How to Add Date and Time in Excel (Easy Formula + Shortcut)
Want to add the current date and time in Excel? This short tutorial shows you how to insert both automatically using formulas or keyboard shortcuts—ideal for tracking entries, creating logs, or marking timestamps in your data.
In this video, you’ll learn how to:
• Add the current date using =TODAY()
• Add the current date and time using =NOW()
• Insert static date or time using keyboard shortcuts
• Format date and time properly using custom formatting
• Auto-update time/date for real-time tracking in sheets
Excel handles dates and times as numbers, so formatting them correctly is key. You’ll also see how to display date and time together (e.g., “15-Apr-2025 10:30 AM”) in a single cell.
Shortcuts covered:
• Ctrl + ; to insert today’s date (static)
• Ctrl + Shift + ; to insert the current time (static)
Why this matters:
Over 70% of Excel users in operations, sales, and reporting rely on timestamp data. Whether you’re logging tasks, marking attendance, or recording submissions, using the right method ensures accuracy and consistency.
Use this method when:
• You need dynamic time tracking in dashboards
• You’re building templates that auto-update
• You want to timestamp entries manually or automatically
Bonus tip: Combine =TEXT(NOW(), "dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm AM/PM") for clean formatting in one step.