255

What do you use when you want to update the date-modified field of a file on Windows?

  1. commands accessible via C++, .NET, C#, or something native to Windows (Vista preferably)
  2. tools/applications preferably free, and if possible open source as well

Edit: there is already a page for applications as pointed out by CheapScotsmanhere.

If anyone knows how I can do this via C++, C#,WSH or something similar, well and good, else I would think everything else is covered in the linked question.

5
  • The four alternatives mentioned above, plus four more not mentioned here, can be found in the answer to a similar question:"Windows Recursive Touch Command"CommentedFeb 28, 2011 at 19:58
  • stackoverflow.com/questions/210201/… mentions a load, includingREM.>aCommentedJun 17, 2015 at 0:30
  • npmjs.com/package/touch-for-windows works for meCommentedJan 29, 2020 at 19:46
  • I have tried all the solutions below. I have also tried using WSL but the simplest is echo '' > C:\path\filename - uses a default Windows CLI command and should be available on all Windows systems.CommentedSep 5, 2023 at 10:55
  • checkthis simple cmd batch script. It also asks you to create the folders if they do not exist.CommentedOct 30, 2024 at 6:20

32 Answers32

444

If you want to touch the date stamp of a file using windows, use the following command at the command prompt:

copy /b filename.ext +,,

(wherefilename.ext is your file's name). The+,, is a special flag tocopy telling it to simplyupdate the date/time on the file:

* Changing the time and date of a file

If you want to assign the current time and date to a file without modifying the file, use the following syntax:

copy /b Source+,,

The commas indicate the omission of the Destination parameter.

Edit based on comments by Lumi and Justin: put this in a batch file, eg.touch.cmd

@COPY /B %1+,, %1

This works even if the file is not in the current directory (tested on Windows 7).

answeredMay 29, 2009 at 0:45
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    type touch.bat is@echo off and next linecopy /b %1 +,, - put it intoC:\bin or what have you for your own scripts, and then you can use it liketouch myfile.txt.CommentedJun 13, 2011 at 13:37
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    In Win7 this won't work if you are not in the folder containing the file. It will create a copy in the current working directory.CommentedJun 27, 2012 at 7:48
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    @mob Note this was not slow on a large file. I used it on a >1GB file on a network drive and it returned immediately (and worked).CommentedJan 23, 2013 at 19:51
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    If you need to do this in a remote folder (UNC path) - you must specify the destination to the copy command as well -copy /b Source+,, Source - whereSource includes the full path to the fileCommentedDec 13, 2013 at 22:37
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    +,,:blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2013/07/10/10432879.aspxCommentedMay 8, 2014 at 1:33
169

I've used and recommendunxutils which are native Win32 ports of lots of common Unix utilities. There is atouch command in there.

answeredSep 9, 2008 at 9:13
Greg Hewgill's user avatar
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    As almost every unix-to-windows port ever, this fails to work with unicode characters in the filenames outside of the encoding set as the default for non-unicode programs. Test filename that will trip up every such tool:"test тест τεστ.txt"CommentedApr 29, 2014 at 3:06
  • gnuwin32 has it. but indeed, gnuwin32's also fails for unicode characters.CommentedJan 23, 2016 at 4:37
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    Update from 2017 In Windows 10 we can use the Linux subsystem for windows, which installs bash. No need for cygwin, MinGW, unxutils or any other partial unix to windows ports.docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10CommentedMar 26, 2018 at 10:39
  • @Davos have you tried that on any file other than your (usually unprivileged) user context? Because technically the userland side of LXSS is running as unprivileged user.CommentedAug 21, 2019 at 10:22
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    These days it's literally easier to install the code-signed packageGit for Windows and use thetouch from there, as in any case you can use it in any (NT) user context, whereas your suggestion limits you entirely to files and folders owned by the user starting the WSP app (or at least those only accessible with the appropriate ACEs set to modify timestamps). The above port should also work for the same reason. Your method with WSL will only work inside the constraints of the WSL sandbox ...CommentedAug 21, 2019 at 12:23
115

If all you want is to change the file's last modified date (which was my case):

C:\> powershell  (ls your-file-name-here).LastWriteTime = Get-Date
answeredSep 9, 2011 at 14:18
ThiagoAlves's user avatar
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    PowerShell FTW. I mean, seriously, unix is cool but PS is cooler.CommentedSep 9, 2011 at 14:35
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    This will work only on one file. For multiple files: ls * | ForEach-Object {$_.LastWriteTime = Get-Date}CommentedOct 2, 2012 at 4:52
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    If you want to do it recursively, this works pretty well: gci -recu -inc "." | % { $_.LastWriteTime = Get-Date }CommentedJan 15, 2013 at 1:43
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    @BrainSlugs83: use backticks ` for code:gci -recu -inc "*.*" | % { $_.LastWriteTime = Get-Date }CommentedJun 29, 2013 at 0:44
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    Unix touch is great for it's simplicity.CommentedApr 27, 2016 at 4:48
70
type nul >>file & copy file +,,
  • Createsfile if it does not exist.
  • Leaves file contents alone.
  • Just usescmd built-ins.
  • Bothlast-access andcreation times updated.

UPDATE

Gah! This doesn't work on read-only files, whereastouch does. I suggest:

:touchif not exist "%~1" type nul >>"%~1"& goto :eofset _ATTRIBUTES=%~a1if "%~a1"=="%_ATTRIBUTES:r=%" (copy "%~1"+,,) else attrib -r "%~1" & copy "%~1"+,, & attrib +r "%~1"
answeredFeb 16, 2011 at 15:21
bobbogo's user avatar
4
  • It's a pity that copy cannot ignore the +r attribute the way xcopy does. Or, it's a pity that xcopy doesn't support the weirdfilename +,, syntax.CommentedMay 6, 2012 at 20:05
  • Unfortunately this does not work (at least not in Windows 7). It seems that the command interpreter does not update the timestamp of the destination of a redirection if the file is not actually modified (i.e., there is not data to redirect).CommentedSep 15, 2015 at 0:57
  • Thetype nul ... has an issue with the creation file time on NTFS (Windows 8.1): if the file were erased before, then it sets the erased file time, instead of a new file time.CommentedMar 25, 2024 at 1:26
  • Thecopy \\?\... variant does not support long paths, whentype nul >> \\?\... does, but only for a new file.CommentedMar 25, 2024 at 1:42
33

@dash-tom-bang:

Here is Technet's explanation of the mysterious '+' and commas:

copy /b Source+,,

The commas indicate the omission ofthe Destination parameter.

The copy command supports merging multiple files into a single destination file. Since a blank destination cannot be specified using a space character at the command prompt, two commas can be used to denote that.

And this is Technet's copy command reference:http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490886.aspx

phuclv's user avatar
phuclv
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answeredNov 25, 2009 at 10:51
Faredoon's user avatar
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    Now that's just messed up syntax. Seriously,what were they thinking? Also note the same documentation says "Destination: Required."... I'm amazed.CommentedNov 25, 2009 at 13:22
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    This doesn't seem to even work in Vista... I wonder if they came to their senses?CommentedDec 8, 2009 at 20:53
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    Works in Windows 7CommentedDec 9, 2010 at 5:37
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    It worked for me even without commas: copy file.ext+ So the documentation is as far from actual behaviour as the behaviour is from any reasonable expectations.CommentedJul 17, 2011 at 11:24
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    It worked in Windows Server 2008 but only if you are in the folder containing the fileCommentedDec 12, 2011 at 14:48
24

I tried this to create an empty file in my batch script. You can use this:

ECHO text>file1.txt
Pang's user avatar
Pang
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answeredJul 10, 2013 at 11:52
pkm's user avatar
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    This is BY FAR the best quick method.. I just needed to create a .gitignore file, and Windows 7 keeps complaining "must enter a filename" etc etc.echo pie>.gitignore worked a treat - thanks!CommentedMar 7, 2014 at 4:02
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    @Alex This is unrelated, but that windows error is because the file starts with a period. There's a strange hack to get around that in Windows Explorer: make the file end with a period too. So type.gitignore. and when you press enter Windows removes the trailing period. Crazy, but it works.CommentedApr 23, 2015 at 15:26
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    I wish that I could give this enough upvotes that it would catch the big players in popularity.CommentedMar 3, 2016 at 16:56
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    This doesn't create an empty file though, file1.txt has "text" in it.CommentedMar 15, 2017 at 22:06
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    touch is not only used for creating empty files, and creating empty files is not the usage that the OP is asking about. The question says "What do you use when you want to update the date-modified field of a file?" This answer does not answer that question. Instead, the question this answer answers is: "how do you create a file containing arbitrary text, wiping out existing content if a file of the same name already exists?" That's very much a misleading and possibly dangerous answer to the original question.CommentedApr 2, 2021 at 15:25
23

If you feel like coding it yourself, .NET offers theFile.SetLastAccessTime,File.SetCreationTime andFile.SetLastWriteTime methods.

0
22

here is a recursive version using powershell... this will change the last modified time for all files and subdirectories, and files within this directory's subdirectories

ps c:myDir> Get-ChildItem . * -recurse | ForEach-Object{$_.LastWriteTime = get-date}
answeredJul 13, 2012 at 14:54
roger's user avatar
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    Less verbose but yet using only standard Powershell shorthands:ls * -recurse | % { $_.LastWriteTime = Get-Date }CommentedApr 5, 2017 at 9:51
17

TheGnuWin32 project has Windows ports of the Gnu versions of the Unix command line utilities.

It comes as a number of separate packages and you can install just the commands you need with no other dependencies. Fortouch you would need theCoreUtils package.

answeredSep 9, 2008 at 9:18
David Webb's user avatar
15

cygwin comes withtouch. I know you mentioned that you don't want to install a whole framework, but cygwin is quite lightweight, and can be called from dos command window without the whole unix-like command line turned on.

You can also control what tools to install, so you could simply install thetouch.exe file, and leave the rest of the framework.

answeredSep 9, 2008 at 9:17
serg10's user avatar
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    To your point here, all you need to install is the touch.exe and cygwin.dll file in a directory to use the tool. There are no other dependancies relative to using cygwin based tools.CommentedSep 9, 2008 at 10:58
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    when I try this (win7x64) I need 4 cygwin dll's in addition to touch.exe: cygiconv-2.dll cygintl-8.dll cygwin1.dll cyggcc_s-1.dllCommentedMay 27, 2010 at 20:33
15

Here's a simple regfile I wrote toadd right-click "touch" in Windows explorer. It'd be easy to script it, too, since it just calls:

cmd.exe /c copy %1+nul %1 /by
3
  • And don't forgetcopy nul some_file to create an empty file (which is what I seetouch most often used for).CommentedAug 27, 2009 at 6:28
  • Ack! Zip file inaccessible (something about brinkster22.com needing to be the referring site). Jon, can you update this?CommentedMar 28, 2011 at 14:22
  • Works on Win7. Does not work on WinXP: file time remains the same after executing "copy".CommentedAug 25, 2016 at 19:26
13

Native win32 ports of many unix commands, including touch.

I've used it before and it works well - no installation, no DLLs, etc

answeredSep 9, 2008 at 9:13
Adam Davis's user avatar
10

Try this one fromCodeProject.

  • No need to install.
  • If you want, you can even modify the source.
answeredSep 9, 2008 at 9:19
Prakash's user avatar
1
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    While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes.CommentedJun 5, 2014 at 14:32
10

This content can be saved to a reg file. This will add a right click context menu for all files with the "Touch File" ability (tested on Windows 7).Copyall the following lines to reg file. Run the file and approve the question.Right click on any file (or multiple files) - "Touch File" option is now available.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell][HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Touch File][HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Touch File\command]@="cmd /C copy /b \"%1\" +,,"
answeredJul 28, 2013 at 21:18
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  • My preferred approach by farCommentedJul 2, 2021 at 1:58
9

You could also installCygwin which gives you Touch as well as a plethora of other *NIX commands.

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  • 2
    can't live on windows without cygwin.CommentedSep 10, 2009 at 12:32
  • And cygwin without mintty is pretty lame.CommentedJan 25, 2010 at 14:30
  • Today, I would recommend WSL in a mintty terminal.CommentedDec 11, 2023 at 22:34
5

There are Windows ports of many Unix utilities.Have a look atunxutils orGnuWin32 projects.

5

From asimilar question on Stack Overflow.

For updating timestamps (ignoring the other functionality oftouch), I'd go with:

copy /b filename.ext +,,
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    This is a repeat of Gish Domains's answer from 2 yrs prior, without the explanation.CommentedFeb 20, 2016 at 0:39
5

in PowerShell try:

ni fileName.txt

NI is an alias of theNew-Item cmdlet.

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    Welcome to SuperUser. Thanks for posting! Can you add a link to a website that provides more information about theni command, and perhaps describe more what the command does?CommentedJun 17, 2015 at 2:17
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    TheNew-Item cmdlet can't be used to update the time stamp of an existing file.CommentedJun 17, 2015 at 2:56
  • While it doesn't update timestamp, it does create a new file, which is what touch does. +1 from me.CommentedJun 2, 2017 at 16:59
  • I usually use touch to create files, but occasionally to update timestamps (to force a remake for example)CommentedJul 29, 2021 at 18:47
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  • Thanks. I missed that in my search which resulted in loads of touch screen phone related stuff. Probably needs a better tag label I guess.CommentedJul 21, 2009 at 21:52
4

from the website:

Funduc Software Touch is a free 'touch' utility that allows you to change the time/date &/or attribute stamps on one or more files. In addition, FS Touch can add/subtract a specified number of seconds from the existing file time. You can specify which file(s) and/or subdirectories to change via 'complex file masks'. The program can be run from interactively or the command line. New to version 7.2 is a command line switch to change file modified time stamp +/- the specified number of seconds.

FS Touch runs on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, & Windows 8.

answeredDec 31, 2012 at 12:39
0
4

If you are using git for one or more projects, the mingw basedgit-bash for Windows has thetouch command.I want to thank @greg-hewgill for pointing out to me that 'nix utilities exist for windows, because it was that which put me on the idea to try touch in git-bash.

answeredSep 28, 2012 at 14:14
Superole's user avatar
3

I wanted the 'touch' feature of cloning / duplicating the file dates from another file, natively, and be usable from a batch file.

So 'drag and drop' video file on to batch file, FFMPEG runs, then 'Date Created' and 'Date Modified' from the input file gets copied to the output file.

This seemed simple at first until you find batch files are terrible at handling unicode file names, in-line PowerShell messes up with file name symbols, and double escaping them is a nightmare.

My solution was make the 'touch' part a seperate PowerShell script which I called 'CLONE-FILE-DATE.ps1' and it contains:

param(  [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$SourcePath,  [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$TargetPath)(GI -LiteralPath $TargetPath).CreationTime  = (GI -LiteralPath $SourcePath).CreationTime(GI -LiteralPath $TargetPath).LastWriteTime = (GI -LiteralPath $SourcePath).LastWriteTime

Then here is example usage within my 'CONVERT.BAT' batch file:

%~dp0\ffmpeg -i "%~1" ACTION "%~1-output.mp4"CHCP 65001 > nul && PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -File "%~dp0\CLONE-FILE-DATE.PS1" "%~1" "%~1-output.mp4"

I think the PowerShell is readable, so will just explain the batch speak:

%~dp0 is the current directory of the batch file.

%~1 is the path of the file dropped onto the batch without quotes.

CHCP 65001 > nul sets characters to UTF-8 and swallows the output.

-ExecutionPolicy ByPass allows you to run PowerShell without needing to modify the global policy, which is there to prevent people accidentally running scripts.

2

Save the following as touch.bat in your %windir%\system32 folder or add the folder in which it is saved to your PATH environment variable:

@echo offif %1.==. goto endif not exist %1 goto endcopy /b %1 +,, > nulecho %1 touched!:end

Sample usage:

touch *.cpptouch somefile.c

Reference:Microsoft KB 69581

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  • Excellent! No external stuff, just copy. And of course most of us need it as a batch stript:)CommentedMar 27, 2013 at 22:07
2

I found a quick way to do it if you have vim installed (not great for big files, will open entire file then close it...)

vim foobar.txt +wq!

The "+" sets argument to run the following commands. "wq!" is "write, quit, force". This will open file, do a save, then close it immediately afterward.

answeredAug 7, 2009 at 15:53
Jason's user avatar
2
  • Pointlessly complex, bulky and non-portable. -1CommentedMay 10, 2017 at 17:45
  • @MDXF As is many windows command line workflows.CommentedDec 8, 2022 at 20:39
2

Well, if youreally want to have thetouch command available, you can put this in a batch file calledtouch.bat and stick it inC:\Windows:

TYPE NUL >>%1

Simple enough.

1
  • This method does NOT update the Modified Time on the following platforms: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10CommentedSep 27, 2019 at 16:13
2

In powershell:

New-Item .\file.txt -ItemType File

I prefer to writetouch file.txt like in linux, so I define this in my powershell profile

function New-File($filename){   New-Item -ItemType File ".\$filename"}Set-Alias -Name touch -Value New-File

Note: you can edit your profile by running this command

notepad $PROFILE
1

Try

fsutil file createnew new.txt 0

answeredOct 8, 2010 at 7:46
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    The FSUTIL utility requires that you have administrative privileges. -- and it doesn't behave liketouch for existing files.CommentedFeb 18, 2012 at 1:39
1

The five alternatives mentioned above, plus three more not mentioned here, can be found on SuperUser:"Windows Recursive Touch Command"

answeredFeb 28, 2011 at 19:57
JdeBP's user avatar
1
  • 2
    While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes.CommentedJun 5, 2014 at 14:32
1

This is slightly unrelated to the original question, but I find this very useful on Windows due to the GUI.

I'm using the TouchPro utility which provides aGUI (builds into explorer shell):

http://www.jddesign.co.uk/products/touchpro/touchpro.htm

answeredOct 2, 2012 at 14:30
rustyx's user avatar
1

I appreciate this is an old question, I just discovered touch on my Windows 10 system. I downloaded and installed Git fromhere (I think) and it looks like touch and various other utilities are in the bin folder.

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