YEAR in WPS on Windows: Introduction

WPS YEAR extracts the year from a date value; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index
Version limits	None stated	Available in WPS Spreadsheet on Windows
Membership limits	None for this function	You can enter the formula and review its syntax directly

About This Feature

Overview

The YEAR function in WPS Spreadsheet returns the year from a specified date value. It is useful for date extraction, yearly summaries, report cleanup, and spreadsheet data organization.

Core tasks include:

Insert the YEAR function from the Insert Function dialog when you want guided formula entry.
Type =YEAR(...) directly in a cell or in the formula bar for faster spreadsheet work.
Review the function syntax and parameter notes before using it in a worksheet.

This function is commonly used when you need to extract year from date in WPS Spreadsheet, build helper columns, or prepare data for filtering and annual summaries.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	A Windows device that can run WPS Office
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	No required internet connection for local formula calculation; internet is needed for downloads or online help pages
Other	WPS Office should be installed, and you should be able to open WPS Spreadsheet files

Download & Installation

Before using the YEAR function, install WPS Office on your Windows device and open WPS Spreadsheet.

Item	Notes
Official Download	WPS Office Free Download
Installation method	Download the Windows installer and complete the setup with the installation wizard
Post-install Check	Launch WPS Office, open a spreadsheet file, and confirm that the Formula tab and formula bar are available

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	In WPS Spreadsheet, the YEAR function returns the year from a date and can be entered through Insert Function or by typing the formula directly.	Excel provides `YEAR(serial_number)` and returns the year corresponding to a date as an integer in the range 1900–9999.	Google Sheets provides `YEAR(date)` and notes that the input must be a date cell reference, a date-returning function, or a number.	Notion formulas support `year()` to return the year from a date value or date property.	Adobe Acrobat Sign and Acrobat forms support calculated fields and date-related formatting, but they are designed for PDF form workflows rather than spreadsheet formulas.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: WPS supports both guided insertion through the Insert Function dialog and direct formula entry, which fits both new users and frequent spreadsheet editing.	Compared with WPS: Excel offers the same core YEAR function, but its help page focuses more on syntax and date serial behavior.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets supports YEAR, but its documentation places more emphasis on numeric date input rules and non-autoconversion behavior.	Compared with WPS: Notion can return a year from a date, but the workflow is centered on database properties instead of worksheet cells.	Compared with WPS: Adobe focuses on calculated PDF form fields, so it is not aimed at routine spreadsheet formula entry.
Official Source	—	YEAR function	YEAR	Formula syntax and functions	Add calculated fields to a form

Overall Conclusion: If your main task is spreadsheet date extraction on Windows, WPS provides a familiar workflow for entering and reviewing the YEAR function. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets offer equivalent date functions, while Notion and Adobe are better suited to database or form-based calculation scenarios.

Use Cases

#	Scenario	Target Users	Core Pain Point	Solution
1	Split years from sales dates	Sales teams, operations staff	Raw dates are not convenient for yearly summaries	Use `=YEAR(date_cell)` to extract the year before summarizing data
2	Organize financial years	Finance staff	Manually extracting years from many dates is slow	Enter the YEAR function directly to generate a year column in batches
3	Build helper columns for cleanup	Data analysts	Full dates need to be converted into filterable fields	Use YEAR to create a helper column for filtering or pivot analysis
4	Teach formula basics	Students, teachers	New users may not know the function name or parameter format	Use the Insert Function dialog to find YEAR and review its description
5	Maintain recurring report templates	Administrative staff, office staff	Repeated reports need the same year extraction workflow	Reuse the YEAR formula in an existing template and fill it down

Membership & Benefits

YEAR itself is available without membership; this section outlines general differences between free access and paid plans, plus the subscription entry point.

Free vs WPS Premium

Feature	Free User	WPS Member
YEAR function entry and calculation	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅ Available	✅ Available
Some advanced office features	Refer to the product page for current availability	Includes more advanced features and extended services
Cloud storage	1 GB	Higher-capacity plans are shown on the pricing page

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Use Case	Recommended Plan	Reason
Everyday use of YEAR and other basic spreadsheet functions	Free	The YEAR function itself does not require membership
Need more advanced office features and more cloud storage	WPS Member	Better suited for users who also need broader premium features or cloud services

Subscription page: Get WPS Membership
You can review available plans and benefit details on the pricing page before choosing a subscription.