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How to Fix SharePoint Changing Excel Dates During List Import
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where dates from an Excel file are altered when imported into a SharePoint list.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint / Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Importing an Excel spreadsheet containing date values into a SharePoint list to populate online records.
- Observed behavior
- Excel dates imported into SharePoint shift by one day or appear as the final day of the previous month due to mismatched regional settings, time zones, or column types.
Ensure you have Site Owner or administrative permissions in SharePoint, as you will need access to modify the site's regional and time zone settings.
Adjust SharePoint Site Regional and Time Zone Settings
SharePoint stores date and time values in UTC. Aligning the SharePoint site's time zone with your local Excel data prevents the dates from shifting during the conversion process.
When Excel data is imported into SharePoint, the platform automatically converts date and time values to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If the local time zone where the Excel file was created differs from the SharePoint site's configured regional settings, the dates may shift backward or forward by one day.
Navigate to your SharePoint site, click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, and select 'Site information'. From there, click on 'View all site settings'.
Under the 'Site Administration' section on the Site Settings page, click on 'Regional settings'.
Verify that the 'Time Zone' and 'Locale' dropdowns match the exact regional settings used when your Excel file was created.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the page to save the changes, then delete the incorrect list items and re-import your Excel data into the SharePoint list.
Configure Correct Date Column Types in SharePoint
Setting the destination column in SharePoint strictly to 'Date Only' can help prevent unwanted time adjustments that cause the day to shift.
Submit a Support Ticket for Potential Bugs
If all regional and column settings are perfectly aligned but dates still shift, it may be a backend bug requiring Microsoft Support intervention.
Manage Spreadsheets Smoothly with WPS Office
While SharePoint and Microsoft 365 offer cloud list features, managing your local data, cleaning up dates, and preparing spreadsheets for upload is easier with WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for all your data formatting needs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx or .csv data files directly without any formatting loss.
- 3. Format and Export: Use the built-in formatting tools to standardize your date columns, then save or export the file to easily import into your online platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do dates shift by exactly one day when importing to SharePoint?
This occurs because SharePoint processes all date and time values in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If the SharePoint site's regional time zone is physically behind UTC, a date saved as midnight in Excel might mathematically convert to late the previous day (e.g., 11:00 PM) during the import process.
Can I fix the date shifting issue without changing the whole site's settings?
Yes. As a temporary workaround, you can change the target column type in SharePoint to 'Single line of text' before importing. After the import completes successfully, modify the column type back to 'Date and Time'.
Do my personal time zone settings affect SharePoint list imports?
Yes. Microsoft 365 allows users to set their own regional and time zone preferences. If your personal time zone differs from the site's default, you might see dates shifted by a day even if the site settings appear correct to other users.
How do I check my personal regional settings in Microsoft 365?
Click on your profile picture in the top right corner of your SharePoint or Microsoft 365 portal, select 'View account' or 'My Office profile', and navigate to 'Settings & Privacy'. Here you can view and adjust your personal language and region configurations.
