModifyDate                      : 2021:09:21 23:22:07
[ExifIFD]       DateTimeOriginal                : 2021:09:21 23:22:07
[ExifIFD]       CreateDate                      : 2021:09:21 23:22:07
[Composite]     SubSecCreateDate                : 2021:09:21 23:22:07.048-07:00
[Composite]     SubSecDateTimeOriginal          : 2021:09:21 23:22:07.048-07:00
[Composite]     SubSecModifyDate                : 2021:09:21 23:22:07-07:00
Which one of these properties should I set in the problematic images? ModifyDate maybe?

[StarGeek]

How can I change the FileModifyDate to [File] for all my images

Use -G instead of -G1. File is a group 0 name, System is a group 1 name below File

Code Select Expand

C:\>exiftool -G -a -s -FileModifyDate y:\!temp\Test4.jpg
[File]          FileModifyDate                  : 2025:02:28 18:33:29-08:00

C:\>exiftool -G1 -a -s -FileModifyDate y:\!temp\Test4.jpg 
[System]        FileModifyDate                  : 2025:02:28 18:33:29-08:00
In other words, there isn't two separate FileModifyDate tags, they are the same tag.

so that when I transfer them to different machines the dates stay the same?

You would have to look into what ever program you are using to copy files and see if there is an option to preserve file system time stamps.[/quote]