How To Remove Time From Date In Excel? Learn 4 Ways!

Excel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, but sometimes imported data can include unnecessary details—like timestamps—that you may not need. Removing the time portion from a date is a common task for Excel users, especially when focusing on just the date values for reporting or analysis.

In this article, we’ll explore how to remove the time from a date in Excel using various methods, including formulas, formatting, and Excel functions.

Why Remove Time from Date?

Timestamps can complicate data analysis when your focus is strictly on dates. For instance:

• Aggregating sales data by date becomes confusing if timestamps are included.
• Comparing dates might fail due to hidden time values.
• Simplifying data presentation often requires removing unnecessary time information.

By removing the time portion, you ensure cleaner, more accurate datasets.

Methods to Remove Time from Date in Excel

1. Using Number Formatting

This method hides the time portion without altering the underlying data.

Steps:

1. Select the cells containing date and time.
2. Press Ctrl + 1 (or right-click and choose Format Cells).
3. In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the Number tab.
4. Select Date from the category list.
5. Choose a date format without the time component (e.g., dd/mm/yyyy).
6. Click OK.

Result: The time portion will no longer be visible, but it still exists in the underlying data.

2. Using INT Function

This method removes the time by converting the date-time value to an integer.

Steps:

1. Suppose the date and time are in cell A1.
2. Enter the formula: =INT(A1)
3. Press Enter.
4. Copy the formula down if needed.
5. To overwrite the original data, copy the results and use Paste Special > Values.

How It Works: Excel stores dates as whole numbers and times as fractional values. The INT function extracts only the whole number (date).

3. Using Text to Columns

This method splits date and time into separate columns.

Steps:

1. Select the column with date and time values.
2. Go to the Data tab and click on Text to Columns.
3. Choose Delimited and click Next.
4. Deselect all delimiters and click Next.
5. Choose a destination cell for the split data and click Finish.

Result: You’ll get the date and time split into two columns. You can then delete the time column.

4. Using Find and Replace

This method works when time is represented as text in a consistent format.

Steps:

1. Select the cells containing date and time.
2. Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
3. In the Find what field, type a space followed by * (e.g., * to remove everything after the date).
4. Leave the Replace with field empty.
5. Click Replace All.

Note: This method works best if the time appears consistently after a space.

Conclusion

Removing the time from a date in Excel is essential for cleaner data analysis and reporting. Depending on your needs, you can choose from several methods discussed in the article above. By mastering these techniques, you can streamline your workflows and ensure more accurate data handling.

Quiz Time!!!

  QUIZZ SNIPPET IS HERE

  QUIZZ SNIPPET IS HERE

  QUIZZ SNIPPET IS HERE

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I completely remove the time from the cell?

Yes, use the INT function or Power Query to remove the time portion entirely. After applying the change, use Paste Special > Values to overwrite the original data.

Q2. What if the time is stored as text?

Use Find and Replace to remove the time portion if it’s represented consistently. Alternatively, use Power Query to clean text-based data.

Q3. Will formatting the cell remove the time?

No, formatting only hides the time visually but doesn’t remove it from the underlying data.

Q4. How does Excel store date and time?

Excel stores dates as whole numbers starting from 1 (Jan 1, 1900) and times as fractions of a day (e.g., 0.5 for 12:00 PM).

Q5. Which method is best for large datasets?

Power Query is the best choice for large datasets because it’s efficient and provides a clean way to handle transformations.

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