Fix Microsoft Lists Showing Incorrect Relative Dates and Time Zones
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where Microsoft Lists displays incorrect relative dates, such as translating dates to the wrong "Yesterday" or "Tomorrow," and using the wrong regional date format.
- Product
- Microsoft Lists
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing and managing list items where date fields are utilized and formatted as relative dates.
- Observed behavior
- Dates are labeled incorrectly and do not match the user's local time zone or region format, despite the user's personal Microsoft account and OneDrive settings being configured properly.
Verify whether you have Site Owner or Microsoft 365 Administrator privileges, as adjusting the necessary backend time zone formats requires access to SharePoint Site Settings.
Update SharePoint Site Regional Settings
Since Microsoft Lists is built on SharePoint, updating the SharePoint site's regional settings will correct the date and time zone display for all associated lists.
Microsoft Lists inherits its time zone and locale formatting directly from the SharePoint site it resides on, rather than your personal Microsoft account settings. Modifying the site settings corrects the issue globally for that specific list.
Open your Microsoft List, navigate to the underlying SharePoint site, and click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, then select 'Site information' and 'View all site settings'.
Under the 'Site Administration' section, click on 'Regional settings'.
Select your correct local Time Zone from the drop-down menu and update the Locale to ensure the date format (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY) matches your region.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the page to apply the settings. Refresh your Microsoft Lists page to verify the relative dates are now displaying correctly.
Contact Site Administrator or Microsoft Support
If you are using a free or consumer version of Microsoft 365, or simply lack administrative rights, you will need assistance to change the backend settings.
Manage Data Easily Offline with WPS Office
If complex backend settings and administrative restrictions in Microsoft 365 are slowing you down, consider managing your structured data and dates in WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office offers a powerful, user-friendly, and completely free alternative that gives you total local control over your regional formats without needing server administrator privileges.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the installation file and follow the on-screen prompts. Once installed, launch WPS Spreadsheet.
- 3. Format Your Data: Easily format your date and time columns locally by right-clicking your cells and selecting 'Format Cells' to perfectly match your region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Lists show the wrong date when my OneDrive settings are correct?
Microsoft Lists are built on top of SharePoint. The application interprets dates and time zones using the specific SharePoint site's regional settings where the list is hosted, which often overrides your personal OneDrive or Microsoft account settings.
Can I change regional settings in the free consumer version of Microsoft 365?
Direct access to SharePoint Site Settings is typically restricted in the free consumer version of Microsoft 365. You may need to upgrade your subscription or contact Microsoft Support directly to adjust the backend tenant's default regional settings.
How do I force Microsoft Lists to use my specific regional date format, like Australian (DD/MM/YYYY)?
A site administrator needs to open the SharePoint Site Settings, navigate to 'Regional Settings', and change the 'Locale' to English (Australia) or your respective region. This will automatically update the date format for all connected Microsoft Lists.
