How to Change the Date Format on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)

In today’s globalized world, date formats are crucial for effective communication, scheduling, and documentation. Windows 11, like many operating systems, may configure date settings based on regional defaults during installation. This can lead to confusion, especially in professional settings where the arrangement of day, month, and year can vary significantly. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers flexible options to modify these settings to align with your preferences, ensuring clarity and reducing potential misunderstandings.

Change Date Format Using the Settings App

1- Initiate by opening the Settings app. You can do this conveniently by pressing the Windows key + I or right-clicking on the date and time displayed on your taskbar, then selecting “Adjust date and time.” This action directs you to the main configuration menu for time and region settings.

2- In the Settings window, navigate to Time & Language on the sidebar. From the options available on the right, select Language & Region. Here, you can manage all your regional preferences, including languages and formats.

3- Scroll down to the Regional format section. Click on the dropdown menu and select your desired country or region. Windows 11 will automatically adjust the date and time formats to reflect the default settings of that region, helping to prevent any misinterpretation of dates.

4- For more precise control over the format, expand the Regional format section by clicking on Change formats.

5- Within this section, you can choose your preferences for both Short date and Long date from the dropdown menus. The Short date format will directly influence how dates appear on your taskbar and within most applications. Make sure to review the sample outputs next to each option to confirm your selection accurately reflects what you want.

6- After making your preferences, simply close the Settings app. Your changes are automatically saved, and the new date format will take effect across the system and compatible applications immediately.

Set a Custom Date Format Using Control Panel

For users who need a specific date format that isn’t available in the Settings app—such as incorporating the weekday, utilizing unique separators, or creating a custom arrangement of year/month/day—the Control Panel provides more robust options.

1- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type control, and press Enter. This opens the classic Control Panel interface.

2- In the top-right corner, set the View by option to Large icons for easier navigation, then click on Region. This will lead you to the area for all region-specific settings regarding date and time formats.

3- Within the Formats tab, click on Additional settings at the bottom. This will grant you access to advanced customization options for numbers, currency, time, and date.

4- Switch to the Date tab. In the Short date field, input your desired format using the relevant notations. For example, dd-MM-yyyy will display as 31-12-2025, while ddd, dd/MM/yy will present as Tue, 31/12/25. You can utilize the following notations:

• d, dd for the day.
• ddd, dddd for the day of the week.
• M, MM for the month.
• y, yy, yyyy for the year.

5- Click Apply and then OK to save your custom date format. Finally, close the Control Panel. Your new format will appear throughout Windows 11 wherever the short date is utilized.

Note: Some applications may not show the change immediately. If your custom format is not visible, consider signing out and back in, or restarting your computer.

Maintain Consistent Date Formats Across Languages and Regions

If you often change your system’s country or region, Windows 11 may revert to the region’s default date format automatically. To prevent this, set both your Country or Region and Regional Format to your chosen options in the Language & Region section of the Settings app.

Additionally, ensure your Windows Display Language aligns with your preferences. If you frequently travel or use multiple languages, it’s crucial to double-check these settings after any regional changes.

Disabling automatic time zone adjustments can help maintain your selected date format. To achieve this, right-click the time displayed on the taskbar, select Adjust date and time, and turn off the options for automatic time and time zone. While this keeps your format stable, you will need to manually adjust these settings if you relocate to a new time zone.

Switching the date format on Windows 11 eliminates confusion and personalizes your experience to match your workflow. By following these steps, you can quickly adjust or customize the display to suit your needs perfectly.