How to Format the Time as MM:SS in Excel PSS ID Number: Q45078 Article last modified on 04-20-1993 PSS database name: W_eXceL
2.00 2.10 3.00 | 2.20 2.21 3.00 | 1.x 2.20 3.00
WINDOWS | OS/2 | MACINTOSH
| The information in this article applies to: |
| - Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0 - Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2 and 3.0 - Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2 and 3.0 |
Summary:
Cells formatted with a number format of “mm:ss” will display the month and second, not the minute and second, of the time entered. This behavior is by design in Microsoft Excel.
The correct time does display in the formula bar.
More Information:
Page 325 of the “Microsoft Excel Reference Guide” version 2.1 states, “If you use m or mm immediately after the h or hh symbol, Microsoft Excel displays the minute rather than the month.”
To display a time in minutes:seconds format, use this formula:
=TEXT(MINUTE(The_Time),“00”)&“:”&TEXT(SECOND(The_Time),“00”)
where The_Time is the time that you wish to display.
Reference(s):
“Microsoft Excel Reference Guide,” for the Macintosh, version 2.2, page 307
“Microsoft Excel User’s Guide” for Windows, version 3.0, page 193
“Microsoft Excel User’s Guide 1,” version 4.0, page 227 Additional reference words: 1.0 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.5 1.50 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00 mpf
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.
