How to Set Excel for Mac to Use the 1904 Date System by Default
Question details
The user wants to make every new workbook in Excel for Mac use the 1904 date system by default. Because Excel for Mac has no global preference, a saved template is the most practical workaround.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- The user regularly creates workbooks on Mac and needs new files to start with the 1904 date system instead of the default 1900 date system.
- Observed behavior
- Excel for Mac does not provide a simple global preference for the 1904 date system; the setting is stored per workbook, so each new workbook normally requires manual setup or use of a template.
Open Excel for Mac and confirm that you can save .xltx template files. For any existing workbook you plan to switch, duplicate it in Finder first because changing date systems can shift displayed dates by 1,462 days.
Create an Excel Template with the 1904 Date System Enabled
Use this template whenever you need a new workbook that already uses the 1904 date system.
Excel for Mac keeps the 1904 date system setting at the workbook level, so there is no global default for all new files. Saving a template is the most reliable built-in workaround.
Open Excel for Mac and choose File > New Workbook or press Command+N to create a blank workbook.
Click Excel menu > Preferences > Calculation, then select the "Use the 1904 date system" checkbox and close the dialog.
Click File > Save as Template. Set File Format to Excel Template (.xltx), name it "1904 Date System", and save it to the My Templates location.
Click File > New from Template, choose the saved 1904 Date System template, and open it to create a new workbook with the setting already enabled.
Change an Existing Workbook to the 1904 Date System Manually
Use this method when you need to switch a specific existing workbook one time and can check the displayed dates afterward.
Use WPS Office as a Free Excel-Compatible Alternative on Mac
WPS Office cannot change Excel for Mac's 1904 date system defaults, but WPS Spreadsheets is a free, lightweight alternative that opens, edits, and saves Excel workbooks with full .xlsx compatibility and a familiar interface.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Go to the official WPS Office website, click Download WPS Office Free, and install the macOS version.
- 2. Open your Excel workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and click File > Open to open the .xlsx or .xltx workbook you use with the 1904 date system.
- 3. Verify workbook data: Check dates, formulas, and formatting in WPS Spreadsheets, then click File > Save As to save a copy in Excel Workbook format if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Excel for Mac have a global setting to make the 1904 date system the default for all new workbooks?
No. Excel for Mac keeps the date system at the workbook level. To make it the default for new files, create a blank workbook, turn on the 1904 date system from Excel menu > Preferences > Calculation, and save it as an Excel Template (.xltx).
Where do I enable the 1904 date system in Excel for Mac?
Open Excel for Mac, click Excel menu > Preferences > Calculation, and select the "Use the 1904 date system" checkbox. This setting applies to the current workbook.
Why do dates shift by 1,462 days when switching date systems?
Excel's 1900 and 1904 date systems use different starting serial dates. Switching can change how existing serial dates are displayed, so duplicate the workbook before switching and review date cells after changing the setting.
Can WPS Office set Excel for Mac to use the 1904 date system by default?
No. WPS Office cannot change Microsoft Excel for Mac settings. However, WPS Spreadsheets can open and save .xlsx and .xltx files, so you can continue working with your Excel workbooks for free.
How do I use the saved template later?
In Excel for Mac, click File > New from Template, select your saved 1904 Date System template, and a new workbook opens with the setting already enabled.
