Why is the date showing as number

Answer

A date in Excel appears as a number because Excel stores dates as serial numbers. Each date corresponds to a unique number that represents the number of days since a starting point, known as the epoch date. For Excel on Windows, the epoch date is January 1, 1900, which is assigned the serial number 1. For Excel on Mac, it is January 1, 1904, by default, unless adjusted in the settings.

For example:

• January 1, 1900 = 1

• December 31, 2025 = 45118

This numeric system allows Excel to perform calculations with dates, such as addition, subtraction, and difference in days.

Conditions When This Happens

1. Cell Format is Set to Number
   The most common reason a date displays as a number is the cell’s format. Excel treats the underlying value as a date but formats it as a number.

   Solution:

   1. Select the cell or range.

   2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.

   3. Go to the Number tab.

   4. Select Date and choose the desired date format.

   5. Click OK.

2. Data Imported from Other Sources
   Dates copied or imported from another system can appear as numbers because Excel reads them as raw serial numbers instead of formatted dates.

   Solution:
   Use the Text to Columns feature:

   1. Select the column with numbers.

   2. Go to Data → Text to Columns.

   3. Choose Delimited → Next → Next.

   4. Under Column data format, select Date.

   5. Click Finish.

3. Custom Number Formats Applied
   A custom number format can convert a date to a number unintentionally. For instance, formatting a date with 0 or # will show its serial number.

   Solution:
   Change the format back to Date using Format Cells → Number → Date.

4. Formula Output is a Number
   Some formulas return the serial number of a date instead of a formatted date. For example, =DATE(2025,12,10) might show 45246 if the cell is formatted as Number.

   Solution:
   Change the cell format to Date.

5. Regional Date Settings Conflict
   Excel uses the system’s regional settings for date formatting. If your system expects a different date format, Excel may display numbers instead.

   Solution:
   Adjust your system regional settings or format the Excel cells explicitly as a Date.

Key Points to Remember

• Excel always stores dates as numbers; formatting controls the display.

• Serial numbers make date arithmetic possible, such as calculating age, deadlines, or durations.

• Changing the format does not alter the date itself; it only changes how it appears.

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