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How to Change Project Online Date Format to British (UK)
Question details
The user needs to change the date format in Microsoft Project Online from American to British (UK) because changing the account language settings did not resolve the issue.
- Product
- Microsoft Project Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing project schedules where UK date formats (DD/MM/YYYY) are required for accurate reporting.
- Observed behavior
- Project Online continues to display American date formats (MM/DD/YYYY) even after the Microsoft account language settings have been updated to UK English.
Ensure you have the necessary site administrator permissions in Project Online to access and modify the site's regional settings.
Update Regional Settings in the Project Online Web App
Change the site-level regional settings to enforce the British date format across your Project Online web application.
Microsoft Project Online relies on SharePoint site settings for its regional formatting. Changing your personal Microsoft account language is often not enough; the site's regional settings must also be explicitly configured to the United Kingdom to reflect the DD/MM/YYYY format.
Navigate to your Project Online web app and click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, then select 'Site settings' from the dropdown menu.
Under the Site Administration section on the Site Settings page, click on 'Regional settings'.
Locate the 'Locale' dropdown menu and change the region from English (United States) to 'English (United Kingdom)'.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'OK' to apply the new regional settings.
Test the new date format by opening Project Online in a different web browser or by launching an InPrivate/Incognito window to bypass cached data.
Change Date Format for the Project Desktop Application
If you use the Project desktop application alongside Project Online, you must update the regional settings within Windows to affect the desktop app display.
Manage Your Project Schedules with WPS Office
Looking for a lightweight, cost-effective way to manage project timelines and data? WPS Office offers a powerful Spreadsheet tool that serves as an excellent alternative for tracking project tasks, ensuring complete compatibility with Microsoft Office formats while giving you full control over date formatting.
- 1. Launch WPS Spreadsheet: Open WPS Office and create a new Spreadsheet document for your project tracker.
- 2. Apply British Date Format: Select your date columns, right-click, choose 'Format Cells', and select the UK date format (DD/MM/YYYY) under the Date category.
- 3. Use Project Templates: Explore the WPS Template library to find ready-to-use project management and Gantt chart layouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't changing my Microsoft account language update the Project Online date format?
Project Online is built on SharePoint, which uses its own site-level regional settings to determine date and time formats. Your personal Microsoft account language settings do not override the site's default locale.
Will changing the regional settings affect other users on the Project Online site?
Yes, modifying the Site settings > Regional settings will change the default date format for all users accessing that specific Project Online site.
How can I force my browser to reflect the new date format immediately?
Browser caching can sometimes prevent new regional settings from displaying right away. To view the updated formats immediately, clear your browser cache or open the site in an InPrivate or Incognito window.
Can I use different date formats for different projects in the same Project Online site?
No, the regional settings dictate the date format for the entire site collection. All projects hosted on that specific site will share the same date formatting rules.
