How do you copy file metadata (creation date, attributes) along with the file?

Question

Anubhav Kumar · Answer

To copy a file along with its metadata such as creation date, modification date, and file attributes, you need more than just a standard file copy. Most basic
File.Copy or shutil.copy calls do not preserve everything by default.
Below are solutions for copying file content + metadata across different platforms.
C# (.NET)
Full Copy (including timestamps and attributes)
using System;
using System.IO;
public static void CopyFileWithMetadata(string sourcePath, string destinationPath)
{
    // Copy the file content and metadata
    File.Copy(sourcePath, destinationPath, overwrite: true);
    // Copy timestamps
    File.SetCreationTime(destinationPath, File.GetCreationTime(sourcePath));
    File.SetLastWriteTime(destinationPath, File.GetLastWriteTime(sourcePath));
    File.SetLastAccessTime(destinationPath, File.GetLastAccessTime(sourcePath));
    // Copy file attributes (e.g., ReadOnly, Hidden)
    File.SetAttributes(destinationPath, File.GetAttributes(sourcePath));
}
File.Copy() copies the file content.File.Set*Time() replicates creation and modification timestamps.File.SetAttributes() copies attributes like ReadOnly,
Hidden, etc.
Python
Use shutil.copy2() to copy file + metadata
import shutil
def copy_file_with_metadata(src, dst):
    shutil.copy2(src, dst)
copy2() copies the content and metadata (timestamps, mode).On most platforms, copy2 will preserve modification and access times. Creation time is preserved on Windows.Note: On Unix, creation time (ctime) often cannot be set or preserved directly, as it's managed by the file system.
Linux/macOS (Command Line)
Use cp -p or rsync
cp -p source.txt destination.txt
-p preserves mode, ownership, and timestamps.
Or use rsync:
rsync -a source.txt destination.txt
-a (archive mode) copies content with all metadata preserved.
Windows (Command Line)
Use robocopy to preserve metadata
robocopy sourceDir targetDir filename.txt /COPYALL
/COPYALL includes timestamps, ACLs, owner info, attributes.
Summary
Language
Tool
Metadata Preserved
C#
Manual Set*Time + SetAttributes
Creation, last modified, attributes
Python
shutil.copy2
Most metadata (not all on Unix)
Bash
cp -p, rsync -a
Timestamps, mode
Windows
robocopy /COPYALL
All metadata (NTFS only)
and

forum

How do you copy file metadata (creation date, attributes) along with the file?

ICSM Computer

Can you answer this question?

1 Answers

C# (.NET)

Full Copy (including timestamps and attributes)

Python

Use `shutil.copy2()` to copy file + metadata

Linux/macOS (Command Line)

Use `cp -p` or `rsync`

Windows (Command Line)

Use `robocopy` to preserve metadata

Summary

Liked By

Language	Tool	Metadata Preserved
C#	Manual Set*Time + SetAttributes	Creation, last modified, attributes
Python	`shutil.copy2`	Most metadata (not all on Unix)
Bash	`cp -p`, `rsync -a`	Timestamps, mode
Windows	`robocopy /COPYALL`	All metadata (NTFS only)