Forum Discussion

Copper Contributor

Oct 30, 2023

Solved

Date format

I would like to know if someone can assist me with the date formatting in excel. I am in South Africa and the date system we use is day, month, year, however when I type, 1/2/23 it comes and January ...

excel

Riny_van_Eekelen
Oct 30, 2023
RobynBird23 Check you regional system (i.e. Windows) settings and make sure that you choose the locale that suits your requirements.

On my W11 system the date format for the South African locale is yyyy/mm/dd. However, the UK local does use dd/mm/yyyy.

So, pick the UK one if it's the same on your system. Now, Excel should automatically use that date format. No need to fiddle with custom formats, every time you enter a date.

Riny_van_Eekelen

Platinum Contributor

Oct 30, 2023

RobynBird23 Check you regional system (i.e. Windows) settings and make sure that you choose the locale that suits your requirements.

On my W11 system the date format for the South African locale is yyyy/mm/dd. However, the UK local does use dd/mm/yyyy.

So, pick the UK one if it's the same on your system. Now, Excel should automatically use that date format. No need to fiddle with custom formats, every time you enter a date.

RobynBird23
Copper Contributor
Oct 30, 2023
Where would I go abouts changing this? Thanks for responding so quickly
- Riny_van_Eekelen
  Platinum Contributor
  Oct 30, 2023
  RobynBird23 Can only refer to W11.
  Settings, Time & Language, Language & Region, Regional Format
  
  Now choose a locale that suits your needs.
- Excelonlineadvisor
  Iron Contributor
  Oct 30, 2023
  Setting >> time & language >> Region >> Change Region formats