Data Import & Export

Fix US Date Format Import Issues in Excel on UK Windows Settings

Olivia Miller Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to accurately import data containing US date formats (mm/dd/yyyy) into Excel on a computer configured with UK regional settings.

How to Import US Date Formats Correctly in Excel on Windows UK Settings

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Importing a dataset (like a CSV or text file) containing US dates into a system that defaults to UK date formatting.
Observed behavior: Excel incorrectly interprets the first 12 days of the month by swapping the day and month (dd/mm/yyyy), while dates from the 13th onward are left unformatted as plain text or General format.

Before you start

Create a duplicate copy of your original dataset before performing data transformation steps to prevent accidental data loss if the conversion format is applied incorrectly.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Query and Apply the US Locale

Power Query is the most robust method for importing dates, allowing you to explicitly define the source data's locale before Excel attempts to interpret it.

By setting the locale during the import phase, Power Query seamlessly translates the mm/dd/yyyy format into proper date serial numbers, regardless of your local Windows settings.

Import the Data

Navigate to the Data tab on the Excel ribbon, click on 'Get Data' (or 'From Text/CSV'), and select your source file.

Open the Power Query Editor

Instead of clicking 'Load' immediately, click 'Transform Data' to open the Power Query Editor window.

Change Data Type with Locale

Right-click the header of your date column, navigate to 'Change Type', and select 'Using Locale...' from the context menu.

Set the Exact Locale

In the dialog box, set the Data Type to 'Date' and choose 'English (United States)' as the Locale, then click OK.

Load to Worksheet

Click 'Close & Load' in the top left corner of the Home tab to output the correctly formatted dates into your Excel worksheet.

Consistent Results: This method ensures that every row is accurately converted into a valid Excel date format, completely avoiding the 12-day cutoff issue.

Solution 2

Convert Existing Data Using Text to Columns

If you have already pasted the data into your worksheet, you can use the Text to Columns wizard to force Excel to read the selected column as Month-Day-Year.

Seamless Data Management

Easily Format and Import Data with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers powerful and intuitive data cleaning tools, including an advanced Text to Columns feature, allowing you to quickly resolve US/UK date format conflicts without complicated setups.

1. Open Your File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the CSV or Excel file containing your mixed-format dates.
2. Select the Data: Highlight the specific column where the US date formats are located.
3. Access Text to Columns: Navigate to the Data tab on the top menu and select 'Text to Columns'.
4. Set the Date Structure: Choose Delimited, proceed to the final step of the wizard, select Date format, pick 'MDY' from the dropdown, and click Finish.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) filesBuilt-in Data tab tools to easily convert text to datesLightweight software that processes large datasets quicklyFree alternative offering familiar UI and seamless data migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel change my dates from mm/dd/yyyy to dd/mm/yyyy?

Excel relies on your Windows regional settings to interpret dates upon import. If your PC is set to a UK locale (dd/mm/yyyy), Excel assumes incoming data follows that format, which inadvertently causes the first 12 days of a US date to be misread as months.

Can I fix this issue just by changing the cell format?

No, simply changing the cell format using 'Format Cells' will only alter how recognized date values are displayed. It cannot fix dates that Excel already incorrectly parsed (days 1-12) or those it left as unformatted text strings (days 13 and above).

Can I use the Text to Columns method on multiple columns at once?

No, the Text to Columns wizard can only process one column of data at a time. If your dataset contains multiple date columns, you must apply the process to each column individually, or utilize Power Query to handle them all at once.

How do I change my overall Windows region settings to US?

You can change your system locale by going to Windows Settings > Time & Language > Region, and updating the 'Regional format' to English (United States). Be aware that this change applies system-wide and will affect all applications on your computer.

Excel & Data Problems