OneDrive not automatically adding tags or respecting DateTaken data on photos

It seems like you are experiencing issues with OneDrive not processing your photos correctly, specifically regarding the DateTaken EXIF data and automatic tagging. Here are a few points to consider:

1. Image Tagging Delay: The time taken for tags to appear in the Image Tags column can range from a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours. If your photo has not been processed within this timeframe, it may indicate an issue.
2. File Processing: Only newly uploaded images are processed for automatic image tagging. If the photo you are testing has been uploaded previously, it may not be processed again for tagging.
3. EXIF Data: While you mentioned that the EXIF data is intact, ensure that the photo meets all requirements for tagging. If the file type or any other aspect does not conform to the supported formats, it may not be processed correctly.
4. Known Issues: There are known issues with OneDrive not automatically uploading photos for work or school accounts, which could potentially affect tagging as well. If you are using a work or school account, consider testing with a personal Microsoft account to see if the issue persists.
5. Sync Issues: If you are experiencing a large number of errors or issues, you might consider stopping the sync and starting it again to refresh the connection to OneDrive. This can sometimes resolve processing issues.

If the problem continues, you may want to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

References:

• Overview of image tagging
• Troubleshooting OneDrive for work or school sync issues

Hi Matt,

From what you describe, the server side photo processor in your OneDrive account is likely stuck. Try to force OneDrive to see your test photo as a brand new object and make it rebuild the metadata and tags from scratch.

Do this end to end on the web first.

Sign in at onedrive.com. Delete your current test photo. Open Recycle bin and empty it. At the bottom of the Recycle bin page open the second stage recycle bin and empty that too. This removes any deduplicated copy that could make OneDrive skip reprocessing.

Now create a truly new copy of the original file so its binary hash changes while keeping EXIF. On Windows open the original photo in the Photos app. Choose Save a copy and save it with a slightly different name in a local folder. Do not crop or edit. This preserves EXIF such as DateTaken.

Back on onedrive.com open Settings then Photos. Turn Photo tagging off. Save. Turn it back on. Save again. This refreshes the account level toggle.

Upload the new copy using the web Upload button into a brand new folder, for example TestPhotos.

After upload, open the file, then open the Details pane on the right. Within a few minutes you should start seeing Taken, Camera, Dimensions and automatic tags appear.

If your source file is HEIC or a RAW format and nothing shows after a short wait, use Photos to Save as JPEG and upload that JPEG copy instead, then check the Details pane again.

Tell me what you see in the Details pane after you follow these steps. If the metadata still does not appear, I will move to the next fix.