Is there a REST API to modify/update readonly properties such as 'Created by' and 'Modified Date' in SharePoint online

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AbdulSaifBabu-7422 asked Mar 1, '21 romanski answered Apr 27, '22

Is there a REST API to modify/update readonly properties such as 'Created by' and 'Modified Date' in SharePoint online

We are trying to figure out a way to update the system read-only properties such as 'Created by' and 'Modified Date' in SharePoint. We are using REST API to work with data in SP and hence if there is a REST API to achieve this, it would be great.

We are aware of a workaround to create custom attributes and copy and hide the original columns, but we are looking to understand if there is a REST API way to accomplish this.

office-sharepoint-online

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Jerryzy · Mar 04, 2021 at 06:22 AM

Hi @AbdulSaifBabu-7422 ,

Is there any update ? Did the code in the answer work to update Created By/ Modified field ?

Thanks
Best Regards

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AbdulSaifBabu-7422 Jerryzy · Mar 05, 2021 at 09:33 AM

Thanks a lot @Jerryzy-MSFT, this did not work properly for updating the system metadata and we have the following observations.

When system fields(Editor, Author, Modified, Created) are updated through REST API
"<webUrl> + "/_api/web/lists('" + <listGuid> + "')/items(" + <itemId> + ")/ValidateUpdateListItem()", it is returning 200 - success, but actual update of fields only happened once.(Tried for 3 files, with 20 attempts for each file). Only one file's metadata got updated. So the update is very inconsistent. Please note that we 've tried with both SP2019 OnPrem and SP Online.
If only non system (custom) metadata is updated through REST API
"<webUrl> + "/_api/web/lists('" + <listGuid> + "')/items(" + <itemId> + ")/ValidateUpdateListItem()", it is returning 200 - success and the values are being updated properly every single time.

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AbdulSaifBabu-7422 AbdulSaifBabu-7422 · Mar 05, 2021 at 09:35 AM

If both system and non-system (custom) metadata is updated, Neither system nor custom metadata is getting updated though 200 is received

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Jerryzy AbdulSaifBabu-7422 · Mar 05, 2021 at 03:09 PM

As the Rest option is not working for the modern site library, so I suggest you could use PowerShell option if possible.

PowerShell will work for both classic/modern site library.

Reference:

SharePoint Online: Update Created By / Modified By, Created / Modified Field Values using PowerShell

I will update the answer also

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Jerryzy · Mar 09, 2021 at 08:40 AM

Hi @AbdulSaifBabu-7422 ,

Is there any update ? Have you tried the new suggestion in the comment ?

Thanks
Best Regards

0 ·

Answer 1 · 2021-03-02T05:49:48.977Z

Jerryzy answered Mar 2, '21 Jerryzy rolled back Mar 5, '21

Hi @AbdulSaifBadu-7422,

Rest API ValidateUpdateListItem endpoint can be used to update system field (Created/Created By, Modified/Modified By), please see the sample request in PostMan:

Request Url and Header:

Request Body:

 {
    "formValues":[
       {
          "FieldName":"Author",
          "FieldValue":"[{'Key':'i:0#.f|membership|user@Tenant.onmicrosoft.com'}]"
       },
       {
          "FieldName":"Created",
          "FieldValue":"17/1/2021"
       },
       {
          "FieldName":"Editor",
          "FieldValue":"[{'Key':'i:0#.f|membership|user@Tenant.onmicrosoft.com'}]"
       },
       {
          "FieldName":"Modified",
          "FieldValue":"17/1/2021"
       }
    
    ]
 }

This is the update result with the request above:

Here is a blog with the same solution, I suggest you can refer:

How to update created by and modified by field in sharepoint List using REST API

Update: per the deep test, the Rest option above is not working for modern site library, so it's more suggested to use PowerShell(CSOM/PnP PowerShell) to update SharePoint system field, this option is working for both classic/modern library:

SharePoint Online: Update Created By / Modified By, Created / Modified Field Values using PowerShell

Thanks
Best Regards

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Answer 2 · 2022-04-27T10:04:29.117Z

romanski answered Apr 27, '22

Unfortunately this method does not work for the author field in document library

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