Some metadata of webp images is ignored

[btschwertfeger]

Lychee version

v7.5.4

Did you check the latest Lychee version?

Yes, I did

Which PHP version are you using?

PHP 8.4

Detailed description of the problem

When I upload identical images into an album, one as webp and one as jpg, the webp image is somehow not showing the correct creation date (I guess this is what is meant to be displayed when clicking on an image), but instead the upload date is displayed.

I used exiftool to compare the metadata of both images and confirmed that they almost look identical:

1,5c1,4
< File Modification Date/Time     : 2026:05:07 17:41:16+02:00
< File Access Date/Time           : 2026:05:07 17:47:39+02:00
< File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2026:05:07 17:47:37+02:00
< Profile Date Time               : 2026:05:07 15:01:05
< Modify Date                     : 2026:05:07 17:41:13
---
> File Modification Date/Time     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50+02:00
> File Access Date/Time           : 2026:05:08 07:50:05+02:00
> File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50+02:00
> Modify Date                     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50
8a8
> Profile Date Time               : 2026:05:08 05:46:02
11c11
< Modify Date                     : 2026:05:07 17:41:13.152+02:00
---
> Modify Date                     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50.152+02:00

exiftool A7403507.jpg|grep Date
File Modification Date/Time     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50+02:00
File Access Date/Time           : 2026:05:08 07:50:05+02:00
File Inode Change Date/Time     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50+02:00
Modify Date                     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50
Create Date                     : 2026:05:02 21:05:19
GPS Date Stamp                  : 2026:05:02
Date/Time Original              : 2026:05:02 21:05:19
Profile Date Time               : 2026:05:08 05:46:02
Create Date                     : 2026:05:02 21:05:19.152+02:00
Date/Time Original              : 2026:05:02 21:05:19.152+02:00
Modify Date                     : 2026:05:08 07:49:50.152+02:00
GPS Date/Time                   : 2026:05:02 19:05:19Z

So why are webp images not displaying the creation time correctly? Manually editing them is cumbersome and using jpeg images is not resource efficient.

Steps to reproduce the issue

1. Create two images using the date metadata I provided
2. Upload them to a new Lychee v7.5.4 album
3. See that the webp has set the creation date to upload date, while the jpeg shows the correct date derived from the metadata

Diagnostics [REQUIRED]

Lychee Version (release): 7.5.4
DB Version: 7.5.4
Docker: false
composer install: --no-dev
APP_ENV: production
APP_DEBUG: false
APP_URL: set
APP_DIR: default
LOG_VIEWER_ENABLED: false
System: Linux
PHP Version: 8.4.20
PHP User agent: Lychee/6 (https://lycheeorg.dev/)
Timezone: MET
Max uploaded file size: 128M
Max post size: 128M
Chunk size: 51.20 MB
Max execution time: 240
MySQL Version: 8.0.36
exec() Available: yes
Imagick Available: 1
Imagick Enabled: yes
Imagick Version: 1693
GD Version: bundled (2.1.0 compatible)
Number of foreign key: 33 found.

version: 070504
check_for_updates: 0
sorting_photos_col: taken_at
sorting_photos_order: ASC
sorting_albums_col: max_taken_at
sorting_albums_order: ASC
imagick: 1
skip_duplicates: 0
small_max_width: 0
small_max_height: 360
medium_max_width: 1920
medium_max_height: 1080
lang: en
image_overlay_type: desc
default_license: reserved
compression_quality: 90
grants_full_photo_access: 1
delete_imported: 0
mod_frame_enabled: 1
mod_frame_refresh: 30
thumb_2x: 1
small_2x: 1
medium_2x: 1
landing_page_enable: 1
search_public: 0
hide_version_number: 0
recent_age: 1
grants_download: 0
photos_wraparound: 1
map_display: 0
zip64: 1
map_display_public: 0
map_provider: Wikimedia
map_include_subalbums: 0
update_check_every_days: 3
has_exiftool: 0
share_button_visible: 0
import_via_symlink: 0
has_ffmpeg: 0
location_decoding: 0
location_decoding_timeout: 30
location_show: 1
location_show_public: 0
rss_enable: 0
rss_recent_days: 7
rss_max_items: 100
prefer_available_xmp_metadata: 0
editor_enabled: 1
lossless_optimization: 0
local_takestamp_video_formats: .avi|.mov
log_max_num_line: 1000
unlock_password_photos_with_url_param: 0
nsfw_visible: 1
nsfw_blur: 0
nsfw_warning: 0
nsfw_warning_admin: 0
nsfw_banner_override:
map_display_direction: 1
album_subtitle_type: oldstyle
upload_processing_limit: 4
new_photos_notification: 1
zip_deflate_level: 6
default_album_protection: private
album_decoration: layers
album_decoration_orientation: row
allow_username_change: 1
auto_fix_orientation: 1
random_album_id: highlighted
use_last_modified_date_when_no_exif_date: 0
layout: justified
date_format_photo_thumb: M j, Y, g:i:s A e
date_format_photo_overlay: M j, Y, g:i:s A e
date_format_sidebar_uploaded: M j, Y, g:i:s A e
date_format_sidebar_taken_at: M j, Y, g:i:s A e
date_format_hero_min_max: F Y
date_format_hero_created_at: M j, Y, g:i:s A T
date_format_album_thumb: M Y
upload_chunk_size: 0
nsfw_banner_blur_backdrop: 0
search_pagination_limit: 300
search_minimum_length_required: 4
photo_layout_justified_row_height: 320
photo_layout_masonry_column_width: 300
photo_layout_grid_column_width: 250
photo_layout_square_column_width: 200
photo_layout_gap: 12
display_thumb_album_overlay: always
display_thumb_photo_overlay: hover
default_album_thumb_aspect_ratio: 1/1
use_album_compact_header: 0
back_button_enabled: 0
back_button_text: Return to Home
SA_random_thumbs: 0
login_required: 0
enable_unsorted: 1
enable_highlighted: 1
enable_recent: 1
enable_on_this_day: 1
login_required_root_only: 1
dark_mode_enabled: 1
low_quality_image_placeholder: 1
show_keybinding_help_popup: 1
show_keybinding_help_button: 1
disable_se_call_for_actions: 0
enable_se_preview: 0
slideshow_timeout: 5
keep_original_untouched: 1
timeline_photos_enabled: 1
timeline_photos_public: 1
timeline_photos_granularity: day
timeline_photos_order: taken_at
timeline_photos_layout: square
timeline_photos_pagination_limit: 200
timeline_albums_enabled: 1
timeline_albums_public: 1
timeline_albums_granularity: year
timeline_left_border_enabled: 1
timeline_photo_date_format_year: Y
timeline_photo_date_format_month: M Y
timeline_photo_date_format_day: j M Y
timeline_photo_date_format_hour: g:i
timeline_album_date_format_year: Y
timeline_album_date_format_month: M Y
timeline_album_date_format_day: j M
hide_nsfw_in_smart_albums: 1
hide_nsfw_in_frame: 1
hide_nsfw_in_map: 1
hide_nsfw_in_search: 1
search_photos_layout: square
hide_nsfw_in_rss: 1
hide_nsfw_in_timeline: 1
number_albums_per_row_mobile: 3
cache_enabled: 0
cache_ttl: 86400
low_number_of_shoots_per_day: 10
medium_number_of_shoots_per_day: 50
high_number_of_shoots_per_day: 100
maintenance_processing_limit: 5000
disable_recursive_permission_check: 1
exif_disabled_for_all: 0
file_name_hidden: 0
default_old_settings: 0
default_expert_settings: 0
default_all_settings: 0
client_side_favourite_enabled: 0
disable_thumb_download: 1
disable_thumb2x_download: 1
disable_small_download: 0
disable_small2x_download: 0
disable_medium_download: 0
disable_medium2x_download: 0
temporary_image_link_enabled: 0
temporary_image_link_when_logged_in: 0
temporary_image_link_when_admin: 0
temporary_image_link_life_in_seconds: 86400
secure_image_link_enabled: 0
SA_override_visibility: 0
TA_override_visibility: 0
enable_colour_extractions: 0
colour_extraction_driver: farzai
home_page_default: gallery
timeline_page_enabled: 1
timeline_quick_access_date_format_year: Y
timeline_quick_access_date_format_month: M
timeline_quick_access_date_format_day: j M
timeline_quick_access_date_format_hour: h M, g:i
flow_enabled: 1
flow_public: 1
flow_base:
flow_max_items: 10
flow_strategy: auto
flow_include_sub_albums: 0
flow_include_photos_from_children: 0
flow_open_album_on_click: 0
flow_display_open_album_button: 0
flow_highlight_first_picture: 1
flow_min_max_enabled: 1
flow_display_statistics: 1
flow_compact_mode_enabled: 1
flow_image_header_enabled: 1
flow_image_header_cover: cover
flow_image_header_height: 24
flow_carousel_enabled: 1
flow_carousel_height: 6
date_format_flow_published: M j, Y, g:i:s A e
date_format_flow_min_max: F Y
flow_blur_nsfw_enabled: 1
hide_nsfw_in_flow: 1
skip_duplicates_early: 1
sync_delete_missing_photos: 0
sync_delete_missing_albums: 0
sync_dry_run: 1
gallery_header_enabled: 0
gallery_header_logged_in_enabled: 0
gallery_header:
gallery_header_bar_transparent: 1
gallery_header_bar_gradient: 1
import_via_url_forbidden_localhost: 1
import_via_url_forbidden_local_ip: 1
import_via_url_require_https: 1
import_via_url_forbidden_ports: 1
details_links_enabled: 0
details_links_public: 0
is_scroll_to_navigate_photos_enabled: 1
is_swipe_vertically_to_go_back_enabled: 1
photo_thumb_tags_enabled: 0
hide_nsfw_in_tag_albums: 1
hide_nsfw_in_tag_listing: 1
sorting_pinned_albums_col: created_at
sorting_pinned_albums_order: DESC
copyright_text:
watermark_enabled: 0
watermark_photo_id:
watermark_public: 1
watermark_logged_in_users_enabled: 0
renamer_enabled: 0
renamer_enforced: 0
renamer_enforced_before: 0
renamer_enforced_after: 0
renamer_photo_title_enabled: 1
renamer_album_title_enabled: 1
extract_zip_on_upload: 1
webshop_currency: EUR
webshop_default_description: No description provided.
webshop_allow_guest_checkout: 1
webshop_terms_url:
webshop_privacy_url:
webshop_default_price_cents: 0
webshop_default_license: personal
webshop_default_size: medium
enable_untagged: 1
photos_pagination_limit: 500
deduplicate_pinned_albums: 0
desktop_dock_full_transparency_enabled: 0
mobile_dock_full_transparency_enabled: 0
import_via_url_block_redirect: 1
enable_smart_album_per_owner: 0
rating_enabled: 1
rating_public: 0
rating_show_only_when_user_rated: 0
rating_show_avg_in_details: 1
rating_photo_view_mode: hover
rating_show_avg_in_photo_view: 0
rating_album_view_mode: hover
rating_show_avg_in_album_view: 1
album_layout: grid
albums_per_page: 30
albums_pagination_ui_mode: infinite_scroll
albums_infinite_scroll_threshold: 10
photos_per_page: 100
photos_pagination_ui_mode: infinite_scroll
photos_infinite_scroll_threshold: 10
shared_albums_visibility_default: show
enable_unrated: 0
enable_1_star: 0
enable_2_stars: 0
enable_3_stars: 0
enable_4_stars: 1
enable_5_stars: 1
enable_best_pictures: 1
best_pictures_count: 100
enable_propagate_unlock_option: 0
enable_photo_details_always_open: 0
enable_my_rated_pictures: 1
enable_my_best_pictures: 1
my_best_pictures_count: 50
gps_coordinate_display: 1
gps_coordinate_display_public: 1
photos_star_visibility: editor
album_enhanced_display_enabled: 0
album_header_size: half_screen
album_header_landing_title_enabled: 0
watermark_optout_disabled: 0
raw_download_enabled: 0
contact_form_enabled: 0
contact_form_security_question:
contact_form_security_answer:
contact_form_custom_consent_required: 0
contact_form_custom_privacy_url:
contact_form_header:
contact_form_headline:
contact_form_contact_method:
contact_form_message_label:
contact_form_message_answer:
contact_form_custom_consent_text:
contact_form_custom_submit_button_text:
contact_form_thank_you_message:
landing_background_landscape_mode: photo_id
landing_background_portrait_mode: photo_id
search_colour_distance: 30

Browser & System [REQUIRED]

Chromium-based browser, iOS 2026-something

Please confirm (incomplete submissions will not be addressed)

• I have provided easy and step-by-step instructions to reproduce the bug.
• I understand my bug report will be removed if I haven't met the criteria above.
• I understand that if I am requested to provide more information, I must do so within 14 days or the bug report will be closed.

[ildyria]

In your settings it say:
has_exiftool: 0
Which means that Lychee does not know that you have exiftool available.

So could you set has_exiftool to 1 (if it is directly available in the PATH) or 2 if it needs to search it.
And then try again ?

[btschwertfeger]

There is no exiftool available in die environment. I assumed that it is not required since jpegs are working fine.

But I'll test what happens when configuring this.

[btschwertfeger]

I looked up the settings and found 'Defines whether exiftool processing is available'. It was 'disabled' and I tried 'discover' and 'enabled'. I uploaded the same image, one as JPEG, one as WEBP with identical metadata for the mentioned creation dates. The JPEG has the correct metadata exported and displayed, while the WEBP lacks this information. These settings seem to have no effect. I know that in the environment of this Lychee instance, there is no exiftool available, which is why I'm wondering that uploading JPEGs lead to correct dates.

[ildyria]

So I am able to get the exif data from a webp file. https://groups.google.com/a/webmproject.org/g/webp-discuss/c/6BkftgLYM2M?pli=1 < this one specifically.

[ildyria]

Also important information, the "created_at" is not extracted from EXIF it is the date you uploaded it to Lychee. The "taken_at" is the date extracted from the exif info.

[btschwertfeger]

I see, this image seems to work. I need more time to investigate why mine do not behave the same.