# Getting Started with WinForms DateTimePicker

This article shows how you can start using **RadDateTimePicker**.

## Adding Telerik Assemblies Using NuGet

To use `RadDateTimePicker` when working with NuGet packages, install the `Telerik.UI.for.WinForms.AllControls` package. The [package target framework version may vary](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/available-nugets).

Read more about NuGet installation in the [Install using NuGet Packages](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/install-using-nuget) article.

> tip With the 2025 Q1 release, the Telerik UI for WinForms has a new licensing mechanism. You can learn more about it [here](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/licensing/license-key).

## Adding Assembly References Manually

When dragging and dropping a control from the Visual Studio (VS) Toolbox onto the Form Designer, VS automatically adds the necessary assemblies. However, if you're adding the control programmatically, you'll need to manually reference the following assemblies:

* **Telerik.Licensing.Runtime**
* **Telerik.WinControls**
* **Telerik.WinControls.UI**
* **TelerikCommon**

The Telerik UI for WinForms assemblies can be install by using one of the available [installation approaches](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer).

## Defining the RadDateTimePicker

The following tutorial demonstrates basic usage of **RadDateTimePicker**, formatting and applying themes.

1. Drop **RadDateTimePicker** on the form.

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker ToolBox Drag Drop](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/fb3895bfab580e0725d5eb1bfac4fb6d/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started002.png)

2. In the **Properties** window use the drop down calendar to set the **MinDate** property to the first day of the current month.

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker Properties](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/4de23ecde59e7258c5e6464a86be8256/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started003.png)

3. Set the **MaxDate** property to be the last day of the current month.

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker MaxDate Property](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/a3578d92efd9eb3706e7089ab76d2436/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started004.png)

4. Set the **Format** property to **Short**.

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker Format Property](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/b53599743a104cbdca2d387206d81c7a/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started005.png)

5. Drag **Office2010BlackTheme** on the form

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker ToolBox DragDrop Office2010BlackTheme](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/9abfb6d94725d781c3d85c24a423c5e1/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started006.png)

6. Set the **ThemeName** property to **Office2010Black**.

   ![WinForms RadDateTimePicker ThemeName Property](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/037e186e5df7d25a171bbe58431abcbe/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started007.png)

7. Press **F5** to run the application. You will only be able to pick dates that are within the current month, the drop down calendar will display in the Office2010BlackTheme theme and the date will display in short format.

> caption Figure 1: RadDateTimePicker with the Office2010Black theme.

![WinForms RadDateTimePicker With The Office00Black Theme](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/370db153e1237cd375d2efe61df430d8/editors-datetimepicker-getting-started001.png)

## See Also

* [Design Time](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/design-time)
* [Free Form Date Time Parsing](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/free-form-date-time-parsing)
* [MaskDateTimeProvider](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/maskdatetimeprovider)
* [Properties](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/raddatetimepicker-properties)
* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/overview)
* [Specify the Minutes/Hours Step in DateTimePicker's Popup](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/editors/datetimepicker/getting-started)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms DateTimePicker Component](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/datetimepicker.aspx)
* [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/getting-started/first-steps)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Setup](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Converter](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/ai-coding-assistant/converter/converter)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Visual Studio Templates](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates)
* [Deploy Telerik UI for WinForms Applications](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/deployment-and-distribution/application-deployment)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom(Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/telerik-ui-for-winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms License Agreement)](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/license-agreement/winforms-dlw-s)