Data Import & Export

How to Import US CSV Dates Correctly Into Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to import a CSV file containing US format date-time values (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss) into Excel without the system misinterpreting them as European/Canadian dates (dd/mm/yyyy) or converting them to plain text.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing CSV data containing US localized dates with time elements into an Excel workbook.
Observed behavior: Excel incorrectly interprets the US date formats as dd/mm/yyyy or imports the data as plain text, particularly when time values are included.

Before you start

Verify your computer's system regional settings, as Excel relies on these default Windows settings to parse dates during standard imports.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Get & Transform Data (Power Query)

Power Query allows you to specify the exact locale (US English) during the import process, preventing Excel from misinterpreting the dates based on your local system settings.

Excel's standard import wizard frequently mishandles date strings containing time elements. By using Power Query, you gain granular control over the data types of each column before the data is loaded into your workbook.

Open Get Data

Navigate to the 'Data' tab on the Excel ribbon, click 'Get Data', select 'From File', and then choose 'From Text/CSV'.

Load and Transform

Select your CSV file and click 'Import'. When the preview window appears, do not click Load; instead, click on 'Transform Data' to open the Power Query Editor.

Apply US Locale

Right-click the header of your date-time column. Go to 'Change Type' > 'Using Locale...'. In the dialog box, set the Data Type to 'Date/Time' and Locale to 'English (United States)', then click 'OK'.

Load to Worksheet

Click the 'Close & Load' button in the top left corner of the Power Query Editor to bring the correctly formatted data into your Excel worksheet.

Data Preservation: Using Power Query creates a stable connection to your CSV. If the CSV is updated with new data in the future, you can simply click 'Refresh All' on the Data tab to import the new US dates correctly without repeating these steps.

Solution 2

Import as Text and Convert Later

Importing the date column strictly as text preserves the original US formatting, allowing you to manually convert it to proper date values afterward.

Advanced CSV Import

Import and Manage CSV Data Easily with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides a robust and user-friendly Text Import Wizard that gives you precise control over column formatting. You can effortlessly specify the exact date format (like MDY) during import to ensure your US CSV dates are parsed correctly every time.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing spreadsheet document.
2. Import Data: Navigate to the 'Data' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Import Data', and select your CSV file from the directory.
3. Specify Date Format: In the Text Import Wizard, choose 'Delimited' and proceed to the column settings. Highlight your date column and explicitly set the format to 'Date: MDY' to match US formatting.
4. Complete Import: Click 'Finish' to successfully load your data with correct date and time interpretations directly into your spreadsheet.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .csv).Intuitive Text Import Wizard for accurate data parsing without complex formulas.Free, lightweight, and fast performance for large datasets.Cross-platform availability for seamless workflow transitions.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel switch my days and months when importing CSV files?

Excel automatically uses your computer's system regional settings to interpret dates. If your system is set to a European or Canadian locale (dd/mm/yyyy) and the CSV uses a US format (mm/dd/yyyy), Excel will attempt to read the first number as the day, resulting in flipped dates or text conversion.

Can I change my default date format in Excel permanently?

Excel relies on Windows Regional Settings. You can change this system-wide by going to Windows Control Panel > Clock and Region > Region, and changing the Format drop-down to 'English (United States)'. However, this affects all applications on your computer.

Does the time formatting (hh:mm:ss) affect how dates are imported?

Yes, Excel's standard import wizard often struggles when both date and time are combined in a single CSV string. If the combination isn't perfectly matched to your region, Excel abandons the date conversion entirely and defaults the cell to plain text.

How do I fix US dates that have already been imported as text?

You can use the 'Text to Columns' feature. Highlight the column with the incorrect dates, navigate to the Data tab, and click 'Text to Columns'. Choose Delimited, skip to step 3, and select 'Date' with the 'MDY' structure to forcefully convert the text to readable dates.

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