Why does DropBox rename photos based on modification date rather than creation date?

For those who prefer a macOS app instead of the Terminal command line , try https://www.qdev.de/?location=mac/exifrenamer 

it works fast and reliable. 

I still don't get it why dropbox has changed the way of renaming the photos. I have uninstalled dropbox on my phone, but I keep on having the same issues. It makes dropbox a lot less useful for me.

I, for one (and I'm darn sure there are thousands of us), have had this problem for awhile and gave up getting support or an accurate explanation from DB. I would love more detail about how to make the global change with the exif file info!

What truly bothers me about problems like this is when a company says "nobody else is complaining" and therefore there must not be a problem. The fact is that most people don't complain, or they give up fast, and thus it appears "there is no problem." There ain't enough energy in the universe, dark or evident, to fight most of this stuff. So we don't.

(Don't get me started on approaching school administrators with issues! I've heard the lie "You're the only one who brought that up" so many times I could scream. But I didn't. Because nobody likes a screamer, lol. I fixed things myself instead, often amplified by companions I assemble because I COMMUNICATE and so I KNOW I'm not alone! I've ignored ridiculous (not controversial, just ridiculous) homework assignments, explaining to my kids and their teachers why, thus gaining family time, reducing stress, and focusing on what matters -- and amazingly, the teachers often agreed and didn't demerit the kids! Or returned unsigned financial "contracts" to schools with notes explaining why my minor kids aren't legally authorized to sign. Or gathered parents to get a teacher to admit she is failing literally 2/3 of the class because SHE needs help, not the kids. And I was so NOT a harpy parent! Just a normal, mostly hands-off, let the kids learn on their own parent! Mostly, I was an avid supporter and cheerleader for teachers, so the times I went to bat were for serious matters. All three of my kids are extremely happy and successful adults despite the buffering I did. So I'm used to "do it all myself" kinds of fixes. But I digress.)  

Anyway, that may not be the case here, but "there is no problem" happens so darn often to me that I just don't go down the rabbit hole of asking a company for changes directly or posting on forums. I just slog through to my own fixes often

with help from forums like this. 

So I kept going down this rabbit hole and found some useful info at DropBox. It doesn't address the actual renaming of photos, but it does address the modification date changes. Here's a sample of what DB addresses:

BEGIN:

Will Dropbox preserve the modified date of a file or folder if I upload or download it to my account?

To preserve the modified date of a file, upload or download the file using the Dropbox desktop app. 

Note: A file’s modified date will not be preserved if the file is uploaded or downloaded using dropbox.com or a mobile device.

#END#

I also learned from another forum that if you move (not copy, move) a file or folder from one system to another, such as from your computer to online DropBox, the files are basically first copied over and then the original deleted by that action, which is officially a "modification." Sometimes even a new "creation." If you move it within the system, such as from one folder to another on your hard drive, it preserves the creation/modification dates. Anyway, I hope this helps us rabbits get closer this finish line. 

https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/sort-preview/modified-date

On my iphone, I upload photos from my photo library and usually I would get the name of (photo) followed by the date the photo was taken. The problem is that now I do it and some of the photos change the date and put the name (photo) followed by the date they were uploaded to dropbox instead of the date they were taken. A problem to archive them. I have tried logging out, restarting iphone, etc. Would anyone know what to do? Thanks

Hi Hyoga79, I hope you're doing well! 

When you say you upload content using your photo library, do you mean that you access your camera roll, select the content you want to upload, and then share with Dropbox? 

Have you been using camera uploads, or manual uploads, by any chance? Feel free to clarify, so I can have the precise idea of the steps you're following. 

Also, send me a couple of screenshots of the behavior you mentioned, in order for me to have a closer look into this. 

Thanks a bunch! 

Hi Hyoga79, if you're uploading photos manually, then Dropbox would get the name of the photos from your phone, which isn't determined by Dropbox. 

If this has changed recently, then it's possible it could be due to any upgrade or other setting change on your phone.

Jay The problem is that it is uploaded with the date of the moment I click on upload. It is something strange that has never happened to me before.

When you do manual uploads, the date and time would be of the moment you upload. Using the automatic camera upload feature would have the correct date/time of the file.