How To Change Date Formats in Microsoft Excel

Do you have a document with the wrong dates?Maybe you made the mistake and decided to go a different route.You can easily change the date format in Microsoft excel.If you want to change the date format for a specific set of data within an excel sheet, you can choose to apply that format to all future excel sheets.

Step 1: You can navigate to the time and date settings.

You will need to change the overarching date format for your computer in order to make the standard format change.Click the start button.The next step is dependent on which operating system you are using.Click "Clock, Language, and Region."In Windows 8, open the settings folder and select "Time and language".You can open the Control Panel if you are using Windows.Click "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options."

Step 2: Go to the Regional options.

The navigation steps are different from system to system.Select "Change date, time, or number formats" from beneath the "Region" heading in the Clock, Language, and Region folder if you are using Windows 8.You can open the Regional and Language Options dialog box if you are using Windows Vista.Select the Formats tab after that.The Regional and Language Options dialog box is a good place to start.Select the Regional Options tab.

Step 3: Prepare to change the format.

The Formats tab should be open if you are using Windows 8.Click here to modify this format if you are using Windows Vista.Click here if you are using Windows 7.

Step 4: A date format can be chosen.

There are options for the short and long date.The abbreviated version is referred to as the short date.On 6/12/2018.The wordier form refers to the long date.December 31, 1999.The formats that you pick here will be used across all Windows applications.To apply your choices, click "OK".There are short date options.June 2, 2015 is an example.M/d/yy: 6/2/15 MM/dd/m: 06/02/15June 2, 2015, is an example.dddd, MMMM d, yyyy: Friday, June 2, 2015

Step 5: To highlight the relevant date fields, open the spreadsheet.

If you only want to change the format for one cell, click on it.Left-clicking on the letter at the top of the column will format the entire column if the dates are aligned in a column.Click to bring up an action menu.If the dates are laid out in a row, highlight the section you want to change.Click on the number at the far- left of the row to select all the cells.

Step 6: You can use the "Format" menu from the toolbar.

The drop-down menu can be found in the "Cells" compartment, between "Styles and "Editing"The number on the far left of a row or the letter at the top of the column can be used.This will bring up an action menu if you select all of the cells in that row or column.To format the date for all of the cells in the column, select "Format Cells" from that menu.

Step 7: You can choose "Format Cells" from the drop-down menu.

There is an option at the bottom of the menu.

Step 8: Go to the "number" tab.

There is a tab on the far-top left of the "Format Cells" window."Number" is usually the first thing that comes to mind.

Step 9: The "Date" column is at the left of the screen.

You can manually format the date settings.

Step 10: You can choose the date format you'd like.

Click "OK" to save the format if you highlight that choice.Save the file to make sure that your formatting is preserved.