How to stop excel changing numbers to dates

Harrison Clayton June 28, 2023

If you have ever worked with Excel, you may have at some point encountered the infuriating problem of having your numbers automatically converted into dates. This can be extremely frustrating, as it can disrupt your calculations and cause errors in your spreadsheets. But fear not, there are ways to stop Excel from changing numbers to dates.

One common reason why Excel converts numbers to dates is because of its default formatting settings. By default, Excel assumes that numbers are dates and applies a date format to them automatically. This can be easily fixed by changing the format of the cells to a number format. To do this, select the range of cells that you want to convert, right-click and choose “Format Cells”. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Number” tab and choose the desired number format. This will prevent Excel from treating numbers as dates.

Another potential reason for Excel changing numbers to dates is that the data you are working with may contain leading or trailing spaces. These spaces can cause Excel to interpret the data as text, and therefore convert numbers to dates. To remove leading and trailing spaces from cells, you can use the TRIM function. Simply enter “=TRIM(cell_reference)” into a blank cell, replacing “cell_reference” with the reference to the cell that contains the data you want to clean. This will remove any leading or trailing spaces from the data, preventing Excel from converting numbers to dates.

It is also worth mentioning that you can explicitly format cells as text to prevent Excel from changing numbers to dates. To do this, select the range of cells that you want to format, right-click and choose “Format Cells”. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Number” tab and choose the “Text” category. Click OK, and Excel will treat the selected cells as text, stopping it from converting numbers to dates.

How to Prevent Excel from Converting Numbers to Dates

If you frequently work with numbers in Excel, you may have noticed that Excel sometimes automatically converts your numbers into dates. This can be frustrating and cause your data to be inaccurate. However, there are a few easy steps you can take to prevent Excel from converting numbers to dates.

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1. Format your Cells as Text

By default, Excel assigns the General format to cells, which often results in numbers being treated as dates. To prevent this, you can format the cells as text. Here’s how:

Select the range or individual cells that you want to format as text.
Right-click on the selected cells and click on “Format Cells…”
In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the “Number” tab.
Select “Text” from the Category list.
Click “OK” to apply the text format to the selected cells.

2. Use an Apostrophe

If you only need to prevent Excel from converting specific numbers to dates, you can use an apostrophe. Here’s how:

Start the entry with an apostrophe (‘).
Follow the apostrophe with the number you want to enter.

For example, if you want to enter the number 10/26, which Excel would interpret as a date, you can enter it as ’10/26 to keep it as a number.

These simple steps can help you prevent Excel from converting numbers to dates and ensure the accuracy of your data. Remember to format cells as text or use an apostrophe when necessary to maintain the desired formatting.

Formatting Cells as Text

One way to prevent Excel from changing numbers to dates is by formatting the cells as text. By doing so, you can ensure that any data entered will be treated as text rather than a numeric value.

Steps to Format Cells as Text:

Select the cells or range of cells that you want to format as text.
Right-click on the selected cells and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + 1.
In the Format Cells dialog box, click on the “Number” tab.
From the Category list, select “Text”.
Click on the “OK” button to apply the text formatting to the selected cells.

Effect of Formatting Cells as Text:

Once the cells are formatted as text, any numbers entered will be treated as plain text and will not be converted to dates. Excel will not perform any manipulations or calculations on the data, and it will remain in its original form.

It’s important to note that formatting cells as text may prevent Excel from recognizing any mathematical operations on the numbers. Therefore, if you need to use the numbers for calculations, you may want to consider a different formatting option or convert the text back to numerical values using additional functions or tools within Excel.

Using an Apostrophe Before the Number

One of the ways to stop Excel from changing numbers to dates is by using an apostrophe before the number. When you enter a number in a cell and precede it with an apostrophe (‘), Excel will treat it as text and leave it unchanged.

This technique can be useful when dealing with numbers that Excel automatically converts to dates. For example, if you enter “1/4” without an apostrophe, Excel may interpret it as January 4th. However, by entering “‘1/4” with the apostrophe, Excel will treat it as text and keep it in its original format.

By using an apostrophe before the number, you can ensure that Excel does not mistakenly convert it to a date. However, keep in mind that using this technique means that the cell will not be treated as a numeric value, so you will not be able to perform mathematical operations on it.

Changing the Default Date Format

If you find that Excel keeps changing your numbers to dates, it is likely because it is set to use the default date format. Excel uses a default date format based on the regional settings of your computer.

To stop Excel from changing numbers to dates, you can change the default date format in Excel. Here’s how:

Open Excel and go to the “File” tab in the ribbon menu.
Click on “Options” to open the Excel Options dialog box.
In the Excel Options dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab.
Scroll down to the “When calculating this workbook” section and find the “Use 1904 date system” checkbox.
If the checkbox is checked, uncheck it to disable the 1904 date system.
Click on “OK” to save the changes and close the Excel Options dialog box.

By changing the default date format in Excel, you can prevent Excel from automatically converting your numbers to dates. This will allow you to work with numbers without any confusion or inconvenience.

Note: Changing the default date format in Excel may affect other formulas or functions that rely on dates. Make sure to test your files and ensure that everything is working correctly before making any important changes.

Applying a Custom Format

If you want to prevent Excel from changing numbers to dates, you can apply a custom number format to the cell or range of cells. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply the custom format to.

2. Right-click on the selected cells and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu.

3. In the Format Cells dialog box, select the “Number” tab.

4. Click on the “Custom” category.

5. In the “Type” field, enter a custom number format code that corresponds to the format you want to apply. For example, to display a number as “123.45”, you can enter “0.00”.

6. Click “OK” to apply the custom format to the selected cells.

Format Code	Result
0	Round to nearest whole number (123)
0.00	Display two decimal places (123.45)
#,##0	Display with thousands separator (1,234)
“$”#,##0.00	Display with currency symbol and two decimal places ($123.45)
0%	Display as a percentage (12%)
0.00E+00	Display in scientific notation (1.23E+02)

By applying a custom format, you can ensure that Excel treats the numbers as desired and does not automatically convert them to dates.

Using the TEXT Function

The TEXT function in Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to convert a number to text format and customize the layout of the resulting text. By utilizing this function, you can prevent Excel from changing your numbers to dates automatically.

To use the TEXT function, follow these steps:

Select the cell that you want to format as text.
Enter the formula =TEXT(value, format). Replace “value” with the number or cell reference that you want to convert, and “format” with the desired text format.
For example, if you want to convert the number in cell A1 to text format and display it as “####”, enter the formula =TEXT(A1, "####").

Here are some common formatting options that you can use:

Using Text Patterns:

0 – Displays a digit if one is present, otherwise displays a zero.
# – Displays a digit if one is present.
? – Displays a digit if one is present, displays nothing if not present.
* – Displays any remaining characters.

Using Date and Time Codes:

yyyy – Displays the year as four digits.
mm – Displays the month as two digits.
dd – Displays the day as two digits.
hh – Displays the hour as two digits (in 24-hour format).
mm – Displays the minute as two digits.
ss – Displays the second as two digits.

By utilizing the TEXT function and the appropriate format codes, you can ensure that Excel treats your numbers as intended and avoids converting them to dates.

Importing Data as Text

If you are importing data into Excel and want to prevent the program from changing certain numbers into dates, you can use the “Text” format. This ensures that Excel treats the numbers as text, rather than converting them to dates automatically.

To import data as text, follow these steps:

Select and copy the data you want to import from its source (e.g., a website or a text file).
In Excel, choose the cell where you want the imported data to begin.
On the “Home” tab, in the “Clipboard” group, click the “Paste” button and then select “Paste Special”.
In the “Paste Special” dialog box, select the “Text” option.
Click “OK” to import the data as text.

By importing data as text, you can avoid Excel automatically converting numbers into dates. This can be particularly useful when dealing with phone numbers, product codes, or other data that should be treated as text.

Example:	Before Import	After Import (as Text)
Phone Number	12/27	12/27
Product Code	02345	02345

Using the “Text” format when importing data can save you time and prevent unexpected data transformations in Excel. It offers a simple solution for keeping your numbers intact and stopping Excel from changing them into dates.

Harrison Clayton

Meet Harrison Clayton, a distinguished author and home remodeling enthusiast whose expertise in the realm of renovation is second to none. With a passion for transforming houses into inviting homes, Harrison's writing at https://thehuts-eastbourne.co.uk/ brings a breath of fresh inspiration to the world of home improvement. Whether you're looking to revamp a small corner of your abode or embark on a complete home transformation, Harrison's articles provide the essential expertise and creative flair to turn your visions into reality. So, dive into the captivating world of home remodeling with Harrison Clayton and unlock the full potential of your living space with every word he writes.