Shortcut to Insert Today's Date and Time in Excel

The shortcut for the current date in Excel is Ctrl+; on Windows and Control+; on a Mac. It types today's date into the selected cell as a fixed value, which is exactly what you want for logs, invoices and timesheets. This guide covers the date and time shortcuts on both systems, how to make a full timestamp, and when a formula like TODAY() is the better choice.

Date and time shortcuts at a glance#

These shortcuts type the date or time into the active cell, just as if you had typed it yourself:

The semicolon key sits to the right of L on a US or UK keyboard. On other keyboard layouts the key can be in a different place, so look for the key that types ;.

How to insert today's date#

1. Click the cell where the date should go.
2. Press Ctrl+; (Mac: Control+;).
3. Press Enter (Mac: Return) to confirm.

Excel enters today's date using your computer's short date format, for example 15/03/2024 or 3/15/2024, depending on your region. It's a real date, stored as a number, so you can sort by it, filter it and do date maths with it.

The shortcut also works while you're typing in a cell. For example, type Checked on and then press Ctrl+; to add the date after the words. The result is text, though, so use it only for notes.

How to insert the current time or a timestamp#

Press Ctrl+Shift+; on Windows, or ⌘+; on a Mac, to type the current time into a cell. On Windows you can think of it as Ctrl+:, because Shift+; types a colon.

For a full timestamp, a date and time in one cell, press the keys in sequence before you press Enter:

1. Press Ctrl+; to type the date.
2. Type a space.
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+; to type the time.
4. Press Enter.

The cell now holds something like 15/03/2024 14:30, stored as a single date-time value. To show the time with seconds or as AM/PM, open Format Cells with Ctrl+1 (Mac: ⌘1), choose Custom, and use a format such as dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss.

Shortcut vs TODAY(): fixed or updating?#

The key difference is whether the date should ever change.

Use the shortcut when you're recording when something happened: the date an order arrived or a task was done. If you used TODAY() there, every row would show the same date and change tomorrow, which ruins the record.

Use TODAY() when the answer should stay current, such as days until a deadline: =B2-TODAY(). TODAY() and NOW() update whenever the sheet recalculates, including when you open the file. The TODAY function guide has more examples, and the comparison of TODAY vs NOW explains the time part.

To freeze a TODAY() result, copy the cell and paste it back with Paste Special > Values (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+V; Mac: Control+⌘+V). The formula is replaced by the date it showed.

Working with the dates you entered#

Because the shortcut enters a real date, you can calculate with it straight away. If B2 holds the date an order was logged and C2 the date it shipped:

=DAYS(C2,B2)

With 15 March and 22 March 2024, the result is 7. You can also add days for a due date with =B2+30, or get the month-end with EOMONTH. The guide to adding days, months and years covers those, and finding the quarter from a date is handy for reports.

If a date was typed as text, for example imported as "15 March 2024", it won't calculate. The article on DATE vs DATEVALUE shows how to convert it. For an overview of every date function, see the guide to Excel date functions.

Can Excel add the date automatically?#

Not with a normal formula. People often want a date to appear by itself when a row is filled in, and then never change. TODAY() can't do that, because it changes every day. Formula tricks that try to freeze it rely on circular references and iterative calculation, and they're fragile: they can reset when the file recalculates or is opened on another computer.

The reliable options are:

• Use the shortcut as a habit. When you add a row, press Ctrl+; (Mac: Control+;) in the date column. It takes a second and the value never changes.
• Use a macro. A small VBA macro can stamp the date automatically when a row is filled in. That's beyond this guide, and macros need a macro-enabled file (.xlsm).

For most logs and trackers, the shortcut is simple and dependable.

Common problems with the date shortcut#

A few things can make the shortcut seem broken:

• You see ##### instead of the date. The column is too narrow. Double-click the right edge of the column header to widen it.
• The date shows as a number like 45366. The cell has a General or Number format. Apply a date format with Ctrl+Shift+# (Mac: Control+Shift+#).
• Nothing happens on a Mac. Check you're pressing Control, not ⌘, for the date. ⌘+; inserts the time.
• The date is in the wrong order. The format follows your computer's regional settings. Pick a different format in Format Cells; the stored date doesn't change.

If you're logging data row by row, it helps to know how to add rows quickly too. See the shortcuts for inserting and deleting rows.

Practise it#

Practise entering and calculating dates in a live spreadsheet: you'll enter dates, add days and find the gap between two dates, and each answer is checked instantly. Start with the DAYS exercise on this page.