How-To

How to Change the Date Format on Windows 11

By Brian Burgess

Published January 12, 2024

If you are in a different region or prefer the date to display differently, you can change the date format on Windows 11. Here’s how.

When your PC isn’t displaying the date the way you prefer, you can change its format on Windows 11. There are different ways to change the date format. You can use the Settings app or manage the format from the Control Panel.

It’s important to mention that Windows will automatically adjust the date and time based on your location. But when you travel to another region, perform a clean install, set up a new PC, or just prefer a different format, you can change the format to reflect what you want it to be appropriately.

So, in this guide, we’ll show you how to change the date format from Settings. We’ll also show how to do this using the classic Control Panel on your Windows 11 system.

Change the Date Format on Windows 11 via Settings

Changing the date format on Windows 11 via Settings is straightforward, but you need to dig into the Settings app using the following steps.

1. Press the Windows key, type Settings, and choose the top result. Alternatively, press the Windows key + I to open Settings directly.
2. Click the Time & language option from the left column.
3. Next, click Language & region from the right side of the screen.
4. Scroll down the right side of the screen and expand the Regional format menu.
5. At the bottom of the column, click the Change formats button.
6. Choose the First day of the week you want to use.
7. Select the Long date format you want to display on the clock in the taskbar.

You can optionally select a different short time format and long-time format setting using the dropdown menu next to each setting. Once you make the adjustments, you will see the date format change reflected on the system clock.

Change the Date Format Using Control Panel

If you prefer using the classic Control Panel instead of the Settings app, you can use it to change the date format on Windows 11 using the following steps.

1. Press the Windows key, type CPL, and select Control Panel from the top result.
2. Click Clock and Region from the menu.
3. On the next screen, click the Region setting.
4. Select the Formats tab at the top of the window.
5. Choose the short date and long date setting you want to use from the dropdown menus.

You can optionally choose a short time format and a long time format setting to change it if you prefer. Once you have made your selections, choose a First day of the week setting and click Apply and OK to confirm.

Changing the Date Format on Windows 11

Whether you did a clean install, traveled to a different region, or prefer the date to look different, changing the date format on Windows 11 is straightforward from the Settings app or using the classic Control Panel options.

Whichever date format you prefer, once you make the format adjustments, the date and time (if you change it) for the regions you travel to with your PC will reflect the formatting choice.