How to Use a Calendar Control in 64-Bit Excel VBA
Question details
The user needs a working calendar or date picker in 64-bit Excel VBA because the traditional ActiveX calendar control is unavailable.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel (64-bit) with VBA
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- They are updating or running an older Excel VBA date-picker solution that depends on the legacy calendar control.
- Observed behavior
- The traditional calendar control is not supported in 64-bit Excel, so older VBA date-picker code or controls do not appear or work.
Confirm your Excel bitness under File > Account > About Excel and check whether the workbook references the legacy MSCAL.OCX or MSCOMCT2.OCX control. Decide whether you can replace the control with a VBA UserForm date picker or need to keep a 32-bit Office installation.
Create a 64-bit-compatible VBA UserForm date picker
Use this when you want reliable date selection inside Excel VBA without relying on the missing legacy ActiveX calendar control.
A UserForm built from standard controls is compatible with 64-bit Excel and avoids the unavailable ActiveX calendar controls.
Press Alt+F11 in Excel to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications editor.
Click Insert > UserForm to add a blank UserForm to your VBA project.
Add three ComboBox controls or a TextBox with a label, then add a CommandButton to confirm the selected date.
In the UserForm_Initialize event, populate day, month, and year values, and in the CommandButton Click event write the selected date to the active cell or target field.
Import a ready-made VBA date picker workbook or template
Use this when you prefer a prebuilt calendar form and do not want to code the picker from scratch.
Install the 32-bit version of Office if the legacy control is required
Use this only when your workflow depends on the old ActiveX calendar control and your organization permits a 32-bit Office installation.
Use WPS Office as a Lightweight Alternative for Excel VBA Workbooks
WPS Office is a free, lightweight suite that opens Excel files, supports VBA and macro-enabled workbooks, and provides a familiar ribbon interface, making it an easy migration path when 64-bit Excel legacy controls are unavailable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the calendar control missing in 64-bit Excel VBA?
The legacy MSCAL.OCX and MSCOMCT2.OCX ActiveX controls are not shipped with 64-bit Microsoft Excel, so older date-picker controls fail to load or appear.
How can I add a date picker without the ActiveX calendar control?
Use a UserForm-based date selector built from standard controls such as ComboBoxes or a TextBox, or import a ready-made VBA date-picker form that is 64-bit compatible.
Can I check whether my Excel installation is 64-bit from VBA?
Yes. Use #If Win64 Then in VBA to detect the 64-bit environment at runtime, or check File > Account > About Excel.
Do I have to install the 32-bit version of Office to use a calendar control?
Only if your solution depends on the old ActiveX calendar control and cannot be replaced. Most users can avoid this by using a VBA UserForm date picker that works in 64-bit Excel.
