java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "x"
SimpleDateFormat couldn’t parse the string with its pattern.
Exact message you may see
Unparseable date
Seen on:
Java
Meaning
Legacy java.util.Date parsing. Pattern mismatches, locale differences and timezone suffixes are common. SimpleDateFormat is also not thread-safe.
Common causes
- Pattern doesn’t match the input
- Locale mismatch (month names)
- Shared SimpleDateFormat across threads
⚡ Quick fix
- Fix the pattern
- Migrate to java.time (DateTimeFormatter is thread-safe)
- Specify Locale.ENGLISH for English month names
Detailed fix by platform
Java
DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("EEE, dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss Z", Locale.ENGLISH)
How to diagnose
- Input — Exact string
- Pattern — Current pattern
🔧 Still not fixed?
Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:
Similar errors
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- DateTimeParseException java.time.format.DateTimeParseException: Text '31/12/2024' could not be parsed at index 2
Most viewed in Java
Other ways to find it
Where this error sits
Origin: Application & API. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):
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Last updated 13 Oct 2026