How to Change Date Format in Power BI
- George Apostolov
How to Change Date Format in Power BI: step-by-step guide
Open your Power BI Desktop and navigate to your report.
Select the visual.
Go to the 'Visualizations' pane.
In the 'Visualizations' pane, go to the 'Format' option.
Go to the 'General' tab.
Under the 'General' tab, select 'Data format'.
Go to the 'Format options' and click on the arrow.
Choose one of the built-in date formats.
Following these steps changes the default appearance wherever that field is used.
Quick answer: To change the date format in Power BI Desktop, open your report, select the visual, and navigate to the Visualizations pane. Go to Format, select the General tab, choose Data format, and click the arrow in Format options to select a built-in date format.
About this Power BI tutorial
Easily update default date appearances across your reports in Power BI by configuring the Data format settings within the Visualizations pane. This guide shows how to change Date Format in Power BI in 9 steps, starting with "Open your Power BI Desktop and navigate to your report" and finishing with "Following these steps changes the default appearance wherever that field is used". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Power BI interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to change Date Format in Power BI?
9 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your Power BI data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Power BI. Related guides: How to Change Font in Power BI, How to Change Font Size in Power BI and How to Change Legend Text in Power BI. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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