WordPress is a popular platform for creating websites and blogs, but sometimes you may find that the default date and time format doesn’t quite suit your needs. Fortunately, WordPress allows you to easily change the date and time format to better align with your preferences. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of changing the date and time format in WordPress in plain English, making it easy for anyone to follow along. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have full control over how dates and times are displayed on your WordPress website.
How to Change Date and Time Format in WordPress (Step by Step Guide)
Step 1: Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard
To begin, log in to your WordPress dashboard. This is the control center for your website, where you can make various changes and updates.
Step 2: Access the Settings Menu
In the dashboard, locate and click on the “Settings” menu. This menu is where you can tweak various settings for your WordPress site.
Step 3: Click on ‘General’
Within the “Settings” menu, you’ll see several options. Click on “General” to access the general settings for your website.
Step 4: Choose Your Preferred Date Format
Scroll down until you find the “Date Format” section. This is where you can change how dates are displayed on your website.
Step 5: Select a Date Format
In the “Date Format” section, you’ll see a dropdown menu with various date format options. Choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, you can select “F j, Y” for a format like “January 1, 2023” or “Y/m/d” for “2023/01/01”.
Step 6: Customize Your Time Format (Optional)
If you also want to change the time format, scroll down to the “Time Format” section. Similar to the date format, you can select a time format from the dropdown menu. For example, you can choose “g:i a” for a format like “1:30 pm”.
Step 7: Save Changes
Once you’ve selected your preferred date and time formats, don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Save Changes” button. This will apply the new date and time formats to your website.
Step 8: Check Your Website
To ensure that the changes have been applied successfully, visit your website and navigate to a page or post that displays the date and time. You should now see the updated formats you’ve chosen.
1. Why Change Date and Time Format?
Before we dive into the steps, it’s essential to understand why you might want to change the date and time format on your WordPress website.
Imagine you have a blog, and you want to make sure your readers can easily understand when your articles were published. Or perhaps you have an online store, and you want your customers to see when products were added or when they can expect deliveries. In these scenarios, customizing the date and time format becomes crucial for clear communication.
WordPress provides several date and time format options, allowing you to choose what works best for your website’s content and audience. So, let’s get started on how to make these changes.
2. Accessing WordPress Dashboard
The first step in changing the date and time format is accessing your WordPress dashboard. This is where you’ll find all the settings and customization options for your website.
To do this, open your web browser and enter your website’s URL followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin). Press “Enter,” and you’ll be directed to the login page.
Log in with your username and password to access your WordPress dashboard.
3. Navigating to Date and Time Settings
Now that you’re in the WordPress dashboard, it’s time to locate the settings for date and time formats.
Look for the “Settings” option on the left-hand sidebar. When you hover your cursor over it, a dropdown menu will appear. Click on “General.”
This will take you to the General Settings page, where you can modify various aspects of your website, including the date and time format.
4. Choosing Date and Time Formats
On the General Settings page, you’ll see several options related to your website’s settings. The first option you’ll encounter is “Site Language.” You can choose your preferred language here, but for now, we’re focused on date and time formatting.
Scroll down the page until you find the “Date Format” and “Time Format” options. These are the settings we’ll be customizing to change how dates and times are displayed on your website.
Click on the dropdown menus next to “Date Format” and “Time Format” to see the available formatting options. WordPress provides a variety of choices to suit different needs.
For instance, you can select “F j, Y” for a format like “January 1, 2023” or “j M, Y” for “1 Jan, 2023.” Similarly, you can pick “g:i a” for time formatting like “1:30 pm” or “H:i” for “13:30” in the 24-hour format.
Choose the date and time formats that best suit your website’s style and content. Remember that you can always preview how the formats will look before making a final decision.
5. Customizing Date and Time Formats
In some cases, the predefined date and time formats might not be exactly what you’re looking for. WordPress allows you to customize these formats further.
If you want to create a custom format, you can use the following format codes:
- d – Day of the month (01 to 31)
- D – A textual representation of a day (e.g., Mon, Tue)
- m – Month (01 to 12)
- M – A short textual representation of a month (e.g., Jan, Feb)
- y – Year (two digits)
- Y – Year (four digits)
- g – Hour in 12-hour format (1 to 12)
- G – Hour in 24-hour format (0 to 23)
- i – Minutes (00 to 59)
- a – Lowercase am or pm
To customize your date and time formats, simply enter these format codes in the “Custom” field provided below the dropdown menus. For example, if you want a date format like “01-Jan-2023” and a time format like “3:30 PM,” you can enter the following:
Date Format: d-M-Y Time Format: g:i A
Play around with these codes to create the exact format you desire. WordPress will replace these codes with the corresponding date and time elements when your content is displayed on your website.
6. Saving Your Changes
Once you’ve chosen or customized your date and time formats to your liking, don’t forget to save your changes.
Scroll down to the bottom of the General Settings page, and you’ll find a “Save Changes” button. Click on it, and WordPress will update your settings.
It’s important to note that once you save these changes, they will apply to your entire website. All the posts, pages, and comments that display dates and times will now use the new format you’ve selected.
7. Checking Your Website
After saving your changes, it’s a good idea to check your website to ensure that the date and time formats have been updated as expected.
Visit your website’s front-end by clicking on the “Visit Site” link at the top of the dashboard. Browse through your posts, pages, or comments to see how the new date and time formats appear.
If everything looks the way you want it to, congratulations! You’ve successfully changed the date and time format on your WordPress website.
Conclusion
In this step-by-step guide, we’ve walked you through the process of changing the date and time format in WordPress. By customizing these settings, you can ensure that your website’s visitors can easily understand when content was published or when events are scheduled.
Remember that the date and time formats you choose should align with your website’s style and content. Whether you prefer a formal format like “January 1, 2023,” or something more concise like “1 Jan, 2023,” WordPress gives you the flexibility to make it your own.
By following these simple steps, you’ve enhanced the readability and accessibility of your website while also making it more search engine friendly. Search engines appreciate well-organized and clearly displayed information, which can ultimately improve your website’s visibility.
So, go ahead and customize your date and time formats to make your WordPress website even more user-friendly and tailored to your audience’s preferences.