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C# - How to Set Last Write Time of File or Directory?

Learn, how to set last write time of a file or a directory using C# program?
Submitted by IncludeHelp, on November 03, 2017 [Last updated : March 26, 2023]

Given a file and we have to set its last write time using C# program.

To set last write time of file or directory in C#, we use File.SetLastWriteTime() method.

File.SetLastWriteTime()

This is a method of "File" class, it is used to set last write time of a file/directory.

Syntax

File.SetLastWriteTime(path);

Parameter(s)

1. path - Location of file or directory.

We can set following detail of last write time:

• Date
• Month
• Year
• Hour
• Minute
• Second
• AM/PM

C# program to set last write time of file or directory

using System;
using System.IO;

namespace ConsoleApplication1 {
  class Program {
    static void Main() {
      DateTime dt1;

      Console.WriteLine("Time before set last write time:");

      dt1 = File.SetLastWriteTime("ABC.TXT");
      Console.WriteLine("\tLast write Time of file(ABC.TXT) : " + dt1);

      File.SetLastWriteTime("ABC.TXT", DateTime.Now);

      Console.WriteLine("Time After set last write time:");

      dt1 = File.SetLastWriteTime("ABC.TXT");
      Console.WriteLine("\tLast write Time of file(ABC.TXT) : " + dt1);

    }
  }
}

Output

Time before set last write time:
        Last write  Time of file(ABC.TXT) : 10/31/2017 9:50:59 PM
Time After set last write  time:
        Last write  Time of file(ABC.TXT) : 10/31/2017 9:55:36 PM

Explanation

In the above program, we need to remember, when we use "File" class, System.IO namespace must be included in the program.

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