Also, you can experience Excel file format and extension not matching, resulting in problems.

Why are my dates appearing as numbers in Excel?

Excel changing dates to random numbers is an issue many users run into frequently. It can occur for some reasons affecting the Excel app. Some underlying factors liable to cause the problem are:

Excel converting rules – Excel has rules and directives for using its algorithms. It has automatic converting rules that can change all your numbers into dates. So, it is possible the dates you’re entering into the cell are converted to numbers based on the formatting rules in Excel. Outdated Excel app – Sometimes, an outdated Excel app can cause the formatting and layout settings not to be practical. It is due to the bugs infecting the app because it can’t access needed updates and patches.

However, you can follow a few steps to stop dates from appearing as numbers in Excel.

How do I get Excel to stop changing my dates to numbers?

We recommend you follow these preliminary checks before proceeding with any steps:

Fix network issues on your PC. Ensure you update the Excel app to the latest version. Restart Windows in Safe Mode and launch Microsoft Excel to see if the problem persists.

If the problem continues, go ahead with the steps below:

1. Convert the cell formatting

Changing the cell format allows you to type dates in the cells without them appearing as numbers. It changes the Excel converting rules. If the spreadsheet arrow is not working in Excel, check l our guide for some fixes.

2. Insert a sign

The above combination will quickly enter the current date in your worksheet without converting it to a number.

3. Use Find & Replace

Using the Find and Replace function allows you to replace the decimal point with a slash, prompting Excel to reevaluate the value as a date. Alternatively, our readers can read through our guide on how to Stop Excel from changing numbers to dates when using it. Likewise, you can check how to fix not being able to access files on Excel. If you have more questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

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