SharePoint Document Issues

How to Format SharePoint Date Columns as MMM DD, YYYY

Rana Garcia Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to change the default SharePoint date format to "MMM DD, YYYY" (e.g., Apr 30, 2024) and needs a way to store multiple dates for different agencies in a single list item.

How to Format SharePoint Date Columns as MMM DD, YYYY

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing date display formats and storing multiple dates in a SharePoint list item.
Observed behavior: The default date format is MM-DD-YYYY or M/DD/YYYY, and standard Date and Time columns only support single date entries.

Before you start

Ensure you have Edit or Design permissions for the SharePoint list to access and apply column formatting settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply JSON Column Formatting for Custom Dates

Use SharePoint's built-in column formatting feature to alter the display format of your dates to "MMM DD, YYYY".

SharePoint allows you to customize how data is displayed using JSON formatting. This does not change the underlying stored date, only how it appears to users viewing the list.

Open Column Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint list, click on the column header of your Date column, and select 'Column settings' followed by 'Format this column'.

Switch to Advanced Mode

In the formatting pane that appears on the right side of the screen, click on 'Advanced mode' at the bottom to allow custom JSON input.

Enter Custom JSON Code

Paste the required JSON formatting code that extracts the month, day, and year to format the string as 'MMM DD, YYYY', then click 'Save' to apply the changes.

Apply JSON Column Formatting for Custom Dates

Formatting Limitations: Column formatting only changes the visual presentation in the list view. If you edit the item, the input form will still use the default regional date format.

Solution 2

Use a Multiple Lines of Text Column for Multiple Dates

Since standard Date columns only support a single value, use a text column to store multiple agency dates in one item.

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Analyze Exported SharePoint Data Offline with WPS Office

When you export SharePoint lists for offline analysis, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for opening, editing, and formatting your spreadsheet data.

1. Export SharePoint List: Click 'Export' in your SharePoint list menu and select 'Export to Excel'.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open the downloaded .xlsx or .iqy file.
3. Format Data Offline: Use WPS Spreadsheet's built-in custom cell formatting (Ctrl+1) to adjust date displays effortlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV formatsLightweight application that loads offline data quicklyFamiliar spreadsheet interface for a seamless migrationAdvanced custom cell formatting tools to easily modify date displays offline

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the default regional date format for the entire SharePoint site?

Yes, site administrators can change the regional settings by going to Site Settings > Regional settings and selecting the desired locale. This changes the default format for all date columns across the site without needing custom JSON formatting.

Why does my Date and Time column only accept one date?

SharePoint's native Date and Time column is fundamentally designed to store a single chronological value per field to maintain database integrity. To store multiple dates, you must use a Multiple Lines of Text column or create a separate related list.

Can Power Automate help input multiple dates into my SharePoint list automatically?

Yes, if your dates follow specific business rules or are pulled from other systems, you can create a Power Automate flow to automatically format the dates and append them as a text string into a Multiple Lines of Text column.

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