Forum Discussion
Date Parameters no longer in Correct Format
Hi i updated to this version of the desktop app
and now when i go to my date parameters and don't change them you can see they are fine
looks correct in the format i want. however if i change it it no longer works
unless i change it to american date formating.
as you can see. why has this happened?
the app is set to use windows settings
which are australian english and you can see that is fine by looking at todays date on my desktop in australian date format
and even current file regional settings is set to australia
is this getting looked at as it is very frustrating.
Cheers
John
Hi JohnJones
This looks like a regression in the current Power BI Desktop version rather than an issue with your regional settings.
Your setup is correct: both Windows and the current file are configured for Australia, so a date parameter should normally respect the `dd/MM/yyyy` locale. Microsoft also documents that the report's **Default format string locale** should control the default formatting of dates and numbers.
Since the existing parameter displays correctly until you edit its value, and then Desktop starts interpreting it as `MM/dd/yyyy`, I would treat this as a Desktop bug introduced in the version you installed.
As a temporary workaround, I would suggest either:
- entering the parameter date in `MM/dd/yyyy` format, as you already found;
- or rolling back to the previous Power BI Desktop version if this is affecting your development workflow.
I wouldn't recommend changing the Windows or PBIX regional settings just to work around it, since they already appear to be configured correctly.
It would also be worth reporting this throughReport an issue/ opening a Microsoft support ticket if you have access), including the exact Desktop version and a small PBIX reproducing the issue
.If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
4 Replies
- Ritaf1983
Super User
Hi JohnJones
This looks like a regression in the current Power BI Desktop version rather than an issue with your regional settings.
Your setup is correct: both Windows and the current file are configured for Australia, so a date parameter should normally respect the `dd/MM/yyyy` locale. Microsoft also documents that the report's **Default format string locale** should control the default formatting of dates and numbers.
Since the existing parameter displays correctly until you edit its value, and then Desktop starts interpreting it as `MM/dd/yyyy`, I would treat this as a Desktop bug introduced in the version you installed.
As a temporary workaround, I would suggest either:
- entering the parameter date in `MM/dd/yyyy` format, as you already found;
- or rolling back to the previous Power BI Desktop version if this is affecting your development workflow.
I wouldn't recommend changing the Windows or PBIX regional settings just to work around it, since they already appear to be configured correctly.
It would also be worth reporting this throughReport an issue/ opening a Microsoft support ticket if you have access), including the exact Desktop version and a small PBIX reproducing the issue
.If this post helps, then please consider Accepting it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.Thanks for the reply :) i thought that was the case but i'm glad to get someone else to say everything looks correct.
Murtaza_GhafoorJohnJones
Did you experience the same issue in previous version ?
if no then it is more likely related to the recent updates by PowerBI Desktop in September version 2026.
If your answer is yes then it means the existing parameter displays correctly as Australian format (dd/MM/yyyy), but editing the parameter causes Power BI to interpret the entered value as US format (MM/dd/yyyy), there is likely a mismatch between the parameter editor and the model/file regional settings.A few steps are worth checking:
- Power BI Desktop regional settings
- File → Options and settings → Options → Regional Settings
- Confirm Application language and Model language are consistent with English (Australia).
- Power Query regional settings
- In Power Query: File → Options and settings → Query Options → Regional Settings.
- Confirm the setting is English (Australia).
- Parameter data type
- Check that the parameter is actually typed as Date, rather than Text.
- If Power BI is parsing the typed value using US conventions, dates such as 01/10/2026 can be interpreted differently.
- Test with an unambiguous date
- Try entering a date such as 25/10/2026.
- If Power BI rejects it or interprets it incorrectly while 10/25/2026 works, that strongly indicates the date input control is using US parsing despite the regional settings.
If this helps, ✓ Mark as Kudos | Help Other
Thanks for getting back to me yeah it worked fine in the previous versions it's just appeared this version. Though to be honest i may not have changed parameters for a few versions. Regardless i am using american formatting for now in the parameter but it is frustrating. Thanks again for getting back to me :)
- Power BI Desktop regional settings