To change file attributes on Windows 10, you can use the new Windows PowerShell or another third-party app. Here are three methods to do this:
- Use the new Windows PowerShell: Open the Start screen and type “powershell” and hit enter. Type “netstat -an” and hit enter. The output should look like this: If you see “No such file or directory”, then your computer is not currently configured to run Windows 10 and you cannot change its settings. To do so, you must first be logged in as a member of the local Administrators group. If your computer is not currently configured to run Windows 10, it will require an update from Microsoft that will be released in the next few weeks. To find out when that update is available, type “netstat -a | grep Update”. If you see “The system is down”, then your computer has been crashed or there has been a power outage and it cannot be changed now because it is too late for that update to be released.
- Use File Explorer: Open File Explorer and click on the three lines in the top left corner of File Explorer that say “Attributes.” Under Attributes, click on the three lines in the bottom left corner of File Explorer that say “New.” Type “file attributes” into the text field at the top of File Explorer, and click on OK.
- Use another third-party app like Attribute Changer:
To change the attribute of a document, you can use the Attribute Changer utility mentioned at the end of this article.
Removing File Attributes Using Windows File Explorer
If you want to change the last modified date or other file attributes on Windows 10, your first thought may be to use the Properties menu for a file in Windows File Explorer.
Unfortunately, this isn’t possible. You can view certain and change certain file attributes in File Explorer, but you can’t change the last viewed, edited, or modified dates. It will remove other personal data, however, such as author name for documents, ratings for media files, as well as set a file to read-only or hidden.
To change other file attributes like your last modified date, creation date, and other essential file information, you can use one of the methods listed later in this article—in particular, using the Attribute Changer app. ..
In the Properties dialog, select the General tab and then click the Remove attribute button.
Remove personal information from your property details. ..
If you want to remove personal information from a file, you can create a copy of the file with that information removed by pressing the Create a copy with all possible properties removed option. After pressing OK, the copy of your file will appear in the same folder as the original file. ..
Remove the following properties from this option: Name Description File name The name of the file you want to remove. File extension The extension of the file you want to remove.
You can use File Explorer to change or set other file attributes, such as whether your files are hidden or read-only. In the Properties box, switch to the General tab, then press either the Hidden or Read Only checkboxes to enable or disable those settings, then click OK to save.
To change the last modified date and other attributes, you’ll need to use another method listed below.
Change File Attributes Using The PowerShell
The Windows PowerShell Attrib command allows you to view and change file attributes on Windows 10 files. It’s included as standard, so you don’t need any additional software to use it. ..
This is a fairly complex method, but also quite limited. If you want an easier way to change file attributes, use the Attribute Changer app listed below.
Next, type the following command to start a PowerShell session: PS C:\Windows\system32> This will open a PowerShell window with administrative privileges. To continue working in the session, use the following commands:
- Type “exit” to close the PowerShell window.
- Type “help” to get more information about PowerShell.
To move a folder and list its contents:
- Open a command prompt and change to the folder you want to move.
- Type the cd command followed by the path of the folder you want to move.
- Type the ls command to list the contents of the folder.
- Type Get-ItemProperty -Path file | Format-list -Property * -Force, replacing file with your file path, to get information about all of the files in the folder. ..
You can use the Set-ItemProperty command to change file attributes such as read-only access. To do this, type Set-ItemProperty -Path file -Name IsReadOnly -Value True, replacing file with your file name. For a full list of possible variables for this command, see the full Microsoft PowerShell documentation for more details.
If you make a change to the PowerShell script, and then try to run it, you may get an error message that says the script returned no response. However, you can check whether the change was successful by running the Get-ItemProperty -Path file command again, or by viewing the file’s properties in File Explorer. ..
This isn’t the easiest way to change file attributes, as we’ve mentioned. Third-party apps like Attribute Changer exist to make this far easier, as well as allowing you to change the last modified date and more.
Using Attribute Changer To Change Windows 10 File Attributes
Attribute Changer is the best way to change file attributes on Windows. Along with typical hidden and read-only attributes, Attribute Changer allows you to modify file access, creation date, and other options. ..
Once the Attribute Changer is installed, open Windows File Explorer and locate a file, then right-click and press the Attributes option.
The Attribute Changer software in action. Check (or uncheck) to enable or disable various system attributes like hidden file or read-only access at the top of the File Properties tab.
If you want to change the last modified date or change the file creation data, press the button to enable the Modify date and time stamps checkbox. This will enable you to change the created, modified, and accessed timestamps—change these using the options provided. ..
Once you’ve made your changes, press the OK or Apply buttons. The Attribute Changer will ask you to confirm the changes, so press the additional OK button in the Processing Confirmation box that appears.
Attribute Changer will switch to the Reporting tab and, assuming no issues, will list the progress of the changes and apply the changes you’ve requested. You can double-check this by right-clicking your file, pressing Properties, and viewing your file attributes in the General and Details tabs. ..
File Management On Windows
If you’re not already using a replacement for Windows Explorer, here are three ways to improve your file management on Windows 10:
- Use a file manager such as FileZilla or WinRAR to manage your files.
- Use the Windows 10 “Customize” feature to set up specific preferences for your files and folders.
- Use the “Advanced” options in the “Folder Options” control panel to fine-tune how your files are stored and accessed.
Windows files can be deleted, but you can prevent them from being deleted by using a few simple steps. Let us know your tips for file management in the comments section below.