Formatting Issues

Convert American Date Display to German Date Format in WPS Office Spreadsheets

Kushani Nimanthika Nov 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to display a valid Excel date currently shown in American MM/DD/YYYY format as German DD.MM.YYYY format without changing the stored date value.

Convert American Date Display to German Date Format in WPS Office Spreadsheets

Product: WPS Office Spreadsheets
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user has date cells formatted as MM/DD/YYYY and wants them to appear as DD.MM.YYYY while preserving the underlying date for calculations and sorting.
Observed behavior: The date currently displays in the American MM/DD/YYYY format and should display in the German DD.MM.YYYY format without altering the stored date value.

Before you start

Make sure the cells contain valid Excel dates instead of text. You can select a cell and check the formula bar: a real date appears as a date or serial number, while text appears exactly as typed.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply a Custom German Date Format with Format Cells

Use this method when you want to change only the visible date format from MM/DD/YYYY to DD.MM.YYYY and keep the original date value unchanged.

Custom number formats change only how a date is displayed in WPS Office Spreadsheets. The stored date serial number remains intact, so sorting, date formulas, and calculations continue to work correctly.

Select the date cells

Select the cell or range of cells that contains the American-formatted dates.

Open Format Cells

Right-click the selection and choose "Format Cells," or press Ctrl+1.

Choose Custom category

On the "Number" tab, select the "Custom" category.

Enter DD.MM.YYYY

In the "Type" box, enter DD.MM.YYYY.

Apply the format

Click "OK" to apply the German date display format.

Apply a Custom German Date Format with Format Cells

Date display updated: The selected cells now show DD.MM.YYYY while the underlying Excel date value remains unchanged.

WPS Spreadsheets formatting

Display Dates in German DD.MM.YYYY Format in WPS Office Spreadsheets

In WPS Office Spreadsheets, use Format Cells > Custom to apply DD.MM.YYYY so dates display in German format while keeping the original date value intact for calculations and sorting.

1. Open your workbook: Start WPS Office, open the workbook containing the American-formatted dates, and select the date cells.
2. Open Format Cells: Right-click the selection and choose "Format Cells," or press Ctrl+1, then go to the "Number" tab.
3. Apply DD.MM.YYYY custom format: Select "Custom," type DD.MM.YYYY in the "Type" box, and click "OK."

Apply custom date formats without changing the underlying date valuePreserves sorting, date calculations, and date functionsFully compatible with Microsoft Excel .xlsx date formatsFree, lightweight spreadsheet interface with familiar formatting tools

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the date format to DD.MM.YYYY affect the underlying date value?

No. Format Cells changes only the cell display. The underlying date serial number remains unchanged, so calculations, sorting, and date functions continue to work.

Can I apply the DD.MM.YYYY format to an entire column?

Yes. Select the column or range, right-click, choose "Format Cells," go to "Custom," type DD.MM.YYYY, and click "OK."

What if my date does not change after applying DD.MM.YYYY?

The cell likely contains text instead of a real Excel date. Check the formula bar; if it shows text, convert the value with DATEVALUE or re-enter it as a valid date.

Will the German date format still work in formulas and sorting?

Yes. Because the displayed format changes only the appearance, the stored date value remains available for formulas, sorting, and filtering.

How can I switch back to the American MM/DD/YYYY display?

Select the cells, open "Format Cells," choose "Custom," enter MM/DD/YYYY in the "Type" box, and click "OK."

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