From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

I have installed Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce on a x64 desktop (without
Cinnamon). (The desktop is dual boot, with Win 10.)

In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>. I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person

When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks

P.S: I'm a Linux newbie. Simple step by step instructions please.
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2026-09-16 21:44, occam wrote:

I have installed Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce on a x64 desktop (without
Cinnamon). (The desktop is dual boot, with Win 10.)

In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>. I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person

When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks

P.S: I'm a Linux newbie. Simple step by step instructions please.

The date/time format is determined by your location settings. See:

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linux-unix/how-to-change-or-set-system-locales-in-linux/

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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On Wed, 9/16/2026 3:56 PM, jjb wrote:

On 2026-09-16 21:44, occam wrote:

I have installed Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce on a x64 desktop (without
Cinnamon). (The desktop is dual boot, with Win 10.)

In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>.-a I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person >>
When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks

P.S: I'm a Linux newbie.-a Simple step by step instructions please.

The date/time format is determined by your location settings. See:

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linux-unix/how-to-change-or-set-system-locales-in-linux/

And you fix the system level ones first, then look at individual
applications to see if they need additional help.

Thunderbird is in "about:config", the configuration editor.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customize-date-time-formats-thunderbird

The reason you would expect that of Thunderbird, is it is a cross-platform program,
and they don't want to write separate subroutines for inheriting Apple, Windows, Linux
representations to make the internal format. Keeping their own preferences, while a nuisance,
reduces the complexity for them.

Paul

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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On 16.09.2026 21:44, occam wrote:

I have installed Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce on a x64 desktop (without
Cinnamon). (The desktop is dual boot, with Win 10.)

In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>. I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person

When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks

P.S: I'm a Linux newbie. Simple step by step instructions please.

Custom format via Config Editor (full control):
Go to rei raA Settings raA General raA Config EditorrCa (at the very bottom), then
create the following String preferences:

Preference Example value Output intl.date_time.pattern_override.date_short dd.MM.yyyy 16.09.2026 intl.date_time.pattern_override.time_short HH:mm 14:30
--
Once an organization gains any influence, it will be corrupted from both within and without.

Edmund
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

occam wrote:

Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce

In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>. I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person

When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

I booted a live LM 22.3 XFCE because I'm unfamiliar w/ that DE.

I started 'fixing' my situation to match your en-GB condition (and tz
GMT+2 puzzle). I figured to do that first and then see if Tb followed
suit or not, because the .en .uk (even if you aren't) locale should
default to your preferred mm/dd/yyyy mode.

I did that both in the properties of the clock (R click the clock in the notification area) and in the Settings/Language functions; 'Start'
(Menu) button/ Settings section/ Language and the selected English UK
for each of the Language, Region, and Time format.

Then I opened Tb which was installed by default to see how it handled
the format by default based on my locale.

It did not handle the date in your mm/dd/yyyy format; even tho' docs say
that it will use the system locale.

My other trouble so far is that the instructions I find for modifying
the config editor in intl.regional_prefs.use_os_locales = (T or F)
didn't work either.

So, my lengthy answer here is not helpful :-/
--
Mike Easter
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

Mike Easter wrote:

default to your preferred mm/dd/yyyy mode.

It did not handle the date in your mm/dd/yyyy format; even tho' docs say

Each time I said mm/dd/yyyy above; I MEANT dd/mm/yyyy.
--
Mike Easter
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:21:16 -0400, Paul wrote:

The reason you would expect that of Thunderbird, is it is a
cross-platform program, and they don't want to write separate
subroutines for inheriting Apple, Windows, Linux representations to
make the internal format.

On the contrary, being compatible with the conventions of the platform
yourCOre on is exactly the right thing to do.
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On 16/09/2026 23:27, Mike Easter wrote:

occam wrote:

Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce
In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>.-a I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person >>
When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

I booted a live LM 22.3 XFCE because I'm unfamiliar w/ that DE.

I started 'fixing' my situation to match your en-GB condition (and tz
GMT+2 puzzle).-a I figured to do that first and then see if Tb followed
suit or not, because the .en .uk (even if you aren't) locale should
default to your preferred mm/dd/yyyy mode.

I did that both in the properties of the clock (R click the clock in the notification area) and in the Settings/Language functions; 'Start'
(Menu) button/ Settings section/ Language and the selected English UK
for each of the Language, Region, and Time format.

Then I opened Tb which was installed by default to see how it handled
the format by default based on my locale.

It did not handle the date in your mm/dd/yyyy format; even tho' docs say
that it will use the system locale.

My other trouble so far is that the instructions I find for modifying
the config editor in intl.regional_prefs.use_os_locales = (T or F)
didn't work either.

So, my lengthy answer here is not helpful :-/

Not so fast! It worked for me! After I changed the Settings / Language parameters (to UK English) and requested that these are applied
systemwide, I rebooted. I could see straight away that Thunderbird had accepted the default language AND date format.

So, thanks very much for going to all the trouble of installing LM 22.3
XFCE and exploring. I appreciate that a lot.

[ASIDE] You say "Then I opened Tb which was installed by default".
Really? How come I had to install it from zero? (Same for Firefox.)

Mike, thank you for your suggestions, and to all the other responders
here. I like Linux already.

occam
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

On 9/17/26 6:22 AM, occam wrote:

On 16/09/2026 23:27, Mike Easter wrote:

occam wrote:

Linux Mint 22.3 Xfce
In Thunderbird (my mail client), the Date/Time format appears in the
annoying American format <mm/dd/yyyy>.-a I'm more of a <dd/mm/yyyy> person >>>
When I go to 'Time & Date' (under LM tools) I am not allowed to change
the format, only the Time zone.

I booted a live LM 22.3 XFCE because I'm unfamiliar w/ that DE.

I started 'fixing' my situation to match your en-GB condition (and tz
GMT+2 puzzle).-a I figured to do that first and then see if Tb followed
suit or not, because the .en .uk (even if you aren't) locale should
default to your preferred mm/dd/yyyy mode.

I did that both in the properties of the clock (R click the clock in the
notification area) and in the Settings/Language functions; 'Start'
(Menu) button/ Settings section/ Language and the selected English UK
for each of the Language, Region, and Time format.

Then I opened Tb which was installed by default to see how it handled
the format by default based on my locale.

It did not handle the date in your mm/dd/yyyy format; even tho' docs say
that it will use the system locale.

My other trouble so far is that the instructions I find for modifying
the config editor in intl.regional_prefs.use_os_locales = (T or F)
didn't work either.

So, my lengthy answer here is not helpful :-/

Not so fast! It worked for me! After I changed the Settings / Language parameters (to UK English) and requested that these are applied
systemwide, I rebooted. I could see straight away that Thunderbird had accepted the default language AND date format.

So, thanks very much for going to all the trouble of installing LM 22.3
XFCE and exploring. I appreciate that a lot.

[ASIDE] You say "Then I opened Tb which was installed by default".
Really? How come I had to install it from zero? (Same for Firefox.)

Mike, thank you for your suggestions, and to all the other responders
here. I like Linux already.

occam

Isn't XFCE a more abbreviated version. Less applications. Could it be that TB and FF
are in a virgin Mint, but not in XFCE?
--
Mint 22.3, Thunderbird 153.2.0esr, Firefox 155.0.1
Alan K.
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From Newsgroup: alt.os.linux.mint

occam wrote:

Mike, thank you for your suggestions, and to all the other responders
here. I like Linux already.

occam

I've been watching your posts for years in the (more Win-related)
freeware group.
--
Mike Easter
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