How can I set the last modified time of a file from python?

Question

I have a python script that downloads a file over FTP using ftplib.

My current download code looks just like the example in the ftp lib docs:

ftp.retrbinary('RETR README', open('README', 'wb').write)

Now I have a requirement that the file downloaded over FTP needs to have the same last modified time as the file on the FTP server itself. Assuming I could parse out the time from ftp.retrlines('list'), how can I set the modified time on the downloaded file?

I'm on a unix based OS if that matters.

score 109 · Accepted Answer · edited Sep 13 '19 at 14:31

109

Use os.utime:

import os

os.utime(path_to_file, (access_time, modification_time))

More elaborate example: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/os_utime.htm

edited Sep 13 '19 at 14:31

Jean-François Fabre

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answered Aug 03 '16 at 21:40

Charlie

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this answer could be improved with an example and discussion of the format of that time; specifically an epoch; IE @jossef's answer. – Tommy May 24 '21 at 11:36
This doesn't work for dates before 1980 on Windows, correct? (Why do I wanted to set date modified before 1980, you ask? Because that's what Google Photos uses when I drag files in). – Rivers Cuomo Jul 15 '22 at 22:31
Actually I think the value IS being set for dates before 1980. It's just blank when viewed in Windows File Explorer. – Rivers Cuomo Jul 20 '22 at 14:12

score 43 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 08 '20 at 18:00

To edit a file last modified field, use:

os.utime(<file path>, (<access date epoch>, <modification date epoch>))

Example:

os.utime(r'C:\my\file\path.pdf', (1602179630, 1602179630))

- Epoch is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970. see more

If you are looking for a datetime version:

import datetime
import os

def set_file_last_modified(file_path, dt):
    dt_epoch = dt.timestamp()
    os.utime(file_path, (dt_epoch, dt_epoch))

# ...

now = datetime.datetime.now()
set_file_last_modified(r'C:\my\file\path.pdf', now)

- For Python versions < 3.3 use dt_epoch = time.mktime(dt.timetuple())

Thank you for this answer; it contains examples, is detailed and helpful. — Tommy, May 24 '21 at 11:38

score 21 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 13 '19 at 14:31

There are 2 ways to do this. One is the os.utime example which is required if you are setting the timestamp on a file that has no reference stats.

However, if you are copying the files with shutil.copy() you have a reference file. Then if you want the permission bits, last access time, last modification time, and flags also copied, you can use shutil.copystat() immediately after the shutil.copy().

And then there is shutil.copy2 which is intended to do both at once...

How can I set the last modified time of a file from python?

3 Answers3

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