Convert Unix Timestamp to Date Online (Free Converter Tool)

You're looking at a number like 1737590400 and wondering what date it represents.

That's a Unix timestamp. It's the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 (the "Unix epoch"). APIs, databases, and logs use them everywhere.

This guide shows you how to convert Unix timestamps to readable dates—and back again.

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Quick Solution: Convert Timestamps Online

The fastest way to convert Unix timestamps:

1. Go to CleanTextLab's Unix Timestamp Converter
2. Paste your timestamp (e.g., 1737590400)
3. See the human-readable date instantly
4. Copy in any format you need

No signup. No ads. Works offline.

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Example Conversions

Unix Timestamp	Human-Readable Date
1737590400	January 23, 2025 12:00:00 AM UTC
1704067200	January 1, 2024 12:00:00 AM UTC
0	January 1, 1970 12:00:00 AM UTC
2147483647	January 19, 2038 3:14:07 AM UTC

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Understanding Unix Timestamps

What is a Unix Timestamp?

A Unix timestamp (also called Epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since:

January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC

This moment is called the "Unix epoch."

Why Use Timestamps?

• Universal: Same value regardless of timezone
• Sortable: Easy to compare and sort dates
• Compact: Single integer vs. formatted date strings
• Unambiguous: No date format confusion (MM/DD vs DD/MM)

Seconds vs Milliseconds

Seconds (10 digits):

1737590400

Standard Unix timestamp. Used by most systems.

Milliseconds (13 digits):

1737590400000

JavaScript and some APIs use milliseconds. Just divide by 1000 for seconds.

The Unix Timestamp Converter automatically detects both formats.

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How to Convert: Step by Step

Timestamp → Date

1. Copy your timestamp: 1737590400
2. Paste into the converter
3. View the result: January 23, 2025 12:00:00 AM UTC

Date → Timestamp

1. Enter a date: January 23, 2025
2. Select your timezone
3. Get the timestamp: 1737590400

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Convert Timestamps in Code

JavaScript

// Timestamp to Date
const date = new Date(1737590400 * 1000);
console.log(date.toISOString());
// Output: 2025-01-23T00:00:00.000Z

// Date to Timestamp
const timestamp = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);

Python

import datetime

# Timestamp to Date
date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(1737590400)
print(date)  # 2025-01-23 00:00:00

# Date to Timestamp
import time
timestamp = int(time.time())

PHP

// Timestamp to Date
echo date('Y-m-d H:i:s', 1737590400);
// Output: 2025-01-23 00:00:00

// Date to Timestamp
$timestamp = time();

SQL (MySQL)

-- Timestamp to Date
SELECT FROM_UNIXTIME(1737590400);
-- Output: 2025-01-23 00:00:00

-- Date to Timestamp
SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP('2025-01-23 00:00:00');

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Common Timestamp Values

Timestamp	Date	Significance
0	Jan 1, 1970	Unix Epoch
1000000000	Sep 9, 2001	1 Billionth second
2000000000	May 18, 2033	2 Billionth second
2147483647	Jan 19, 2038	Y2K38 Problem (32-bit limit)

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Timezone Considerations

Unix timestamps are always in UTC. The converter tool lets you:

• View timestamps in your local timezone
• Convert between any timezone
• See UTC offset clearly

Example:

• Timestamp: 1737590400
• UTC: January 23, 2025 12:00:00 AM
• PST (UTC-8): January 22, 2025 4:00:00 PM
• EST (UTC-5): January 22, 2025 7:00:00 PM

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Debugging Timestamps in APIs

API Returns Weird Numbers?

Check if the API uses:

• Seconds: 10 digits (1737590400)
• Milliseconds: 13 digits (1737590400000)
• Microseconds: 16 digits (1737590400000000)

Common API Timestamp Fields

{
  "created_at": 1737590400,
  "updated_at": 1737676800,
  "expires_at": 1737763200
}

Use the converter to quickly decode these values during debugging.

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The Y2K38 Problem

On January 19, 2038, 32-bit Unix timestamps will overflow:

Maximum 32-bit signed integer: 2,147,483,647
This equals: January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC

After this moment, 32-bit systems could show dates from 1901 or behave unpredictably.

Solution: Modern systems use 64-bit timestamps, which won't overflow for billions of years.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the current Unix timestamp?

The converter tool shows the current timestamp in real-time.

Can I convert negative timestamps?

Yes! Negative timestamps represent dates before January 1, 1970.

• -86400 = December 31, 1969

How do I handle milliseconds?

If your timestamp has 13 digits, it's in milliseconds. The tool auto-detects this. Or divide by 1000 manually.

Is my data private?

Yes. All conversions happen in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.

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Export Options

After converting, you can:

• Copy the date in multiple formats (ISO, local, UTC)
• Download as TXT for your records
• Share a link with the pre-filled timestamp

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Related Tools

• JSON Formatter – Format JSON with timestamps
• Cron Generator – Schedule tasks with cron syntax
• Hash Generator – Generate MD5, SHA hashes

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Conclusion

Converting Unix timestamps doesn't have to be confusing. With CleanTextLab's free converter:

1. Paste any timestamp (seconds or milliseconds)
2. Instantly see the human-readable date
3. Convert between any timezone

No signup. No ads. Works offline.

Try it now: cleantextlab.com/tools/unix-timestamp-converter