If you've ever watched your spreadsheet "correct" a date into something you didn't ask for, you know the feeling. One moment you're typing 4-24, and the next, the cell shows a comma where a slash used to live. The user who posted this isn't alone, and they aren't doing anything wrong. They've simply run into one of the quiet, frustrating ways spreadsheet software decides to be clever without asking permission.
Here's what's actually happening: the system's default date format has changed, likely due to a regional or language setting update, either in the operating system or the application itself. That's why the short date now renders with a comma instead of a slash. It's not a glitch, and it's not something you broke. The software is applying a different locale's conventions, and because the system-provided formats are tied to those settings, every date you display follows the new pattern. Custom formats work around it, but they only patch the symptom. The underlying default is still pointing somewhere else.
The second issue, typing 4-24 no longer becoming 4/24/26, is the same root cause. When the date format changes, the parser that interprets what you type changes with it. The software isn't ignoring your input; it's reading it through a new lens. That's why resetting the app's preferences or checking your device's regional settings is the real fix. Look for the date and time settings, switch the format back to something like "MM/DD/YYYY" or the equivalent short-date style you're used to, and both the display and the entry behavior should return.
What's worth remembering here is that this isn't a failure of your skill or a mystery you need to solve with trial and error. Spreadsheets are powerful, but they're also literal. They follow the rules you give them, even when those rules change behind your back. The practical takeaway: when a date format suddenly shifts, don't fight the cells. Check the region settings first, adjust the format back, and then test your shortcut entry again. You'll likely find that both problems disappear at once. The software isn't out to confuse you, it just needs you to point it in the right direction.