How to Convert Unix Timestamps to Dates Online
Unix timestamps (also called epoch time) represent dates as the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 UTC. They're used extensively in programming, databases, and APIs for storing dates in a universal, timezone-independent format. This guide shows you how to convert Unix timestamps to readable dates (and vice versa) using fixie.tools — a free online converter that supports multiple timezones, milliseconds, and batch conversion, with no signup required.
Step 1: Open the Timestamp Converter
Navigate to fixie.tools/timestamp in your web browser. The tool converts between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates in both directions. All conversions happen in your browser with no server communication. No account or installation is required.
Step 2: Choose Conversion Direction
Select whether you want to convert a Unix timestamp to a date, or convert a date to a Unix timestamp. For timestamp to date, you'll paste a numeric timestamp (like 1709567400). For date to timestamp, you'll use a date picker to select a specific date and time. The tool supports both directions for bidirectional conversion.
Step 3: Enter Your Timestamp or Date
For timestamp-to-date conversion, paste your Unix timestamp into the input field. The tool automatically detects whether it's in seconds (10 digits, like 1709567400) or milliseconds (13 digits, like 1709567400000). For date-to-timestamp conversion, use the date picker to select a date and time, or type it manually in a standard format like 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'.
Step 4: Select Your Timezone
Choose the timezone you want to display the date in. The default is your browser's local timezone, but you can convert to any timezone including UTC, EST, PST, GMT, and hundreds of others. This is useful when working with logs from different regions or scheduling events across timezones. The tool shows both the selected timezone and UTC for reference.
Step 5: View and Copy Results
The conversion result appears instantly in multiple formats: full date and time (2024-03-04 15:30:00), ISO 8601 format (2024-03-04T15:30:00Z), relative time ('2 days ago'), and the raw Unix timestamp. Use the copy buttons to grab the format you need for your application. The tool also shows the day of week and can display results in multiple timezones simultaneously for comparison.