Update Time

Update Time automatically maintains created and updated front-matter properties on your Obsidian notes. Once enabled, it watches for file modifications (from Obsidian or external tools) and keeps those properties in sync with the file’s actual creation and last-modification times.

Key features

  • Automatic — no commands to run. Whenever a note changes, its front matter is updated in the background.
  • Accurate — values come from the file’s underlying ctime and mtime, not from Obsidian-internal state.
  • Non-destructive for existing valuescreated is only set when missing; updated is debounced to avoid fighting your edits.
  • Folder exclusions — exclude templates, daily notes, or any other folder from automatic updates.
  • Excalidraw-aware — Excalidraw files are skipped.
  • Fully local — no network calls, no telemetry.

Quick start

  1. Install the plugin from Obsidian’s community catalog (Settings → Community plugins → Browse → Update Time) and enable it.
  2. (Optional) Open Settings → Community plugins → Update Time and add any folder paths to exclude (e.g., Templates, _archive).
  3. Start editing notes — created and updated properties appear automatically in front matter.

Important: This plugin modifies files in your vault. Back up your vault before enabling it.

About

Created by Sébastien Dubois.

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