How to Change Last Changed Files in Java

Efficiently Manage Your File Dates in Java

Understanding File Metadata in Java

Changing the Last Modified Date

Step 1: Import Required Classes

import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.nio.file.Paths;
import java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime;
import java.io.IOException;

Step 2: Create a Path Instance

Path path = Paths.get("path/to/your/file.txt");

Step 3: Update the Last Modified Timestamp

FileTime newTime = FileTime.fromMillis(System.currentTimeMillis());
Files.setAttribute(path, "lastModifiedTime", newTime);

Use Cases for Changing File Timestamps

• File Organization: Helps in tracking changes over time.
• Backup Solutions: Useful for incrementally updating backups.
• Data Integrity: Ensures files are up-to-date with their modifications.

Handling Exceptions

try {
    Files.setAttribute(path, "lastModifiedTime", newTime);
} catch (IOException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Advanced Settings

FileTime creationTime = (FileTime) Files.getAttribute(path, "creationTime");

Glossary of Terms

• FileTime: Represents a time in a file's metadata.
• Path: Represents the file path in the file system.
• Attribute: Metadata associated with a file.

Pro Tips

• Experiment with different timestamps for testing.
• Ensure you have appropriate permissions to modify file attributes.

Update: 11 Sep 2025