Guide: How to Restore Insta360 Video Creation Dates with Automator on Mac (The Free Method)

When you export videos from Insta360 Studio, the file's creation date is often reset to the current date, which messes up the chronological order of your media. Fortunately, the program keeps the original date and time embedded in the filename, for example, in a format like VID_20250921_113743_00_001.

This guide shows you how to use your Mac's built-in Automator application and a ready-made script to restore the correct creation date for free. This is an excellent alternative to paid metadata programs.

Step 1: Preparation – Install Xcode (Command Line Tools)

For the script to be able to change file system metadata (using commands like SetFile or touch), you need the Command Line Tools, which are included with Xcode.

1. Open the App Store on your Mac.

2. In the search bar, type Xcode.

3. Click the Get (or Install) button next to the Xcode application by Apple.

4. Wait for the download and installation to complete. As this is a large application, the process may take some time.

Installing Xcode automatically gives the script access to the necessary commands for working with file metadata.

Step 2: Download and Install the Automator Quick Action

You don't need to write any code. You can simply download a ready-made Quick Action and import it:

1. Go to the following link to download the ready-made Automator file:
   Download the Insta360 Automator Script

2. After the download finishes, locate the downloaded file (it may have a .workflow or .action extension) and double-click it.

3. macOS will automatically prompt you to import the action. Click the Install or Import button. The action will be added to your Quick Actions library with the name: Insta360 studio - Change creation date for selected video files.

Step 3: Use the Script to Restore the Date

You can now restore the file creation dates in just two clicks:

1. Open Finder and navigate to the folder containing the videos you exported from Insta360 Studio.

2. Select one or more files for which you need to restore the date.

3. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the selected files.

4. In the context menu, hover over Quick Actions (or Services).

5. Click the action named: Insta360 studio - Change creation date for selected video files.

The script will run, extract the date and time (September 21, 2025, 11:37:43) from the filename, and set them as the creation and modification date for the selected videos. Unlike paid software, this method is completely free and uses your Mac's built-in capabilities.