Last Access Timestamp - Enable or Disable in Windows

How to Enable or Disable File and Folder "Last Access Time" in Windows​

   Information

The Last Access Time attribute is the date and time a file or folder was last accessed in Windows.

Last Access Time updating is enabled by default in XP. In order to save system resources, it is disabled by default in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the last access time attribute in Windows to show the date and time of when each file and folder was last accessed.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Warning

On older or slower systems, enabling Last Access Time could cause a performance decrease due to the increased overhead of Disk I/O.

   Tip

If you like while using "Details" folder view in Windows Explorer, you could add the "Date Accessed" column to make viewing the last access time of files and folders easier, and to be able to sort by "Date Accessed" if you like. This can also be helpful while doing searches.

EXAMPLE: Last Accessed Time
NOTE: This is an example when you right click on a file or folder, click on Properties, and look at the Accessed details in the General tab.

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable "Last Access Time" using a REG File Download

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Enable "Last Access Time"
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Last_Access_Time.reg


Download


B) Go to step 4 below.
3. To Disable "Last Access Time"
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Last_Access_Time.reg



Download


B) Go to step 4 below.
4. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.

7. Restart the computer to apply.

8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable "Last Access Time" in a Command Prompt

1. Open an elevated command prompt.
NOTE: For Windows 8, see also: Elevated Command Prompt - Open in Windows 8

2. Do either step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.

3. To Enable "Last Access Time"
A) Copy and paste the command below in the the command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.
fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 0


4. To Disable "Last Access Time"
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Copy and paste the command below in the the command prompt, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.
fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1


5. Close the elevated command prompt.

6. Restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn

 

[stevieray]

Do these steps work in Windows Server 2008/2012?

 

[Shadowjk]

I think it does... Ran the reg file and this is the output after reboot





Auditing who accesses a share may also be of use for a server environment - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/123362-audit-log-access-shared-folders.html

Josh

 

[Brink]

Thank you Josh for confirming that it works in Windows Server 2008/2012 as well.

 

[Shadowjk]

No worries, glad I can help

 

[stevieray]

Thanks guys!

 

[andrew129260]

"On older or slower systems, enabling Last Access Time could cause a performance decrease due to the increased overhead of Disk I/O."

Now I know my computer is fast, but when you say it increases the overhead would this somehow cause the hard disk to constantly run more? Like would this decrease its life?

 

[Brink]

Hello Andrew,

It will indeed increase disk I/O access and wear and tear on the HDD some. If you don't need to have "last access time", then it would be best to leave it disabled to save unneeded wear and tear. In the big picture, it's not going to decrease the life span of the HDD by much if you do need it though.

 

[andrew129260]

Ok thank you I would like to have it on for security purposes, just not if it was going to cause my hdd to fail quicker. Didn't want it constantly seeking. Thanks for the information.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. I suppose that you could monitor your disk activity in Resource Monitor to see if you notice much difference to see if it's worth leaving enabled or not.

 

[charl123]

Hello,
Thank you for your helpful post. My computer already shows the "Last Access Time" for each file but not for my folders. Do you know if i would need to follow this same procedure?
Thanks
Charlotte

 

[Brink]

Hello Charlotte, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you could use this tutorial to enable seeing the "Last Access Time" for folders as well.

 

[charl123]

Hi,
Great, thank you for your helpful reply
So I have two final questions that I was wondering if you could help me with if you have the time


when I follow this procedure will it show the “Last Access Time” for folders that have been created in the past or will it only show the “Last Access Time” for folders that will be created from now on


And when I follow this procedure will the “Last Access Time” of previously created files still be indicated or will it wipe out all of this previous information, and only indicate the “Last Access Time” of files created from this moment onwards?


I hope that my questions make some sense
Many thanks,
Charlotte

 

[Brink]

It should have the actual last access time shown for both.

 

[charl123]

okay great, so just to double check by "actual" do you mean the "real" access time and not the "current" access time?

Thank you again Shawn
Charlotte

 

[Brink]

Yep, for when it was last accessed.

 

[Rosiew]

Hello,

this is probably a silly question, im not very good with computers

I Clicked on the "Download" button to download the file: Enable_Last_Access_Time.reg
and it now says that the last accessed date of all of my files is today (the time of download) but before downloading this file, the "last accessed dates" where different past dates (i downloaded the file as I was trying to get the "last access dates" of my folders)- i just thought that i would check why this is the case? have the files been accessed by somebody else- maybe online/because of the download?

Kind regards,
Rosie

 

[Brink]

Hello Rosie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you are checking the last access via the file's properties page like the example screenshot in the tutorial, then that would be normal since you just accessed the file.

You should be able to do what's in the yellow tip box at the top of the tutorial to view the last access of files without changing them to the current date.

 

[Rosiew]

Okay that makes sense. Thank you for the information.
I understand that the "last accessed date" of a document on a Hard Drive is the date the file was last accessed. What does an "access" (of a document on my hard drive) include? I have opened up a document and transferred a document on my hard drive to my computer and both of these events have not changed the "last accessed time" of the document on my hard drive.

(I have a windows 7 but my hard drive is a WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive for Mac)

Would you happen to know if there is a way to view the last date that a file was tranferred from this hard drive to another device?

Thank you again

Rosie

 

[Brink]

The "Accessed" (properties) and "Date accessed" (column in Windows Explorer) both show the current date when I copy a file, but not when moved.

The last access date will not change unless their is a change (ex: copy) made to the file, or the file is opened.