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Fix SharePoint TODAY Function Showing the Wrong Date
Question details
Users need to correct the TODAY() function in SharePoint when it returns a previous or inaccurate date.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using the TODAY() function in SharePoint lists, views, or calculated columns to dynamically display the current date.
- Observed behavior
- The TODAY() function displays a previous or incorrect date, affecting certain time zones or multiple sites, even when the site's regional time zone is configured correctly.
Ensure you have Site Owner or Administrator permissions to view and modify site settings in SharePoint before beginning the troubleshooting process.
Verify Regional Settings and Escalate to Microsoft Support
Check your site's regional time zone settings to ensure they are accurate. If the issue persists, escalate it by opening a service request with Microsoft.
Testing indicates that the TODAY() function may return the previous date in some specific time zones due to a backend synchronization issue, even when the site regional settings are visibly correct.
Because this behavior is tied to Microsoft's server-side processing, it typically requires the product team to investigate your tenant using diagnostic logs.
Navigate to your SharePoint site, click on the 'Settings' gear icon located in the top right corner, and select 'Site information' from the dropdown menu.
At the bottom of the Site information pane, click on the 'View all site settings' link.
Under the 'Site Administration' section, click on 'Regional settings'. Capture a complete screenshot of this page to verify that the time zone, locale, and work week are correctly configured.
Check other SharePoint sites within your organization to confirm whether this date calculation issue occurs on a single site or across multiple SharePoint sites.
If the regional settings are correct but the TODAY() function remains inaccurate, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator. Ask them to open a service request in the Microsoft 365 admin center so the product team can review the diagnostic logs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the SharePoint TODAY() function calculate the wrong date?
This issue often occurs due to backend time zone processing discrepancies in SharePoint, where the server's time calculation conflicts with the site's configured regional settings, causing the function to output a previous date.
Can I fix the TODAY() function error by changing my time zone?
You can attempt to adjust the site's regional settings to a different time zone and then switch it back. However, if this is a known backend bug affecting your specific time zone, changing the settings locally will usually not resolve the problem.
How do I check my SharePoint site's regional settings?
Click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner of your site, select 'Site information', click 'View all site settings', and then select 'Regional settings' under the Site Administration section.
Does this issue affect calculated columns in SharePoint lists?
Yes, if the TODAY() function is utilized within calculated columns or list views, it evaluates using the same server-side time calculation, which can result in incorrect values being displayed across all associated records.
