Why is Windows 10 showing wrong file media create date?

Question

Totally stumped on this. Copied some mp4 files off my phone, that I need to show a correct date for. Checked the file properties and found an empty "media created" date field. The date should've read 2019/01/22 7:49 pm.

Empty media created field

Tried to use exiftool to fix the issue with the command:

"-CreateDate=2019:01:22 19:49:14-05:00" 20190122_194914.mp4

Then my machine spat 2019/01/22 2:49 pm. in my face instead.

5 hours wrong

I even used the modify all dates command

"-AllDates=2019:01:22 19:49:14-05:00" 20190122_194914.mp4

Same 5 hours behind result. Running the file on exiftool shows the correct dates. I know my system time is correct.

exiftool results

I'm running windows 10. My system time and timezone setting are correct. I haven't had this problem with the photos I copied over. The "Date Taken" value was retained, and changing things through exiftool still gives the correct time in the properties. Any suggestions on how to fix this with .mp4 videos or am I missing something with exiftool?

Answer 1

According to the standard, the CreateDate entry is supposed to be stored in UTC time. The trouble is that because many cameras do not store this value properly, exiftool doesn't correct the time shift when writing it to remain compatible. You have two options with exiftool. You can either manually adjust for the time zone difference e.g. "-CreateDate=2019:01:23 00:49:14" or you can tell exiftool to adjust for the timezone with the -api QuickTimeUTC, e.g. -api QuickTimeUTC "-CreateDate=2019:01:22 19:49:14-05:00"