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Troubleshooting Common Ninja Forms Date and Time Field Issues

25 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Ninja forms – the contact form builder that grows with you

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Date and time fields are powerful tools in Ninja Forms, but they can sometimes be a source of frustration. Based on community reports, several recurring issues can prevent these fields from working correctly. This guide outlines the most common problems and provides steps to diagnose and resolve them.

Common Date & Time Field Issues

Users frequently encounter the following problems:

  • Default Value Not Saving: A field set to "Default to Current Date" displays the date but does not save it upon submission, often triggering a "field is required" error.
  • Validation Errors: Fields show "Please select a valid date!" even when a date is selected or when the field is not set to required.
  • Picker Not Appearing: The date picker calendar fails to load, especially when the form is inside a popup, tab, or is initially hidden on the page.
  • Year Range Ignored: Settings for Start and End year are not respected, allowing users to select any year.
  • Time Field Problems: Required time-only fields do not register a selected time, resulting in validation errors or empty submissions.
  • Formatting Inconsistencies: Dates and times appear in the wrong format in emails, submissions, or exports.

Why These Issues Happen

These problems typically stem from a few key areas:

  1. Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Other code running on your site can interfere with the JavaScript that controls the date picker.
  2. JavaScript Initialization: If a form is hidden when the page loads (e.g., in a popup), the script that creates the picker may not activate correctly.
  3. Settings Mismatch: Date format settings might be configured in the main Ninja Forms settings but not overridden in the individual field settings, leading to validation conflicts.
  4. Plugin Updates: Bugs introduced in new versions can temporarily break functionality, which are often quickly addressed in subsequent updates.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issues

Follow these steps to identify and resolve problems with your date and time fields.

Step 1: Perform a Conflict Check

This is the most critical step. Temporarily disable all plugins except Ninja Forms and switch to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Four). If the problem is resolved, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one to identify the culprit.

Step 2: Update Everything

Ensure Ninja Forms, your theme, and all other plugins are updated to their latest versions. Many issues, particularly those related to validation or saving, are patched in updates.

Step 3: Check Field Format Settings

If you are getting validation errors, explicitly set the date format in the problematic field's settings. Do not rely solely on the global "Standard" format setting. Navigate to the field's settings and choose a specific format (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY).

Step 4: Investigate Popup/Hidden Form Issues

If your form is in a popup or tab and the date picker doesn't work, the issue is likely related to JavaScript initialization. Some popup plugins have settings to help with this. A common community workaround for forms using Layouts & Styles is to ensure the date field is placed in its own row, not sharing a column with other fields.

Step 5: Try a Workaround for Time Fields

For persistent issues with "Time Only" fields not validating as required, a tested workaround is to use the full "Date/Time" field and configure it to show only the time. This has been shown to be more reliable in some cases.

Step 6: Review Custom Code

If you have added custom JavaScript to modify the date picker (e.g., to disable past dates), check your browser's console for errors. Older custom code may be incompatible with recent Ninja Forms updates, as the underlying date library has changed.

By methodically working through these steps, you can usually isolate and fix the problem with your Ninja Forms date and time fields.

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