# Edit Watch History Dates

Tracking your watch history just got a major upgrade. With SIMKL’s brand-new **Edit Watch History Dates** feature, you now have the power to accurately log **when** you watched a movie, show, or anime.

Have you ever watched something years ago but only just added it to your SIMKL watchlist? Or maybe you imported your data from another site and the watch dates don’t match up?

Whether you're organizing your timeline or fixing past tracking mistakes, **SIMKL’s Watch History Edit** feature is made for you.

{% hint style="success" %}
The **Edit Watch History Dates** feature allows users to **manually change the exact date and time they watched a movie, TV show episode, or anime episode**.
{% endhint %}

**Official Announcement:** <https://simkl.org/finally-edit-your-watch-history-dates-on-simkl-for-movies-tv-shows-anime-a049a8a5f83e>&#x20;

***

## What is the "Edit Watch History Dates" Feature?

In today’s streaming world, we all watch content across various platforms, at different times, sometimes years apart.

Whether you're revisiting a childhood favorite, bingeing a new anime in one weekend, or watching movies sporadically over time, **how and when you watch matters.**

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FXflyELKITs8PaplbrBH7%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cc603b41-0ad5-43f3-87f4-60013b31873a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

But often, your tracking history doesn’t reflect this accurately:

* Maybe you recently **imported your watchlist from another tracking site**, and the timestamps are incorrect or missing.
* Maybe you accidentally **removed a title** from your watchlist, and now all the original watch dates are gone.
* Or maybe you watched something a long time ago but **only now decided to start organizing your timeline properly.**

That’s where SIMKL’s **Edit Watch History Dates** feature comes in, designed to give you full control over the *“when”* of your viewing journey.

***

## How SIMKL Handles Your Watch Progress

SIMKL is a media tracking platform for **Movies**, **TV Shows**, and **Anime,** allowing users to track their progress across different media formats. When you add a title to your **Watchlist**, you can organize it into different states:

{% content-ref url="../../../watchlists-and-custom-lists" %}
[watchlists-and-custom-lists](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/watchlists-and-custom-lists)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="../progress-tracking" %}
[progress-tracking](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/content-tracking/tracking-content/progress-tracking)
{% endcontent-ref %}

* Watching *(For TV Shows and Anime only)*
* Plan to watch
* On hold *(For TV Shows and Anime only)*
* Completed
* Dropped *(For TV Shows and Anime only)*

Once a title is in your library, SIMKL starts tracking a variety of timeline-based stats:

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fo22aX7qQiXS6gcNngL84%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a45609e6-4d2f-4e21-b9bd-fbd103f87631" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

| Metric                  | Description                                               |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Added to Watchlist**  | The date you first added the title to your SIMKL list     |
| **First Watched**       | The timestamp when you watched the first episode or movie |
| **Last Watched**        | The timestamp for the last watched content                |
| **Time Spent Watching** | The total runtime of what you've watched                  |
| **Time Took to Watch**  | How many days between first and last watch dates          |

These stats not only personalize your watch history but also power features like timelines, profile stats, and more. However, they’re **only as accurate as the dates you provide**.

***

## Where Can You Access This Feature?

You can find the **“Edit Watch History”** button in two primary locations:

1. **From the show/movie page** – Once you mark a title as watched, click the **“Manage Watch History”** button on the right-side info panel.
2. **Via Episode checkmarks** – If you’ve marked multiple episodes as watched, especially using the bulk tools, you can now update their watch timestamps in detail.

You’ll find the **Edit Watch Date** option available across multiple areas on SIMKL:

### For Movies

Update the Exact Date & Time You Watched or Added to Watchlist

**Step 1: Go to the Movie Page**\
Navigate to any movie you've marked as *“I’ve seen this”* or *“Completed.” or "Plan to watch".*

**Step 2: Locate the Watch Progress Panel**\
On the right-hand side, you’ll see a **Watch Progress box**.\
Click the **“Manage Watch History”** button located below your progress stats.

**Step 3: Open the Edit Modal**\
This opens a **Watch History modal**, where your current watch record is shown.

**Step 4: Click on the Date Field**\
Next to the movie entry, you'll find a **date and time field** (defaults to when you marked it as watched).\
Click this field to **open a calendar and time selector**.

**Step 5: Choose the Correct Date & Time**\
Now you can either:

* Select an exact date and time manually
* Use **Quick Picks** like:
  * Today
  * Yesterday
  * Last Week
* Or choose from **Smart Suggestions**, such as:
  * First theatrical release
  * US release date
  * Digital/streaming release date
  * “A long time ago” (for approximate or vague memories)

**Step 6: Save Your Changes**\
Click outside the picker or press enter — the data is instantly saved, and your **watch stats update** accordingly.

**Example:**\
You watched *The Matrix* back in 2003 but only logged it today. Now, with just a few clicks, you can go back and set the exact year you actually watched it.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FjUzY3dargIIiagORmmbG%2Fchrome_F86NP87yPk.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=38af6ba1-8a5d-45b7-8699-f0cc834968cd" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}

* After you mark a movie as *“I’ve seen this,”* the **watch date box** appears below the title.
* Click the **time/edit icon** to open the date/time picker and adjust as needed.
  {% endhint %}

### For TV Shows & Anime

Update the Exact Date & Time You Watched or Added to Watchlist by Episode wise!

**Step 1: Go to the TV Show or Anime Title**\
Visit the page of the show you want to update, it works on all episode-based content including anime with SIMKL filters.

**Step 2: Click on the “Manage Watch History” Button**\
On the top-right of the show page (inside the Watch Progress box), click **“Manage Watch History.”**\
This will open a full episode log in a modal popup.

{% content-ref url="../bulk-episode-editor" %}
[bulk-episode-editor](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/content-tracking/tracking-content/bulk-episode-editor)
{% endcontent-ref %}

**Alternative Access:**\
You can also click directly on the **green date timestamp** (shown when hovering over the checkmarked episodes) to skip to the editor.

**Step 3: Review Your Episode List**\
The modal shows each episode you've marked as watched, along with a date-time entry next to it.

**Step 4: Edit the Date & Time for Each Episode**\
Click on the calendar icon next to any episode to open the picker. Choose the exact date/time you watched that episode.

**Step 5: Save and Done!**\
The modal auto-saves your edits. All timestamps are now accurate in your profile and will reflect in your viewing timeline and statistics.

**Example:**\
You finished *Naruto* over several years in the past but never tracked it. Now you can update episodes (or arcs) with realistic watch dates like “2015-2016” to keep your profile clean and accurate.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FtfGgsnoF2IeLL1H6ZDYB%2Fchrome_9sisbMfocW.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=649b334b-f089-4b9a-969b-877dbcd79808" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="success" %}

* Go to any **episode page**, and if it’s marked as watched, you’ll see a **timestamp**.
* Click the time text or calendar icon to open the editor for that specific episode.
* This works for all episode-based titles (TV Shows, Anime) and single-entry Movies.
  {% endhint %}

### In Your Profile Table View

* Go to:
  * **Profile (Dashboard) → My Movies → Completed → View: Table (Hide Filters)**
  * **Profile (Dashboard) → My TV Shows → Completed → View: Table (Hide Filters)**
  * **Profile (Dashboard) → My Anime → Completed → View: Table (Hide Filters)**<br>
* You’ll see a full table of watched movies with a column for watch dates.\
  Click the date to open the editor and adjust it directly.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fnp84oPNu29Eyd7ShR204%2Fchrome_hE0H0fpK0v.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=cf271cd4-72d4-4c2b-bde5-52eefb8c13a2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/custom-layout-and-view-designs/examples-of-design-views#how-to-view-watched-dates-in-v2-beta-table-view>" %}

{% hint style="success" %}

### Important Things to Know

* This feature is available for **Movies, TV Shows, and Anime**.
* You can **edit the watch date and time** for any individual movie or episode.
* It only appears **after** a title or episode is in your watchlist.
* You’ll find it under the **“Watch Progress”** panel on each title’s page.
* Works with your **entire existing watch history,** not just newly added titles.
  {% endhint %}

***

### Next Up: Bulk Episode Editor

Managing individual episode dates one by one? That’s about to get easier. Especially for long-running shows or binge sessions.

That’s why SIMKL also offers a **Bulk Episode Editor**, which lets you batch-update watch dates across entire seasons or shows.

{% content-ref url="../bulk-episode-editor" %}
[bulk-episode-editor](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/content-tracking/tracking-content/bulk-episode-editor)
{% endcontent-ref %}

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2F7lTAjAt0CyTzxq1j5412%2Fchrome_68XzMovCbY.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=59fb4e18-4cd8-44bc-9d84-9ab0f889cb61" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Frequently Asked Question

#### Can I edit the watch date for a movie or show I watched years ago?

**Yes.** You can set the exact date and even the time you watched any movie, whether it was last night or back in the early 2000s. Simply mark the movie as "watched," then click the date field in the **Watch Progress** section to change it.

***

#### Can I do the same for TV shows or anime episodes?

**Absolutely.** Every episode you've marked as watched can be edited individually. Just go to the show’s page, click **“Manage Watch History,”** and you’ll see a list of episodes with editable date fields.

***

#### Do I need to have the title in my watchlist first?

**Yes.** You must add the movie, show, or anime to your watchlist and mark it as watched before the edit feature becomes available. The edit option appears only after at least one watch activity has been recorded.

***

#### Can I update watch time as well, or just the date?

**Yes, both!** When editing, you'll get a full **calendar + time selector**, allowing you to specify the exact hour and minute you watched something, perfect for those who want accurate timelines.

***

#### What if I don’t remember exactly when I watched it?

No problem! SIMKL gives you helpful shortcuts like:

* “Yesterday”
* “Last Week”
* “Very Long Time Ago” (for vague memories)

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FXhYb27x6nYCtbXytKIgT%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=45cefae2-eeb5-4f7c-bbea-dadbf6fa3646" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Or you can choose smart suggestions like:

* Original theatrical release date
* Country-specific release
* Streaming/DVD release

***

#### Will this change my stats and watch timelines?

**Yes.** Updating the watch date will automatically adjust key profile stats such as:

* First watched
* Last watched
* Time spent watching
* Time taken to finish the show/movie
* Watchlist sorting by date

***

#### Does it work with imported data?

**Yes, and it's recommended.**\
If you've imported your watch history from Trakt, MAL, IMDb, or elsewhere, your watch dates might be missing or incorrect. This feature lets you fix those and bring your timeline back to life.

{% content-ref url="../../../../advanced-usage/import-export-data/importing-to-simkl" %}
[importing-to-simkl](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/advanced-usage/import-export-data/importing-to-simkl)
{% endcontent-ref %}

***

#### Why can’t I see the edit option for some titles?

A few common reasons:

* The title hasn’t been marked as **watched** yet.
* You haven’t added it to your **watchlist**.
* You're trying to edit **special episodes**, which currently must be handled manually and may not appear with standard bulk or list tools.

***

#### Why Manual Watch Date Editing is Needed?

Let’s face it, many users have encountered these scenarios:

* You **migrated from another tracker**, but all your watched dates defaulted to a single day.
* You **deleted a show**, then added it back — but lost your original “watched” timestamp.
* You realized you **watched a film years ago**, but never marked it on SIMKL.
* You simply want your watch history to match the **actual date you watched it**, not when you added it.

#### That’s where **Edit Watch History Dates** comes into play.

This feature gives you the ability to manually update or backdate your:

* Movie watch dates
* TV episode or anime episode watch dates
* Series-level history (first and last watched)
* Viewing timeline accuracy

> **This is not real-time scrobbling.** It’s a manual timestamp editor to let *you* control your history.

***

#### What’s the difference between **“When did you watch this?”** and **“When did you add this?”**

* **“When did you watch this?”**\
  This refers to the **actual date and time** you finished watching a title (used in your timeline, watch stats, and progress calculations).
* **“When did you add this?”**\
  This is the date when you first added the title to your **watchlist** — regardless of whether or not you’ve seen it.

These are separate fields because many users add titles in advance (e.g., “Plan to Watch”) and view them later.

***

#### Can I check the watch date of my friends on SIMKL?

**Yes.** If your friend has shared their profile publicly and marked a title as watched, you’ll see the watch date on their profile.

> Here: <https://simkl.com/settings/privacy/>&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fv63rWvfGJac15f5shj66%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=354e51e8-4f0e-4aec-bb21-233bf1dff42c" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

#### Can I compare my watch dates directly with my friends?

**No.** While you can view their watch dates title-by-title, SIMKL does not currently offer a feature to directly compare watch timelines or sync them side-by-side with your own.


---

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