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Date and Time Patterns

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A pattern sets how a date or time is written. For example, the pattern d MMMM writes 4 November, and HH:mm writes 14:30.

The Date, Time, Offset, and Date Range dialogs all use patterns.

Choose a pattern

Each dialog has four tabs, and a Preview at the top shows the result:

  • Default uses the default pattern from Settings. If you change the default later, every Placeholder that uses it changes too.
  • Local and Common list ready-made patterns. Tap one to use it.
  • Custom lets you write your own. See Write a custom pattern.

Set the default patterns

  1. Open the Settings tab.
  2. Tap Date and time.
  3. Tap Default date format or Default time format.
  4. Choose a pattern.

Until you choose, the defaults follow your phone's language and region.

Write a custom pattern

On the Custom tab, tap Custom pattern, then tap the parts you want, such as Day, Month, or Hour (24-hour). You can also type the pattern.

LettersWrites
d, ddDay of month: 5, 05
EEE, EEEEDay of week: Sat, Saturday
M, MM, MMM, MMMMMonth: 1, 01, Jan, January
yy, yyyyYear: 20, 2020
H, HHHour, 24-hour: 7, 07
h, hhHour, 12-hour: 7, 07
m, mmMinute: 5, 05
s, ssSecond: 8, 08
aAM or PM

Spaces and punctuation appear as typed. Put words in single quotes, so their letters aren't read as pattern letters: 'Week' w writes Week 45.

If Typing Hero shows Invalid pattern, the pattern has an unknown letter, writes nothing, such as a single quote mark, or writes more than 100 characters.

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