How to Show File Modification Dates in CMD DIR Command

gordan

1 week ago

For professionals and system administrators working within the Windows operating system, accessing and managing files via the Command Prompt (CMD) is a foundational skill. One of the most essential commands for file management is the DIR command. Among its many capabilities, viewing file modification dates is a critical function. Knowing when files were last changed helps ensure proper versioning, detect unauthorized file alterations, or simply track changes for auditing purposes.

In this article, we’ll explore how to display file modification dates using the DIR command in CMD. We’ll walk you through the functionality of the command, explain how to customize it for more detailed outputs, and provide tips that will help you work more efficiently and accurately.

Understanding the DIR Command

The DIR command is used to display a list of files and directories in a given directory. By default, DIR also shows the last modified date and time of each file. However, depending on your needs, you might want to format this output differently or sort it in a particular order.

Basic Usage

To use the DIR command, simply open the Command Prompt and issue the command followed by the path to the directory you want to list. For example:

DIR C:\Users\John\Documents

This command will output the list of files and directories in C:\Users\John\Documents and include the last modification date and time for each file and folder.

Interpreting the Output

By default, the output will include:

Date and Time: Indicates the last time the file or directory was modified.
<DIR>: Indicates the item is a directory.
File Size: For files only.
File or Directory Name: The name of the item listed.

For example, you might see something like this:

03/21/2024  02:15 PM    <DIR>          Reports
03/22/2024  09:48 AM           452,510  summary.docx

This output tells you that the “Reports” folder was last modified on March 21 at 2:15 PM and that the “summary.docx” file was modified on March 22 at 9:48 AM.

Using Switches to Customize Output

The DIR command supports various switches (also called options or flags) to control what is displayed. These switches can help you refine exactly what date information you see and how it’s presented.

Key Switches Related to Date and Time

There are a few specific switches that are particularly helpful when working with file modification dates:

/T:[C|A|W] – Specifies which time field to display:
- C – Creation time
- A – Last access time
- W – Last written (modified) time (default)
/O:-D – Sorts the results. Use -D for descending date order.
/OD – Sorts the results by date in ascending order.

For example, if you want to list files sorted by the date they were last modified (oldest to newest), you can use:

DIR /OD

If you want to sort them from newest to oldest:

DIR /O:-D

To show the creation date instead of the last modified date:

DIR /T:C

Combine options for more tailored output. For example:

DIR /T:C /O:-D

This shows files sorted by creation date, from newest to oldest.

Showing Only Files or Only Directories

Sometimes, you might want to limit your listing to only files or only folders. This can be helpful when trying to determine when assets of one type were last changed. Use the following switches:

/A:-D – Show only files (excluding directories)
/A:D – Show only directories

Example:

DIR /A:-D /T:W /OD

This command shows only files, sorted by last write (modified) date in ascending order.

Combining Switches for Advanced Use

One of the most powerful aspects of the DIR command is its ability to combine multiple switches to refine your view.

Here are some practical examples:

Display files by last modified date, newest first:
```
DIR /O:-D
```
Display creation date for files only, sorted from oldest to newest:
```
DIR /A:-D /T:C /OD
```
List all directories by creation date:
```
DIR /A:D /T:C /OD
```

Exporting DIR Output to a File

If you’re auditing files or need to share modification records with others, you can export the output to a text file. Simply use the redirection operator > like this:

DIR /T:W /O:-D > file_listing.txt

This creates a file named file_listing.txt in the current directory containing the full output of the command, including the last modified dates.

Understanding Different Timestamps

Windows maintains several date fields for every file:

Creation Date: When the file was originally created on that volume.
Last Access Date: Last time the file was opened or accessed.
Last Modified Date: When the file content was last changed.

The last modified date is especially important for determining if and when changes were made. However, note that copying or restoring files may affect the creation date, making the modification date a more reliable metric in most scenarios.

Using FIND or FINDSTR for Filtering

If your output includes hundreds or thousands of entries, it may be valuable to narrow findings using text filters. For instance, to find all files modified in April:

DIR /T:W | FIND "04/"

This filters out lines that include “04/”, which is part of the month/date field in standard MM/DD/YYYY format.

Best Practices

Here are some final suggestions for working more effectively with file modification dates in CMD:

Always double-check the /T switch to ensure you are viewing the intended timestamp.
Use sorting switches like /O:D or /O:-D to rapidly identify newest or oldest files.
Redirect output to text files for archival or reporting purposes.
Remember that you can create batch scripts using these commands for repeated tasks.

Conclusion

The DIR command is a deceptively powerful tool that, when used effectively, can help you gain insights into file activity across your system. Whether you’re managing system files, conducting forensic reviews, or simply trying to find when you last edited that spreadsheet, understanding how to display and work with modification dates empowers you to take control of your file system with confidence and precision.

By mastering the various switches and combining them logically, you’ll unlock a far more efficient and effective way to manage your directories from the command line.