Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this lesson, we will explain Windows' two-digit year cutoff and why dates such as 1/1/40 may be interpreted as 2040 in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access. You will learn where to find and change the cutoff setting in Control Panel, use a Run command shortcut to access it, and see how the change affects both programs. We will also discuss why entering four-digit ISO dates is the best way to avoid date ambiguity.
Robin from Phoenix, Arizona (a Platinum Member) asks I work with geriatric patients, and I'm constantly entering birth dates from the 1930s and 1940s. Every time I type 1/1/35, Windows changes it to 2035. Is there a way to make it assume 1935 instead?
Silver Members & up get access to an Extended Cut of this video. In the extended cut, I will show you how to build a reusable Microsoft Access VBA function that interprets two-digit years using your application's own cutoff date instead of the Windows setting, and how to apply it to specific date fields with an After Update event.
MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED CUT VIDEO:
youtu.be/Srjc-bnkVBs
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:11 Why Two-Digit Years Change Centuries
02:25 Avoid Ambiguity With Four-Digit ISO Dates
03:01 Demonstrating the Windows Date Cutoff
03:42 Changing the Windows Two-Digit Year Cutoff
04:57 Shortcut to Regional Date Settings
05:25 Testing the New Cutoff in Excel and Access
06:12 When You Should Change the System Cutoff
08:08 Conclusion
BECOME A MEMBER:
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCl7-jJie4ifOVK87FINIuDg/join
or My Site: 599cd.com/THMember
LEARN MORE:
1940 To 2040: 599cd.com/1940To2040
LINKS:
ISO Date Format: 599cd.com/ISODates
Split Function: 599cd.com/SplitFunction
DateSerial: 599cd.com/DateSerial
CODE VAULT:
2 Digit Year Cutoff: 599cd.com/2DigitYearCutoff
RECOMMENDED COURSES:
Access Beginner 1: 599cd.com/ACB1
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
FREE Windows Beginner Course: 599cd.com/Free1
Donate to my Tip Jar: 599cd.com/TipJar
Get on my Mailing List: 599cd.com/YTML
Contact Me: 599cd.com/Contact
TechHelp: 599cd.com/TechHelp
Consulting Help: 599cd.com/DevNet
Twitter: twitter.com/599cd
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows
microsoft.com/en-us/windows
Merch Store! Get your swag here: 599cd.com/Merch
KEYWORDS:
TechHelp, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 365, Microsoft Windows, MS Windows, MS Windows Tutorial, #mswindows, #microsoftwindows, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #learn, #lesson, #training, #windows, Windows two-digit year cutoff, Excel two-digit year dates, Access date century cutoff, change Windows date cutoff, Excel 11/40 becomes 2040, Access birth date entry, Regional date settings, intl.cpl, ISO date format, two-digit year interpretation
QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.
Live long, and prosper.
In this lesson, we will explain Windows' two-digit year cutoff and why dates such as 1/1/40 may be interpreted as 2040 in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access. You will learn where to find and change the cutoff setting in Control Panel, use a Run command shortcut to access it, and see how the change affects both programs. We will also discuss why entering four-digit ISO dates is the best way to avoid date ambiguity.
Robin from Phoenix, Arizona (a Platinum Member) asks I work with geriatric patients, and I'm constantly entering birth dates from the 1930s and 1940s. Every time I type 1/1/35, Windows changes it to 2035. Is there a way to make it assume 1935 instead?
Silver Members & up get access to an Extended Cut of this video. In the extended cut, I will show you how to build a reusable Microsoft Access VBA function that interprets two-digit years using your application's own cutoff date instead of the Windows setting, and how to apply it to specific date fields with an After Update event.
MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED CUT VIDEO:
youtu.be/Srjc-bnkVBs
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:11 Why Two-Digit Years Change Centuries
02:25 Avoid Ambiguity With Four-Digit ISO Dates
03:01 Demonstrating the Windows Date Cutoff
03:42 Changing the Windows Two-Digit Year Cutoff
04:57 Shortcut to Regional Date Settings
05:25 Testing the New Cutoff in Excel and Access
06:12 When You Should Change the System Cutoff
08:08 Conclusion
BECOME A MEMBER:
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCl7-jJie4ifOVK87FINIuDg/join
or My Site: 599cd.com/THMember
LEARN MORE:
1940 To 2040: 599cd.com/1940To2040
LINKS:
ISO Date Format: 599cd.com/ISODates
Split Function: 599cd.com/SplitFunction
DateSerial: 599cd.com/DateSerial
CODE VAULT:
2 Digit Year Cutoff: 599cd.com/2DigitYearCutoff
RECOMMENDED COURSES:
Access Beginner 1: 599cd.com/ACB1
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
FREE Windows Beginner Course: 599cd.com/Free1
Donate to my Tip Jar: 599cd.com/TipJar
Get on my Mailing List: 599cd.com/YTML
Contact Me: 599cd.com/Contact
TechHelp: 599cd.com/TechHelp
Consulting Help: 599cd.com/DevNet
Twitter: twitter.com/599cd
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows
microsoft.com/en-us/windows
Merch Store! Get your swag here: 599cd.com/Merch
KEYWORDS:
TechHelp, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 365, Microsoft Windows, MS Windows, MS Windows Tutorial, #mswindows, #microsoftwindows, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #learn, #lesson, #training, #windows, Windows two-digit year cutoff, Excel two-digit year dates, Access date century cutoff, change Windows date cutoff, Excel 11/40 becomes 2040, Access birth date entry, Regional date settings, intl.cpl, ISO date format, two-digit year interpretation
QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.
Live long, and prosper.
