Fix Power Apps CSV Export Showing Wrong Date Format for One User
Question details
A specific user receives an incorrect date format containing commas when exporting CSV files from Power Apps, while other users get the correct format.

- Product
- Microsoft Power Apps
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting application data to a CSV file for reporting or spreadsheet analysis.
- Observed behavior
- The exported CSV displays dates as 'mmm-dd, yyyy' for one user instead of the expected 'dd/mm/yyyy'. The unexpected comma in the date breaks the CSV column separation.
Before proceeding, confirm that the affected user has cleared their browser cache and verify that their Microsoft 365 account locale settings match the rest of the team.
Modify the Power Apps Formula to Hardcode the Date Format
The most reliable way to ensure consistent date formatting across all user environments is to explicitly define the text format within the Power Apps CSV generation formula.
Power Apps often pulls locale information from user profiles, browser configurations, or local OS settings. If a user's locale differs, the date format changes automatically. By wrapping the date value in a specific text function, the app author can override these local settings.
If you are not the author of the Power App, reach out to the developer or administrator and request an update to the CSV export function.
In the CSV generation formula, locate the date field and update it to explicitly enforce a format. For example: Text(YourDateColumn, "dd/mm/yyyy").
If a specific date format requiring a comma is absolutely necessary, ensure the formula wraps the output in double quotes (e.g., """ & Text(YourDateColumn, "mmm-dd, yyyy") & """) so the CSV structure is not broken.

Escalate the Issue to the Power Apps Community
If hard-coding the date format expressions does not resolve the issue, seeking help from specialized Power Apps developers is the next best step.
Easily Fix and Edit Malformed CSV Files with WPS Office
While waiting for a permanent fix to your Power Apps export logic, you can easily repair broken CSV files using WPS Office. As a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, WPS Spreadsheet provides powerful data formatting tools to realign columns and correct date formats in seconds.
- 1. Open the CSV file: Launch WPS Spreadsheet, click on 'Menu' > 'Open', and select the malformed CSV file exported from Power Apps.
- 2. Fix misaligned columns: If the rogue commas pushed data into the wrong columns, select the affected data, go to the 'Data' tab, and use the 'Text to Columns' wizard to realign it.
- 3. Apply a uniform date format: Select your entire date column, right-click, choose 'Format Cells', and apply the 'dd/mm/yyyy' layout to ensure consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Power Apps change the date format for just one user?
Power Apps automatically adapts to the regional and language settings of the environment it runs in. If one user's Microsoft 365 profile, browser language, or Windows region defaults to a locale like the US, it may format dates as 'mmm-dd, yyyy' while users on UK or European locales see 'dd/mm/yyyy'.
How do commas inside a date break a CSV export?
CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values. The application uses commas to tell the spreadsheet program where a new column begins. If a date contains a comma (like Jan-01, 2023) and is not wrapped in quotation marks, the spreadsheet reads that comma as a column break, pushing the year into the next cell.
Will changing my computer's regional settings fix the Power Apps export?
It might help temporarily if the app is strictly pulling from the local OS settings. However, changing Windows, browser, and M365 regional settings does not always override the app's internal cache. The most reliable fix is for the app developer to hardcode the date format within the app's formula.
How can I manually fix the broken dates in my exported CSV file?
You can open the CSV file in a spreadsheet editor like WPS Office. Use the 'Text to Columns' feature under the Data tab to fix shifted data, then select the date column, right-click, select 'Format Cells', and apply your desired date format.




