Fix Excel Date Changes When Pasting Between Workbooks in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to stop dates and times from shifting several years earlier when copying data between two XLSX workbooks that use different Excel date systems.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is copying date and time values between two XLSX workbooks and expects the pasted dates to remain exactly the same.
- Observed behavior
- Dates and times appear several years earlier after pasting because the source and destination workbooks use different date systems, typically the 1900 and 1904 systems.
Open both workbooks in WPS Spreadsheets and note one sample date in each file so you can verify the result after changing the setting. Confirm both files are saved as .xlsx to keep the date-system option available.
Set the Same Date System in WPS Spreadsheets
Use this method to fix the four-year date shift directly in WPS Office by aligning the 1900/1904 date system in both workbooks before copying.
The date change is usually caused by one workbook using the 1904 date system while the other uses the 1900 system. WPS Spreadsheets exposes the workbook date-system option, so you can align both files without converting them.
Launch WPS Office Spreadsheets and open the source and destination XLSX workbooks.
In one workbook, click the Menu button in the top-left corner, then choose Options.
In the Options dialog, select the Calculation tab and locate Use 1904 date system under Workbook options.
Set Use 1904 date system to the same value in both workbooks: check it if the source workbook uses 1904, or uncheck it if the source uses 1900.
Save both workbooks, copy the date range again, and check the sample date to confirm the pasted values no longer shift.
Match Date Systems in Microsoft Excel
If you prefer to stay in Microsoft Excel, use this method to verify and unify the date-system setting under Excel's Advanced options.
Align Workbook Date Systems in WPS Spreadsheets to Prevent Date Shifts
WPS Spreadsheets can directly open, edit, and save XLSX workbooks while keeping date values consistent. Set the same 1900 or 1904 date-system option in each workbook before copying data to prevent Excel date changes.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Go to the official WPS website, download WPS Office, and install it on your device.
- 2. Open workbooks in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open the source and destination XLSX workbooks.
- 3. Set the same date system: Click Menu > Options > Calculation and set Use 1904 date system to the same value in both workbooks.
- 4. Save and verify: Save both workbooks, copy the date range again, and confirm the pasted values remain correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Excel dates shift by four years when copied between workbooks?
The most common cause is that one workbook uses the Excel 1900 date system while the other uses the 1904 date system. The 1904 system stores serial dates four years ahead, so copied dates appear earlier or later until both workbooks use the same system.
Where is the 1904 date system setting in WPS Spreadsheets?
Open the workbook, click the Menu button in the top-left corner, choose Options, go to the Calculation tab, and find Use 1904 date system under Workbook options.
Will changing the date system damage existing dates in my workbook?
Changing the setting can make existing serial dates display differently if the workbook was created with a different system. To avoid unexpected changes, set both workbooks to the same system before copying and verify a sample date afterward.
Does WPS Spreadsheets fully support XLSX date systems from Excel?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets opens and saves .xlsx workbooks and keeps the workbook date-system option available so you can align 1900 and 1904 settings without changing file format.
What should I do if dates are still wrong after matching the date system?
Check whether the cells are formatted as text instead of Date, whether time-zone differences apply, or whether a formula is returning the wrong serial number. Matching the date system fixes the four-year shift, but it does not replace text with real dates.
