If you’ve ever tried to build a form using Contact Form 7 (CF7) on your WordPress website, chances are you’ve added a date field—maybe for a birth date, an appointment request, or an event RSVP. And maybe, like me, you expected it to show a placeholder inside the field like: “Enter your date of birth.” Seems simple, right?

But here’s the catch: HTML date fields don’t natively support placeholders. So when you use a date field in Contact Form 7, the placeholder just… doesn’t show up.

That’s exactly why I created the CF7 Date Placeholder Add-on—a small but mighty plugin that solves this usability issue once and for all.

The Problem: A User Experience Gap

When a form field lacks context, users hesitate. Without a visible placeholder, a date input looks empty and confusing. Especially on mobile devices where the date picker doesn’t open until tapped, users are often left wondering what the field is even asking for. This might seem like a minor issue, but in web design, small frictions = big drop-offs. If your form is even slightly confusing, you risk losing a lead, a customer, or a subscriber.

The Solution: Simulated Placeholder Magic ✨

This plugin steps in to give your date fields the polish they deserve. Here’s how it works:

• It converts date fields into text fields initially so the placeholder becomes visible.
• When the user clicks or taps the field, it smoothly switches back to a proper date field.
• If the user clicks away without entering a value, the field goes back to text and re-displays the placeholder.

It’s a seamless little trick that makes your forms easier to understand—especially on mobile.

No Technical Setup. No Headaches.

This plugin is built for ease:

✅ Works out of the box: Just install and activate it.
✅ Compatible with any theme: As long as you’re using Contact Form 7.
✅ Safe and smart: It automatically deactivates itself if CF7 isn’t installed, and shows a helpful admin notice.

Why I Built It

I’ve been working with WordPress and Contact Form 7 for years. Building websites for clients, customizing forms, and streamlining UX. Time and time again, I ran into this annoying issue with date fields. I knew there had to be a better way, so I decided to build one that would specifically do what I needed it to do..

This is a practical tool born from real-world frustration, and if you’re building forms for users, chances are you’ve felt the same.

Try It on Your Site

Whether you’re a developer, a business owner, or just someone trying to collect date input clearly and cleanly, this plugin will help.

The CF7 Date Placeholder Add-on makes your forms more intuitive, more accessible, and more user-friendly. It’s one of those small enhancements that makes a big difference.

Almost here.

There are still a few small glitches that need to be worked out. As soon as that’s done, a stable beta version of the plugin will be released. Keep an eye out on this page.
Contact me if you want to know more.