We can apply the TEXT function to format a date as text but still show the text string like a date in Excel easily.

Select a blank cell besides first date, and enter the formula =TEXT(A2,"DD/MM/YYYY") into it, and then drag the Fill Handle to the range you need

Then you will see all dates are converted to text strings, and displayed like normally dates in cells. See below screen shot:

Note: you can change the displayed date type by changing the order of "DD/MM/YYYY" in the formula.

The second method is to apply the To Actual utility of Kutools for Excel, which can help us to convert all dates to text strings with only one click.

Select the dates that you will convert to text strings, and click the To Actual button on the Kutools tab.

Then you will see all dates are formatted as text strings, but still display like dates as below screen shot shown:

For example you copy a list of dates from a Word document and paste into current workbook, but these dates are pasted as text strings. In this condition, you can apply Kutools for Excel’s Convert to Date utility to change these text formatting dates to real dates with only one click.

Select the list of text formatting dates you will convert to real date, and click the Kutools > Content > Convert to Date.

Then you will see all selected text formatting dates are converted to real dates at once.

And Kutools for Excel will list all converting results in the opening Convert to Date dialog box as below screenshot shown. Please close this dialog box.

Replace formulas with results or value

Convert formula to text string