How to convert date to YYYY-MM-DD format in Excel?
Supposing you have a list of dates with mm/dd/yyyy format, and now you want to convert these dates to yyyy-mm-dd format as below screenshot shown. Here I introduce the tricks to quickly convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format in Excel.
Comparison of Methods for Converting Dates to YYYY-MM-DD Format in Excel
If dates are displayed in formats such as MM/DD/YYYY and you want to show them as YYYY-MM-DD, you can use Excel's Format Cells feature, Kutools for Excel's Apply Date Formatting tool, or the TEXT formula. The key difference is whether the method changes only the date display format or converts the date into a text result.
| Comparison | Excel Format Cells | Kutools Apply Date Formatting | TEXT Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Result type | Changes the display format while keeping the underlying date value | Applies the selected date format while keeping the dates as date values | Converts the date to a text result in YYYY-MM-DD format |
| Format selection | Choose Custom and manually enter yyyy-mm-dd | Choose the desired date format from a ready-to-use format list with a preview | Specify the required format directly in the formula, such as "yyyy-mm-dd" |
| Output | Changes the appearance of the original selected dates | Applies the selected format directly to the original selected dates | Returns formatted text in a separate output cell and can be filled down |
| Best for | Applying a specific date display format with built-in Excel formatting | Quickly choosing and applying date formats from a visual list with a preview | Creating a text version of a date in a specific format while keeping the original date unchanged |
Convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format with Format Cells
Excel’s Format Cells function can quickly convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format.
1. Select the dates you want to convert, and right click to display context menu, and select Format Cells from it. See screenshot:
2. Then in the Format Cells dialog, under Number tab, click Custom from the list, and type yyyy-mm-dd into the Type textbox in the right section. See screenshot:
3. Click OK. Now all dates are converted to yyyy-mm-dd format. See screenshot:
Convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format with Kutools for Excel
With the Apply Date Formatting utility in the Kutools for Excel, you can quickly convert dates to any desired format. This powerful tool makes date format conversion simpler than ever, allowing you to complete the process in just a few steps. Whether converting dates to the standard "YYYY-MM-DD" format or any other custom format, Kutools can help you achieve it effortlessly, saving you valuable time and improving work efficiency.
After free installing Kutools for Excel, please do as below:
1. Select the dates you want to convert, and click Kutools > Format > Apply Date Formatting. See screenshot:
2. Then in the Apply Date Formatting dialog, you can select the date format you need from the Date formatting list, and preview the result in the Preview pane. To convert to yyyy-mm-dd format, just select 2001-03-14 from the Date formatting list. See screenshot:
3. Click Ok or Apply, and the dates are converted to the format you need. See screenshot:
Convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format with formula
In Excel, if you want to convert date to text with yyyy-mm-dd format, you can use formula.
1. Select a blank cell next to your date, for instance. I1, and type this formula =TEXT(G1, "yyyy-mm-dd"), and press Enter key, then drag AutoFill handle over the cells needed this formula.
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Convert date to yyyy-mm-dd format
Conclusion
Excel's Format Cells is a straightforward built-in solution when you only need to change how existing dates are displayed. Select the dates, open Format Cells, choose Custom, and enter yyyy-mm-dd. The underlying date values remain available for date calculations and other Excel operations.
Kutools for Excel's Apply Date Formatting provides a more visual approach to date formatting. Instead of manually entering a custom format code, you can choose the required format from the Date formatting list and check the result in the Preview pane before applying it to all selected dates.
The TEXT Formula is different from the two formatting methods because it returns a text value in the specified format. Using =TEXT(G1,"yyyy-mm-dd") creates a YYYY-MM-DD text result in another cell, making it useful when a formatted text string is specifically required rather than simply changing the display format of the original date.
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