Problem converting date time string to proper date time value

Question

I am receiving a datetime string from an API that I am attempting to convert into a DateTime variable, but when I do the converse it keeps giving me the wrong time.

Here's one of the values I am getting from the api:

2020-04-21T21:44:34Z

I'm trying to bring this back as 4/21/2020 9:44:34 PM but it keeps giving me 4/21/2020 4:44:34 PM instead. (The minutes, seconds, and dates are correct.)

I've tried...

DateTime startTimeStr = Convert.ToDateTime("2020-04-21T21:44:34Z")

... and

DateTime startTimeStr = DateTime.Parse("2020-04-21T21:44:34Z");

Both give me the 4 PM time not 9 PM.

Did the comments at stackoverflow.com/a/1756699/34092 help (i.e. AdjustToUniversal)? — mjwills
– mjwills, Commented Jun 15, 2020 at 22:09

Guru Stron · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-15 22:19:23Z

1

Try calling .ToUniversalTime() on your parse result:

DateTime startTimeStr = DateTime.Parse("2020-04-21T21:44:34Z").ToUniversalTime();

Or specifying DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal on corresponding Parse overload:

DateTime startTimeStr = DateTime.Parse("2020-04-21T21:44:34Z", null, DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal);

Without that DateTime.Parse parses DateTime and adjusts it to your local timezone (checking DateTime.Kind property will give you DateTimeKind.Local).

edited Jun 15, 2020 at 22:19

answered Jun 15, 2020 at 22:07

Guru Stron

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1 Comment

David Over a year ago

Yep. That did it. Thanks!

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