How to See When a Word Document Was Created

Microsoft Word is a widely used word processing software that allows users to create, edit, and format documents. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to know when a particular Word document was created. Whether you need this information for organizational purposes or legal requirements, Microsoft Word provides a simple way to access this data. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to see when a Word document was created.

1. Open the Word Document: Begin by opening the Word document that you want to check the creation date for.

2. Go to the File Tab: Locate the File tab at the top left corner of the document window and click on it. This will open the File menu.

3. Access the Document Properties: Within the File menu, look for the “Info” option and click on it. This will open the Document Properties section.

4. View the Creation Date: In the Document Properties section, you will find various details about the document. Scroll down until you find the “Created” field. The date and time mentioned in this field indicate when the document was first created.

5. Additional Information: If you need more information about the document’s history, such as the last modified date or the author’s name, you can find it in the same Document Properties section. These details can be useful for tracking changes or collaborating on documents.

Now that you know how to see when a Word document was created, let’s answer some common questions related to this topic.

1. Can I change the creation date of a Word document?
No, the creation date of a Word document cannot be changed. It is a fixed attribute that reflects when the document was initially created.

2. Can I see the creation date of a document if it was created on a different computer?
Yes, the creation date of a Word document remains the same regardless of the computer it was created on. The creation date is embedded within the document file itself.

3. What if I can’t find the “Created” field in the Document Properties section?
If you can’t find the “Created” field, it’s possible that the document properties are not visible in the current view. In that case, click on the “Show Document Panel” button located at the top right corner of the Document Properties section.

4. Can I see the creation date of a document created in an older version of Word?
Yes, the creation date of a document created in an older version of Word can still be accessed using the same steps mentioned above.

5. Is there a way to view the creation date without opening the document?
No, you need to open the document in Microsoft Word to access its creation date. The creation date is not visible from the file explorer or any other file management utility.

6. Is it possible to hide the creation date of a Word document?
No, the creation date cannot be hidden or removed from the document properties. It is a fundamental attribute of the document.

7. Can I see the creation date of a document on a mobile device?
Yes, you can view the creation date of a Word document on mobile devices as well. Open the document in the Microsoft Word app, and follow the same steps mentioned above.

8. Will the creation date change if I make changes to the document?
No, the creation date remains the same even if you make changes to the document. The creation date signifies when the document was initially created, not when it was last modified.

9. Can I see the creation date of a document if it was saved in a different file format?
Yes, you can still view the creation date of a document even if it was saved in a different file format, such as PDF or RTF. Open the document in Microsoft Word and follow the steps mentioned above.