Many users simply type the date as numbers (like 20/05/2025) in Excel worksheets. Though it works in most cases, sometimes Excel will use different format (like “General” or “Number” or “Custom”) for the entered date. This will create problems when you do date related calculations. In our articles, we have explained how to add or subtract dates and convert number date to proper date format in Excel. In this article, we will explore various methods in Microsoft Excel to properly insert date and time in current format.
Insert Date and Time in Excel
Unlike Microsoft Word app which has a “Date & Time” option under “Insert” menu, you do not have any such option in Excel ribbon. However, you have different other methods to insert current date, any custom date or a dynamic date as you need.
Excel will consider the cell in “Date” format when it has only date and “Custom” format when it has time or both date & time together. You can check the cell’s format in the box showing under “Number” group in “Home” tab.
1. Manually Entering Date
As mentioned, you can simply type the date in Excel cell. However, make sure to use the system format as shown in your Taskbar tray. Otherwise, the date will be used in “General” format instead of “Date” format. For example, if your system format is MM/DD/YYYY, then you should use the same format while typing. You can also add the time like 05/29/2025 06:25 PM and Excel will use “Custom” format in such case.
Note: System regional time format can be changed in Windows Settings or Mac Settings app.
2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts
This is an easy way to insert current date and current time in Excel cells.
- Control + ; to insert current date.
- Control + Shift + ; to insert current time.
You can use both shortcuts in a single cell to insert current date and time together. By default, Excel uses “Date” format for date and “Custom” format if time is involved. Check out the complete list of Excel keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work.
Note: If you want to apply “Time” format for a cell, right-click on the cell and select “Format Cells…” option. Go to “Number” tab and select “Time” under “Category” column. Select the type of format and locale that you want to use.
3. Insert Dynamic Date and Time with Functions
You can use default functions if you want Excel to update the date or time automatically. Simply type the function in a cell and press enter.
- =TODAY() – insert current date.
- =NOW() – insert current date and time.
4. Restrict Date and Time with Data Validation
Sometimes you may want to restrict certain Excel cells to only allow date or time input. In this case, you can use Data Validation feature in Excel.
- Select the cell, go to “Data” tab and “Data Validation” option.
- Go to “Settings” tab in “Data Validation” pop-up and choose “Date” or “Time” option from the “Allow” dropdown.
- Select the “Data” criteria and set start / end date.
- You can also setup input and error messages if required under the respective tabs.
- Click “OK” button to apply the restriction.
For example, you can select date greater than 01/01/1900 so that any date after that can be inputted in the cell.
5. Insert Date and Time Using Formula
All the above options allow to enter current date / time or restrict the input in a cell. If you want to insert a custom date / time from a year, then use the following formulas:
- =DATE(year, month, day) – insert date of a specified year, month and day values.
- =TIME(hour, minute, second) – insert time from the specified hour, minute and second values.
Though these formulas may not be required for normal date insertion, however, you can use them in dynamic date calculations.
6. Using VBA Editor
You can automate the date / time insertion using the VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) editor in Excel.
- Open Excel sheet and press “Alt + F11” or “Alt + Fn + F11” keys in Windows. On Mac, press “Option + F11” or “Option + Fn + F11” keys to open the VBA editor.
- Go to “Insert > Module” menu and insert a new module.
- Copy paste the following code in the editor.
Sub InsertCurrentDateTime()
ActiveCell.Value = Now
End Sub- Click the “Run” menu or button to insert the current date and time in the selected cell.
Final Words
Using keyboard shortcut is the super easy option to insert current date and time in Excel sheets. Functions, formulas and VBA editor can be used when you want to insert dynamic and complex date / time used in calculations.
