Update: for image files containing EXIF info, the destroyed metadate can be fixed.

With other types of files, it is truly permanent, since most files will not have EXIF info. Unless I write some code or find a tool to extract EXIF info and set the file creation date to the correct date, the Finder has now destroyed the file dates on thousands of files. Investigating further, I found that this metadata loss goes way back for years, with about 50,000 files damaged by the macOS Finder. * A regular copy (originals left as is) does not seem to incite the problem, so if using Finder to move files from one volume to another, copy them over, then manuall delete the originals-but MPG strongly recommends using Integrit圜hecker to validate the copes, becuase the Finder can silently fail when copying files. Still other times the creation date is set to 1969. Other times both the creation date and modification date are set to the time of the file-move. Sometimes the creation date is set to '0', making it a creation date of 1969. Problem: moving* a file in macOS Finder (macOS 10.13.6) from one volume to another destroys the file dates (moving a file, not just copying it). Today I was finding and moving personal images from my work images volume to another volume. SEND FEEDBACK Related: Apple, Apple Core Rot, Apple macOS, macOS Finder

Mac find files by date created