How to Enable or Disable File and Folder "Last Access Time" in Windows
InformationThe 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.
WarningOn older or slower systems, enabling Last Access Time could cause a performance decrease due to the increased overhead of Disk I/O.
TipIf 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 ONETo 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.3. To Disable "Last Access Time"
B) Go to step 4 below.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.4. Save the .reg file to the desktop.
B) Go to step 4 below.
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 TWOTo Enable or Disable "Last Access Time" in a Command Prompt
1. Open an elevated command prompt.That's it,
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.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.5. Close the elevated command prompt.
6. Restart the computer to apply.
Shawn