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

 

[Zaaphod]

Turn on Last Access timestamp only on certian hard drives?

is there a way to enable last access timestamp for only certain hard drives. Since my OS is on an SSD, I really don't want any more activity than needed on my C: drive, and I really don't care about any files access date on that entire drive, but I would find it very useful on my Data drive. Any ideas on how to have last access timestamp on only one hard drive but not C: ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Zapphod, and welcome to Seven Forums.

I'm afraid that this is a global setting for all or none.

 

[Zaaphod]

ah, thats' too bad... but thank you for the fast response!

Perhaps I can make some batch files to enable the timestamp feature before the applications which use the files I wish to track and then disable it again after, since the vast majority of os files will already be open, they wont' be touched, and since my temp folders are not on my C drive that would at least minimize activity on my c drive.

 

[LMiller7]

I wouldn't be concerned with reducing writes to the SSD. Testing has shown that SSDs rarely fail due to disk writes. Most SSDs are replaced because they are to small or too slow before they fail.

 

[streetwolf]

I'm on Windows 10 and even though the reg entry NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate is set to 1 I get a Last Access Date for my files.

 

[Brink]

Hello streetwolf,

The "Acessed" option will always show in properties, but will just not be updated as you access the file unless enabled.

 

[streetwolf]

Didn't know that, thanks for the new info.

 

[Brink]

 

[thename]

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