When you export your library with Google Takeout, many photos lose their "date taken" and location: the information is stored in a separate .json file next to each photo instead of inside it. Import the export into Apple Photos, a NAS or another service and thousands of photos show the export date instead of the day they were taken.
This tool reads each JSON file and writes the data back:
- JPEG photos: EXIF DateTimeOriginal, CreateDate and time-zone offset, plus GPS latitude, longitude and altitude when Google has them;
- Every file: the file's modified date inside the ZIP is set to the date taken, which most photo apps use for PNG, GIF, HEIC and others;
- Videos (Pro): the creation time inside MP4/MOV files.
Photos that already have a date in their EXIF keep it unless you tick "overwrite".
How it works
- Download your Google Photos export from Google Takeout (one or more .zip parts).
- Open the fixer and select all the zip parts (or the extracted folder). JSON files are often in a different part than their photo – selecting all parts lets the tool match them.
- Click Fix metadata. You get a new ZIP with the same folders; your original files are not changed. A CSV report lists every file and what was done.
Everything runs in your browser: photos are not uploaded. The free version handles up to 500 files per run; the planned Pro version (not on sale yet) removes the limit and fixes video dates.