How to format dates in Excel

Usually the data when imported in Excel will have different formats, such as date format, regular text format, time format, percentage format, . The date format in Excel will help people Users can shorten the time to enter content manually, making it easier to handle content. Excel also provides users with different ways to format dates, in accordance with data table requirements.

Besides, while entering the date content into Excel, we will also encounter some errors and not display the date. The following article will guide you how to format dates in Excel.

1. How to convert a sequence of numbers into dates in Excel
2. Instructions on how to fix reverse dates in Excel
3. How to calculate the number of days in Excel

Instructions for formatting dates in Excel

Some cases when users enter on 12/02/2012 are displayed by number 40951. That is, the date value of Excel will start on January 1, 1900 and if entered February 12, 2012 will be date 0/1/1900 exactly 40951 days.

Of course, when entering the date on Excel, the value will not be correct on Excel. So how to format the correct date in Excel?

Step 1:

In the box for the date you want to enter, right-click and choose Format Cells .

How to format dates in Excel Picture 1

Step 2:

At the Format Cell dialog box, on the Number tab click on the Date format . Then look to the right to choose the type of time display you want. To better understand how the date displayed, look at the Sample section above.

Click on the display type and select OK .

How to format dates in Excel Picture 2

Soon, we will get the data converted to the correct date format.

How to format dates in Excel Picture 3

Or there is another way to format the date at the user's discretion, if the date format is not displayed as your request. First, open the Format Cells dialog box and select the Number tab, then select the Custom item.

How to format dates in Excel Picture 4

Then enter the date code below into the Type box.

Display date in Excel Display code Date with format 1 - 31 d Date of form 01 - 31 dd Date of Mon - Sun ddd date Date of Monday - Sunday ddd Month of the form 1 - 12 m Month of the form 01 - 12 mm Month with Jan - Dec mmm Month of format January - December mmmm Year of the form 00 - 99 yy Year of the year 1900 - 9999 yyyy

Some tips for entering dates in Excel:

1. If you want to quickly format the date without opening Formats Cells, click the cell containing the value and then press CTRL + SHIFT + #.
2. In case the date value cell displays ###### it is necessary to expand the cell by double clicking on the right edge of the cell.
3. To enter the current date on the computer into an Excel table, press Ctrl +; is to be.

Above is the basic guide for inserting the date format in Excel. You should change the cell format, or column, in Excel to the date format to enter the data, rather than entering the data and then entering the following format.

See more:

1. How to arrange incremental dates in Excel
2. Instructions on how to insert the current date in Excel
3. Change the slash to a dot in Excel format

Hope this article is useful to you!