--- a/src/stegasoo/__init__.py
+++ b/src/stegasoo/__init__.py
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ def decode(
     pin: str = "",
     rsa_key_data: Optional[bytes] = None,
     rsa_password: Optional[str] = None,
+    date_str: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> DecodeResult:
     """
     Decode a secret message or file from a stego image.
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ def decode(
         day_phrase: Passphrase for the day message was encoded
         pin: Static PIN (if used during encoding)
         rsa_key_data: RSA private key PEM bytes (if used during encoding)
         rsa_password: Password for RSA key if encrypted
+        date_str: Date the message was encoded (YYYY-MM-DD). If not provided,
+                  tries today's date. Get this from the stego filename.
         
     Returns:
@@ -221,8 +223,12 @@ def decode(
     if rsa_key_data:
         require_valid_rsa_key(rsa_key_data, rsa_password)
     
-    # Try to extract with today's date first
-    date_str = date.today().isoformat()
+    # Use provided date or fall back to today
+    if date_str is None:
+        date_str = date.today().isoformat()
+        debug.print(f"No date provided, using today: {date_str}")
+    else:
+        debug.print(f"Using provided date: {date_str}")
+    
     pixel_key = derive_pixel_key(
         reference_photo, day_phrase, date_str, pin, rsa_key_data
     )
@@ -270,6 +276,7 @@ def decode_text(
     pin: str = "",
     rsa_key_data: Optional[bytes] = None,
     rsa_password: Optional[str] = None,
+    date_str: Optional[str] = None,
 ) -> str:
     """
     Decode a text message from a stego image.
@@ -283,12 +290,13 @@ def decode_text(
         day_phrase: Passphrase for the day message was encoded
         pin: Static PIN (if used during encoding)
         rsa_key_data: RSA private key PEM bytes (if used during encoding)
         rsa_password: Password for RSA key if encrypted
+        date_str: Date the message was encoded (YYYY-MM-DD)
         
     Returns:
         Decrypted message string
         
     Raises:
         DecryptionError: If content is a binary file, not text
     """
     debug.print("decode_text called")
-    result = decode(stego_image, reference_photo, day_phrase, pin, rsa_key_data, rsa_password)
+    result = decode(stego_image, reference_photo, day_phrase, pin, rsa_key_data, rsa_password, date_str)
     
     if result.is_file: