TweetArchive/Guide

Guide · Updated November 13, 2026 · by Cedano Labs LLC

X archive media dates are wrong

The media files in an X archive usually show the date the archive was created, because the post date is stored in tweets.js, not in the files. TweetArchive reads each post’s created_at, matches the files by the post ID in their name, and exports them named and dated correctly — EXIF dates for JPEGs that lack them.

Step by step

1. Open your archive ZIP in TweetArchive

   Media is matched to posts automatically.

2. Review in the Media tab

   Each photo shows “Posted <date>”.

3. Export photos & videos

   Files are named YEAR/DATE_TIME_original-name and timestamped in the ZIP.

4. Check media-dates.csv

   It lists every file with its post ID and UTC date.

Honest limitations

• There is no official public specification of the archive format that we could read; TweetArchive follows what several independent parsers document and discovers file names instead of assuming one layout.
• Some archives omit @usernames for DM partners; those people appear as a numeric user ID.
• TweetArchive is not affiliated with X Corp. and does not log in to X for you.

Frequently asked questions

Which date is used?

The created_at time of the post that contains the media, in UTC.

What about files with no matching post?

They are listed in the Media tab without a post date and are not renamed.

Does it overwrite existing EXIF?

No. JPEGs that already have EXIF data are left as they are.

Is it free?

The preview shows the gallery and exports 10 files. Pro exports everything for $19 once.

Related

• How to download your official X archive
• Privacy: what TweetArchive does and doesn’t see
• How do I open my X (Twitter) archive ZIP?
• Your archive.html is not loading
• How do I view DMs in my X archive?
• How do I search X archive DMs as evidence?
• How do I export X archive photos with the real date?
• How do I export my X archive to PDF?
• My X archive is several GB and won’t open on Windows
• I deleted my X account and only have the archive
• Is it safe to upload my X archive to a website?
• How do I download my official X archive?
• What is tweets.js and why isn’t it JSON?
• How do I convert my X archive to CSV or JSON?
• How do I view threads in my X archive?

Sources

• The Verge: How to download an archive of your Twitter data (updated Nov 14, 2022)
• Ars Technica: How to download a backup copy of your Twitter data (Oct 28, 2022)
• twitter-archive-parser by Tim Hutton (GitHub)
• alkihis/twitter-archive-reader: file structures

TweetArchive is an independent tool made by Cedano Labs LLC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by X Corp. “X” and “Twitter” are trademarks of X Corp., used here only to describe the archive format the tool reads. TweetArchive is not a forensic lab or a legal service, and its exports are not certified evidence. Markdown version: /wrong-media-dates.md.