If you take photos for work, whether it’s for a report, documentation, or just showing your team what’s going on, you’ve probably run into this: a great photo with little context. No date. No time. No way to tell when it was taken unless you dig through metadata. But metadata won’t help if the photo gets screenshotted, compressed, or sent through WhatsApp. I’ve dealt with this too many times when I was working as an office coordinator.

What you need is a visible timestamp right on the photo. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what actually works for Android devices. Whether you want something simple and quick or or need bulletproof documentation for an inspection, I’ve got you covered.

1. Method 1: Built-In Android Options

Many Android models now include a feature to add a visible watermark in their camera app settings. It’s not available on every model, but it’s worth checking. Here’s how:

  1. Open your Camera app.
  2. Tap the gear icon to open settings.
  3. Look for options like “Watermark” or “Timestamp.”

On some models, you can even tweak the font and alignment. For example, Samsung lets you choose the font and alignment for the watermark

Here's a quick video demo showing how to turn on the photo time stamp on a Samsung S23 device:

Limitations of Built-In Stamps

‍First, many phones (especially those running “pure” Android like Google Pixel phones or Moto/Nokia devices) do not have a native timestamp option.

Second, even if you have a built-in timestamp toggle, it may be pretty basic. Often you get one style of text and that’s it. If it clashes with your photo or you wish you could include more info (like location or custom text), the default won’t go that far.

Third and most importantly, this method doesn't guarantee authenticity. Anyone can change the phone clock and take a photo with a fake timestamp. That won’t hold up if you need the photo for documentation or proof.

2. Method 2: Using Timestamp Camera Apps (Real-Time Stamps)

If your built-in camera lacks a timestamp feature, but you take a lot of photos on the job, you can install a timestamp camera app. Real-time stamping gives you the cleanest workflow. This is the method I personally use and trust the most.

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What is a timestamp camera?

These are camera apps that automatically imprint the date and time (and often other info) as you capture the photo. Many timestamp camera apps also add extra details like location, notes, logo, or project info.

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How to use a timestamp camera to add date/time to photos?

  1. We'll use Timemark Camera in this example. Open the Timemark Camera. You’ll see the default timestamp with date, time, and location.
  2. Tap the timestamp area to add more fields like weather, GPS coordinates, notes, logo, and more.
  3. Scroll through the templates to pick one that best fits your documentation needs.

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Timemark makes it simple to capture timestamped photos without the usual manual steps. Just open the app, take your shot, and the date and time appear instantly on the image along with any extra fields you’ve chosen, like GPS, project ID, or technician name.

For teams that need reliable records, Timemark also helps ensure integrity. It checks for system clock changes and flags anything suspicious. This short video shows how Timemark does its magic:

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3. Method 3: Adding Timestamps to Existing Photos (Post-Capture)

What about photos you’ve already taken? Maybe you’re looking at a folder of job site images that need to be documented. Here are a few simple ways to add a date and time stamp to existing images on Android:

Option 1: Use a built-in date sticker

Some manufacturers like Samsung’s Gallery app allows adding a date sticker manually to a photo after it’s taken.

Here’s how:

  1. Open the photo in the Gallery app.
  2. Tap Edit, then go to Stickers.
  3. Look under the “Calendar” section and select a date/time sticker.
  4. Drag it into place and save the photo.

This effectively lets you place a timestamp label on the photo. The catch? It’s manual labor. You’d have to do this for each photo, one by one. Great for the occasional image you want to mark, but not feasible for large batches or ongoing needs.

Option 2: Use a batch editing app

These apps make it easy to apply the same look to many photos at once. They are simple, quick and great for teams that want a consistent format. The only catch is that it may fall short for serious documentation, since they rely on editable metadata.

The following uses TimeStampIt to show how to batch timestamp photos:

  1. Open TimestampIt and view your photos in the gallery.
  2. Select the photos you want to add a timestamp to.
  3. Tap the bottom that says "Tap here to stamp photos"
  4. Tap the top-right corner to access editing options.
  5. Tap “Stamp media” at the bottom to apply the timestamp.
  6. Check the results. Your stamped photos will appear in the top row of the gallery and in your camera roll.

Here's a video walkthrough:

Other batch processing tools like DateStamper and PhotoMarks also offer similar features.

4. Basic vs. Professional Timestamp Tools: What to Look for

There are tons of timestamp camera apps out there. Some simply stamp whatever your system clock says and add basic info like date and time. Others go further. They cross-check and validate the timestamp and GPS before imprinting it on the photo to ensure the authenticity.

So what should you look for in a timestamp camera built for work? Here are the key factors I always check:

  1. Anti–tampering time:  If the app just pulls from your phone’s clock, anyone can mess with it. Look for apps that check the time against a server or verify GPS.
  2. Additional fields: A date and time are a good start. But most teams also need GPS, job numbers, technician names, or project IDs. The more fields you can stamp at once, the less you have to type later.
  3. Reliability: If an app keeps freezing or throwing ads at you, it’s just getting in the way. You need something that stays steady when you’re out in the field.
  4. Photo organization: Field teams take a lot of photos. A great app helps sort them into folders by date, location, or project, so you’re not stuck scrolling through your camera roll at the end of the day.
  5. Reporting: Not a must-have, but some apps I’ve tried can even turn your photos into reports. Extra time saved!

Below is a quick comparison of the top timestamp camera apps. And yes, I’ve tested all of these so you don’t have to!

Timestamp Camera
Anti-Tampering
 Additional Fields Reliability Photo Organization Reporting
Timemark Camera Prevents tampering even when the system clock is changed Location, GPS coordinates, altitude, compass, map, tag, notes, logo, and more High Auto-sorts by project, member, and date PDF, Excel (.xlsx), kmz, project link, zip
Timestamp Camera No Location, GPS coordinates, altitude, compass, map, tag, notes, logo, and more Freezing and motion-blur reported; occasional lag No No
GPS Map Camera No GPS coordinates, address, map, weather, magnetic field, compass direction, altitude App frequently freezes during ads No PDF
Solocator No Location, compass, altitude; (with “Industry Pack”) project name, photo description, company or username, logo Some users report crashes/freezing Sort by date, address, and project kml, kmz, csv
Open Camera No GPS coordinates, text Reliable overall; crashes on some Android models No No
Notecam No GPS coordinates, comments Some bugs and performance issues reported No txt, csv, kml
Conota Camera No GPS coordinates, project name, custom notes High No No

Final thoughts

Here’s my take: if you just want to remember fun times, go ahead and use the built-in features or a free timestamp camera. If you rely on photos as proof, consider leveling up to a more robust tool like Timemark that offers verification. They help you stand behind your photos with confidence.

I once had to document roof damage before a repair job. We needed to show exactly when each photo was taken in case there were any disputes with the client later. Using Timemark to capture timestamped photos removed all the guesswork. The photos told a clear story, and no one questioned the timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can timestamped photos hold up in court?
The truth is simple. A timestamp on a photo does not guarantee anything. What matters is whether the underlying data is trustworthy.Here are what lawyers and insurers look for: 1) Can the timestamp be manipulated? 2) Is the metadata intact and consistent? 3) Was the image edited?
  • Are timestamp camera legal?
Yes. Timestamp cameras are legal to use. Adding visible date and time to your own photos is simply a form of documentation. In fact, many industries rely on timestamped photos for inspections, reports, compliance and record-keeping.
  • Can the timestamp be manipulated?
For most timestamp camera apps, yes. Someone can manipulate the timestamp by changing the device clock. And for date-stamper apps, people can even screenshot an image and re-stamp it, which makes the timestamp easy to alter. However, Timemark goes further. It validates your time and location against network data ,so the timestamp and GPS can’t be manipulated through clock changes or using fake GPS.
  • Why do you need a timestamp camera?
A timestamp camera solves three big problems:
1. You have a lot of photos: You and your team take dozens of photos on the job. Later, when you're prepping a report and run them through a bulk editing tool, you realize the timestamps reflect when the photos were forwarded or edited, not when they were actually taken. Adding the correct date one by one? No thanks. Real-time stamping like Timemark Camera saves you from that mess.
2. You need consistent documentation: Field teams need photos that look uniform. Same format. Same placement. Same data points included. Timemark Camera makes this easy with pre-built watermark templates you can use across the whole team.
3. You need solid photo proof: Metadata can be changed. On iPhone or Android, you can edit the time, date, even the GPS tag. That weakens the credibility of your photos when they’re needed for claims, disputes or legal documentation. Timemark is the only timestamp camera app that verifies the time and location at capture, so the core details stay trustworthy.