Changing time and date display settings
The date on my emails is now dd/mm/yyyy, but I want it to be mm/dd/yyyy. Also, I want Outlook to use a 24 hour clock rather than the AM/PM format.
Where do I change the time and date format?
Outlook follows your default time and date settings as you have configured them in Windows.
These settings are used not only to display the time and date on your send/received columns but also in your Calendar, Tasks and some other places and properties.
Windows 10
Start-> Settings-> Time & Language-> Date & Time-> Region-> Change data formats
Time and date format configuration in Windows 10.
Note: Custom formats can be configured by clicking on the “Additional date, time, & regional settings” link and then selecting “Region”. This will bring you to the classic Control Panel applet of Windows 8 and previous.
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Control Panel-> Clock, Language, and Region-> Region
Time and date format configuration in Control Panel.
Windows 7
Control Panel-> Clock, Language, and Region-> Regional and Language
Custom formats
You can use the drop down lists to select a preconfigured format or the button Additional Settings…-> tab Date to type a custom format.
The time formats that use “H” are 24 hours clocks. The formats which use “h” and have “tt” at the end are AM/PM clocks.
On the Time tab in the “Advanced settings” there is also a small explanation about the time notations.
You can further customize your date settings in the Region settings of Windows.
Outlook column formatting
Additionally, in Outlook you can customize your view to change how the time or date is displayed even more but always based on your Windows’ defaults;
- Outlook 2007
View-> Arrange By-> Customize…-> button: Format Columns… - Outlook 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019 / Office 365 (classic Ribbon)
View-> View Settings-> button: Format Columns… - Office 365 (Single Line Ribbon)
View-> Current View-> View Settings…-> button: Format Columns
Here you can select the column “Received” or “Sent” or any other column displaying a date and use the Format drop down list to select a display format of choice.
For instance, I have my “Today’s Unread Mail” Search Folder to display the time only as I of course know already that I have received it today. Not showing the date gives me a better overview and leaves room for other information.
Customize the date format of the columns in Outlook.
