> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dualentry.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Configure Date Formats

> Configure personal, organization, and company date format settings in DualEntry, and see which one controls in-app views versus customer-facing documents.

DualEntry lets you control how dates appear at three independent levels: your personal view of the app, your organization's customer-facing documents and reports, and each company's own documents. The company level applies when your organization has more than one company. Each setting only controls its own scope. Changing your personal format has no effect on what appears on an invoice, and changing your organization's format has no effect on what you personally see.

## How the settings interact

Use this table to see which date format setting controls which part of the product.

| Where                                                               | Setting that applies                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| In-app tables, forms, and list views                                | Your personal date format                                                            |
| In-app reports                                                      | Your personal date format                                                            |
| Invoices, purchase orders, receipts, and statements (PDF and email) | The company's date format, or the organization's if the company doesn't have one set |
| Other generated documents and reports                               | Your organization's date format                                                      |

## Available date formats

Every date format setting in DualEntry draws from the same list of options, whether you're setting your personal preference, your organization's default, or a specific company's override.

| Format         | Example           |
| -------------- | ----------------- |
| `MM/DD/YYYY`   | `08/25/2026`      |
| `MMMM D, YYYY` | `August 25, 2026` |
| `MMM D, YYYY`  | `Aug 25, 2026`    |
| `DD/MM/YYYY`   | `25/08/2026`      |
| `D MMMM YYYY`  | `25 August 2026`  |
| `D MMM YYYY`   | `25 Aug 2026`     |
| `YYYY-MM-DD`   | `2026-08-25`      |

## Setting your personal date format

Your personal date format controls what you see in DualEntry's tables, forms, list views, and in-app reports. It has no effect on what other users see or on customer-facing documents.

You set it from **Personal Settings → Preferences → Date format**, accessible from your initials in the top right corner of the screen. Your choice saves immediately; there's no separate save button. If you haven't set a personal format, DualEntry uses your browser's date settings by default.

## Setting your organization's date format

Your organization's date format appears on customer- and vendor-facing documents, such as invoices, purchase orders, receipts, and statements, and on other generated reports. It applies to any company that doesn't have its own format set. You need Administrator access to change it.

You set it from **Settings → General Preferences → Date**, accessible from your organization's name in the top left corner of the screen. `MM/DD/YYYY` is the default until you change it. See [Organization Settings](./organization-settings#general-preferences) for the rest of the settings on that tab.

## Setting a date format for a specific company

If your organization has multiple companies, each one can use its own date format instead of the organization default. This is useful when a company operates in a different country or region.

You set it from the company record's **General** section. Leaving the **Date format** field blank uses your organization's format instead. This setting applies to that company's invoices, purchase orders, customer payment receipts, and customer statements, in both PDF and email form.

## Frequently asked questions

These answers cover how the personal, organization, and company settings interact, and what to expect if the format you want isn't available.

**Does changing my personal date format change what my coworkers see?**

No. It only changes what you see when you're logged in.

**What date format does my customer see on an invoice?**

The company's date format if one is set, otherwise your organization's date format.

**Why don't I see a save button on the Preferences page?**

Changes to your personal settings, including date format, save automatically as soon as you make them.

**Can I use a date format that isn't in the list?**

Not right now. Choose the closest match from the available formats.

## Related

* [Organization Settings](./organization-settings) - configure branding, accounting preferences, email templates, and API keys for your organization
* [Customer Statements](../core-financials/accounts-receivable/customer-statements) - generate and send statements that follow the receiving company's date format