Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change Microsoft Lists Dates from MM/DD/YY to DD/MM/YY

Phi Hung Vo Oct 8, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to change the date format in Microsoft Lists from the US format (MM/DD/YY) to the UK format (DD/MM/YY).

How to Change Microsoft Lists Date Format to DD/MM/YY

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing or entering dates in Microsoft Lists where the formatting defaults to US regional settings.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Lists continues to display dates in MM/DD/YY format even when the user's personal regional settings are set to the United Kingdom.

Before you start

Determine where your list is hosted. Lists created on a SharePoint team site require SharePoint regional setting adjustments, while lists created under 'My Lists' require changes to your personal OneDrive settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Regional Settings for SharePoint Team Site Lists

Use this method if your list is hosted on a collaborative SharePoint team site.

Microsoft Lists relies on the regional settings of the underlying host environment. For team lists, changing the SharePoint site's locale will enforce the DD/MM/YY format for all site members.

Access Site Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint team site. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner, select 'Site information', and then click 'View all site settings'.

Open Regional Settings

Under the 'Site Administration' section, click on 'Regional settings'.

Change the Locale

Locate the 'Locale' dropdown menu and change it to 'English (United Kingdom)'.

Save Changes

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'OK' to apply the new date format.

Update Regional Settings for SharePoint Team Site Lists

Site-Wide Update: This will update the default date and time format across the entire SharePoint site for all users.

Solution 2

Update Regional Settings in OneDrive for 'My Lists'

Apply this solution if the list was created under your personal 'My Lists' environment.

Solution 3

Test with a Newly Created List

Perform this step if existing date columns still display the incorrect U.S. date format after updating regional settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Lists ignore my computer's Windows regional settings?

Microsoft Lists operates in the cloud and relies on the regional settings of the underlying SharePoint site or OneDrive account hosting the list, rather than your local PC's Windows settings.

Will changing the SharePoint site's regional settings affect other users?

Yes. Updating the regional settings on a collaborative SharePoint team site will change the default date and time format for everyone who accesses lists and documents on that specific site.

What should I do if my existing list columns still won't update to DD/MM/YY?

Sometimes existing columns cache the old format. You can try editing the column settings and toggling 'Include Time' on and off to force a refresh, or simply create a new column and copy the data over.

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