ShortcutdrillExcel shortcuts / formatting / Format a serial number as a date
Format a serial number as a date in Excel: Ctrl+Shift+3 (Mac: Control+Shift+3)
| Windows | Ctrl+Shift+3 |
|---|---|
| Mac | Control+Shift+3 |
| Group | formatting |
Drill: Dates showing as numbers. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.
What it does and when to use it
Dates in Excel are numbers; 46027 is a day in 2026. Ctrl+Shift+3 (Ctrl+#) applies the day-month-year date format so the number reads as a date again.
The common mistake
Expecting it to convert text that looks like a date. Text stays text; use DATEVALUE or re-enter the date.
Related shortcuts
- Italic Ctrl+I
- Underline Ctrl+U
- Format as currency Ctrl+Shift+4
- Thousands separators and two decimals Ctrl+Shift+1
- Format as percentage Ctrl+Shift+5
- The printable cheat sheet
Questions
Why does my date show as a number?
The cell lost its date format, often after a paste. Select the cells and press Ctrl+Shift+3.
Learn it by pressing it
Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.
Start the drill