Fix Date Autofill Copying Values Instead of Filling a Series in WPS Office Spreadsheet
Question details
The user needs to make date autofill increment days, months, or years instead of copying the same value when dragging the fill handle.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheet
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is extending a list of dates by dragging the fill handle and expects the adjacent cells to fill as a series.
- Observed behavior
- The spreadsheet copies the same date value instead of filling a series, and the expected Fill Series options may be missing or replaced by Copy Cells.
Before changing settings, confirm that the date cells are formatted as Date rather than Text, and identify the exact range and direction you want to fill so you can verify the series after applying the fix.
Verify Date Values and Enable Fill Handle Options
Use this first when a date cell is stored as text or the fill handle is not responding because drag-and-drop is disabled.
Date autofill often fails when the source cell is text or when WPS Office Spreadsheet has cell drag-and-drop turned off. Checking these settings restores the normal fill handle behavior before you retry.
Select the date cell and check the formula bar or Number Format box. If it shows Text or General instead of Date, select the cell, click Home > Number Format, and choose Date.
Click the File or Application Menu icon in the top-left corner, then choose Options.
In the Options dialog, go to Advanced or Edit, select Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop, and click OK.
Select the date cells and drag the small square at the bottom-right corner over the range you want to fill.
Select Two Sequential Dates to Trigger Series Fill
Use this when the fill handle is enabled but a single date cell keeps copying instead of incrementing.
Use the Fill Series Dialog When Fill Options Are Missing
Use this manual method when the expected Fill Options menu is unavailable or you need to control the date unit directly.
Fill Date Series Automatically in WPS Office Spreadsheet
WPS Office Spreadsheet can fix date autofill behavior by validating date formats, enabling the fill handle, or using the Fill Series dialog, all while keeping your Excel workbooks compatible.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Download WPS Office from the official site and open WPS Office Spreadsheet after installation.
- 2. Open your Excel worksheet: Open the affected .xlsx or .xls file in WPS Office Spreadsheet.
- 3. Select two sequential dates: Select the two date cells that define the desired increment, such as 2025-01-01 and 2025-01-02.
- 4. Drag the fill handle or open Fill Series: Drag the fill handle to extend the date series, or click Home > Fill > Series and set the date unit.
- 5. Save in Excel format: Save the workbook to keep it fully compatible with Microsoft Excel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my spreadsheet copy the same date when I drag the fill handle?
This usually happens when only one date cell is selected, the cell is stored as text, or fill handle and cell drag-and-drop are disabled. Select two sequential dates, apply a Date format, and enable the fill handle option in File > Options > Advanced or Edit.
Where is the Fill Series option in WPS Office Spreadsheet?
Select the range, click the Home tab, click Fill, and choose Series. In the Series dialog, select Date and then choose Day, Weekday, Month, or Year before clicking OK.
How do I enable the fill handle in WPS Office Spreadsheet?
Click File or the Application Menu, choose Options, go to Advanced or Edit, check Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop, and click OK.
Can I fill only weekdays or months instead of every day?
Yes. Use Home > Fill > Series, choose Date under Type, and select Weekday, Month, or Year under Date unit. You can also set a custom Step value for other intervals.
What should I do if the Fill Series options are still missing?
Close unnecessary add-ins and restart WPS Office Spreadsheet, then try Home > Fill > Series again. If you are testing in Microsoft Excel, run Excel in Safe Mode or repair Office to rule out an installation issue.
