# java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "x"

**Code:** `Unparseable date` · **Category:** Java · **Seen on:** Java

SimpleDateFormat couldn’t parse the string with its pattern.

## 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

1. Fix the pattern
2. Migrate to java.time (DateTimeFormatter is thread-safe)
3. Specify Locale.ENGLISH for English month names

## Detailed fix by platform

### Java

1. `DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("EEE, dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss Z", Locale.ENGLISH)`

## How to diagnose

1. **Input** — Exact string
2. **Pattern** — Current pattern

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Source: [WhatIsMyError](https://whatismyerror.com/errors/java/parseexception-unparseable-date)