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Main guide / Fix video dates after exports and backups

Fix video dates after exports and backups

Video dates can break after exports, backups and transfers because apps may read different fields from MP4 and MOV containers.

Choose how to download

Microsoft Store will be the recommended path when the link is available. The classic installer remains available from the site.

Unsigned .exe noticeThe .exe installer is not signed yet. Windows or the browser may show warnings during download or installation. To avoid those messages, use Microsoft Store once the link is available.

When this guide helps

Use this workflow when videos appear beside the download date instead of the capture date.

A good repair checks which field the target app actually uses.

What usually goes wrong

The most expensive mistakes happen when an entire batch is changed before the source metadata is understood. In large libraries, one wrong decision multiplies quickly.

  • Using photo EXIF rules for video files.
  • Ignoring UTC versus local time.
  • Not checking playback after metadata changes.
  • Processing all videos without a sample.

Recommended safe method

The most reliable path is to work from a sample, keep a backup and record each exception. That protects the archive and makes the result easier to explain later.

  1. Extract video metadata.
  2. Compare sidecar, folder and backup evidence.
  3. Apply a small repair sample.
  4. Verify date display in the destination app.

How MetaVault Studio fits

MetaVault Studio helps bring video date repair into the same controlled archive workflow as photos.

The focus is local processing: your photos and videos are not automatically sent to a server. The site and server handle license, purchase and support only when those flows are used.

Checklist before processing everything

  • Which date field changed?
  • Did timezone shift the day?
  • Were unsupported videos listed?
  • Can the run be audited later?

How this appears in the MetaVault Studio workflow

The app is designed to import a folder, apply or extract metadata, track progress and review results through a report. That turns metadata repair into a verifiable process.

MetaVault Studio import screen
Import
MetaVault Studio processing screen
Processing
MetaVault Studio report screen
Report

Transparency and limits

Not every lost metadata field can be reconstructed. When there is no reliable source, the best result is to separate the case for review instead of inventing information. Google, Microsoft, Apple, ExifTool and other names mentioned here belong to their respective owners; use is descriptive.

Common questions

Can I process the whole library at once?

The safer path is to start with a sample. After dates, reports and exceptions are validated, the same profile can be applied to the full batch.

Does MetaVault visually change my photos?

The metadata workflow is meant to write or extract information, not recompress the visual content. Still, keep a backup and use copy mode when there is risk.

What happens to files without reliable metadata?

They should appear in the report or in review folders. This keeps uncertain files from silently contaminating the final result.