Date Picker for Excel (32-bit & 64-bit): No MSCOMCT2.OCX Needed
You can add a date picker to Excel 32-bit or 64-bit without MSCOMCT2.OCX by installing Excel Date Picker Pro, a Windows COM add-in that opens a date range popup from the ribbon. Pick a From date and a To date, choose the date and time format, and insert the list into your sheet in one click. Start with the 14-day free trial — no credit card is needed.
Excel still has no built-in calendar popup for worksheet cells. For years, people used the Microsoft Date and Time Picker from MSCOMCT2.OCX. That control is 32-bit only, so it fails on 64-bit Office. If you have seen “MSCOMCT2.OCX is not correctly registered” or run-time error 339, this is why — and how to stop fighting it.
If you only need the old control on a 32-bit PC, use our guide to installing and registering MSCOMCT2.OCX in Excel. If you work on 64-bit Excel, or share files with people who do, skip the OCX and use an add-in instead.
Why the MSCOMCT2.OCX date picker breaks on 64-bit Excel
MSCOMCT2.OCX is a 32-bit ActiveX control. 64-bit Office cannot load 32-bit controls. Microsoft has never shipped a 64-bit version, so no download and no regsvr32 command will make it work in 64-bit Excel.
Typical errors:
- “MSCOMCT2.OCX is not correctly registered”
- Run-time error 339 when a workbook opens
- “DllRegisterServer failed” with code
0x8002801c(usually because Command Prompt was not run as administrator) - Date and Time Picker missing from More Controls
On 32-bit Office you can still recover: copy the file to C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and register it with the 32-bit regsvr32. The full steps are in our MSCOMCT2.OCX install guide. Download the file only from a source you trust.
The bigger problem is sharing. Every new PC needs the same registration. One colleague on 64-bit Office, and the workbook breaks again. An excel date picker add-in that needs no OCX ends that loop.
Four ways to add a date picker in Excel
For today’s date, Ctrl+; is enough. For a date range you insert often, an add-in is faster and safer to share.
| Method | Works in 64-bit Office | Setup | From–To date range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+;) and data validation |
Yes | None | No | Today’s date, or limiting which dates a cell accepts |
| VBA UserForm calendar | Yes, if the code is 64-bit safe | Write or import code; macros must stay on | Only if you build it | Developers who want full control |
| MSCOMCT2.OCX Date and Time Picker | No | Copy and register the file on every PC | No | Old 32-bit workbooks you already have |
| Excel Date Picker Pro add-in | Yes | One zip, double-click Install.bat | Yes | Anyone who inserts dates often or shares files |
Want to build the VBA version yourself? Follow how to insert a date picker in Excel. If you would rather click one ribbon button and be done, use the add-in.
What Excel Date Picker Pro does
Excel Date Picker Pro adds a Date Picker tab to the Excel ribbon (it sits after the Developer tab). Click Date Picker, fill in the popup, and the dates go into the cells you selected.
- From and To dates. Pick both ends from a calendar. No typing
01-Jan-2026by hand. - Interval. Every day, weekdays only, every week, month, quarter or year.
- Date formats. Presets such as
dd-mmm-yyyy,mm/dd/yyyyand ISOyyyy-mm-dd, plus a custom format box. - Optional time. Start time, end time and step (15, 30 or 60 minutes), in 12-hour or 24-hour format. Useful for timesheets and shift lists.
- Layout. Down a column, across a row, or fill the selected range.
- Live preview. The first five values show before anything is written, along with the count.
- Real Excel dates. Values are written as serial numbers with a number format, not as text. Sorting, filtering and formulas keep working.
- Last settings remembered. Format, interval and layout come back next time.
- Overwrite warning. If the target cells already have data, you confirm first. Excel’s Undo stack is cleared by a COM write, so the prompt is there on purpose.
- No
regsvr32. No OCX file, no macros to enable, no code to paste into each workbook.
It works in 32-bit and 64-bit desktop Excel on the same installer.
How to install and use the add-in
The installer is a zip. Extract it first — do not run Install.bat from inside the zip window.
- Download Excel Date Picker Pro and close every Excel window.
- Right-click the zip → Extract All.
- Double-click Install.bat. It installs for your Windows user only. Administrator rights are not required. If Windows SmartScreen appears, choose More info → Run anyway.
- Open Excel. Open the Date Picker tab (after Developer). If you do not show the Developer tab, Date Picker sits at the end of the ribbon.
- Select the starting cell or range, then click Date Picker. The 14-day trial starts on first use.
- Set From, To, interval, format and layout. Check the preview, then click Insert.
If the tab is missing: File → Options → Add-ins. Set Manage to COM Add-ins, click Go, and tick Excel Date Picker Pro.
To remove it later, run Uninstall.bat from the same folder, or use Windows Settings → Apps → Excel Date Picker Pro.
14-day free trial and yearly plan
Try every feature for 14 days. After that, continue on a yearly plan.
| Plan | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | Full add-in for 14 days | Free |
| Yearly plan | Full add-in and updates for 12 months from the day you activate | [PRICE] per year |
When the trial or the year ends, the Date Picker button stays on the ribbon. Clicking it opens a licence screen: buy or renew at xlautomation.in, then paste the licence key. Dates already in your workbooks stay as normal Excel values. Renewing adds another 12 months.
The Activate / Buy button on the Date Picker tab is always there if you want to enter a key before the trial ends.
Compatibility
Excel Date Picker Pro is a Windows COM add-in. It does not run in Excel for Mac or Excel on the web.
| Requirement | Supported |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 and Windows 11 |
| Excel | Excel 2016, 2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365 (desktop) |
| Office bitness | 32-bit and 64-bit |
| Mac / Excel for the web | Not available |
You need .NET Framework 4.8, which is already on Windows 10 (1903+) and Windows 11. You do not need MSCOMCT2.OCX.
Frequently asked questions
Does Excel have a built-in date picker?
No. Worksheet cells have no calendar popup. You can press Ctrl+; for today, build a VBA UserForm, use MSCOMCT2.OCX on 32-bit Office, or install an excel date picker add-in.
Can I use MSCOMCT2.OCX in 64-bit Excel?
No. It is 32-bit. 64-bit Office will not load it. Use a 64-bit-compatible date picker for Excel instead — Excel Date Picker Pro is built for that.
How do I fix “MSCOMCT2.OCX is not correctly registered”?
On 32-bit Office, copy the file to C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and register it with the 32-bit regsvr32 from an administrator Command Prompt. See our MSCOMCT2.OCX guide. On 64-bit Office, switch to a different date picker. Registering the file will not help.
Does the add-in work on Mac?
Not yet. It supports desktop Excel on Windows 10 and 11 only.
What happens after the 14-day trial?
Buy the yearly plan and paste the licence key under Activate / Buy. If you do not, the add-in stops inserting dates. Existing workbooks are unchanged.
What happens when my yearly licence expires?
You get a renewal message. Insert stays locked until you renew. Dates already written remain normal Excel dates.
Will it overwrite my existing data?
It writes only to the cells it planned for your selection. If those cells already have values, you are asked to confirm.
Do I need to enable macros?
No. This is a COM add-in, not a macro workbook. Your files can stay as .xlsx.
Do I need administrator rights to install?
No. The installer registers the add-in for the current Windows user.
Try the Excel date picker free for 14 days
Start the free 14-day trial and insert your first date range in a few minutes. If it is not useful, stop using it. If it is, the yearly plan is [PRICE] per year.
Need a date picker built into a specific workbook instead? We also do custom Excel and VBA work. More tools sit on XL Automation.
[…] working in your Excel 365, the simplest fix is to stop depending on MSCOMCT2.OCX altogether. The Excel Date Picker Add-in (Excel Date Picker Pro) is a Windows COM add-in that adds a Date Picker tab to the Excel ribbon. You click the button, […]