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Excel insert today's date: Ctrl + ;
Put today's date into a cell with one key combination.
With voice: turn the sound on to hear how it works. Recorded in Excel for the web; the shortcut works the same in desktop Excel.
What it does
Ctrl + ; (Control and the semicolon) types today's date into the active cell. The date is a fixed value: tomorrow it will still show today's date. That is the difference from the formula =TODAY(), which updates every day.
When to use it
Use it for logs, invoices, task lists and anything where you need to record when something happened. For an up to date date use =TODAY(), and for the time press Ctrl + Shift + ; instead.
How to do it
- Select an empty cell.
- Press Ctrl + ;
- Today's date appears in the format your computer uses.
A quick example
In an expense log, click the Date cell of the new row and press Ctrl + ;. Today's date appears, and it stays the same when you open the file next week, which is exactly what you want for a record. To stamp date and time, press Ctrl + ;, then Space, then Ctrl + Shift + ;.
Ctrl + ; compared with TODAY() and NOW()
The shortcut types a fixed value, so the date never changes. =TODAY() is a formula that shows the current date every time the file is opened or recalculated, and =NOW() adds the current time. Use the shortcut for records of when something happened, and the formulas for 'days left' counters or reports that should always be current.
Not working? Check this
- Nothing appears: the cell may be in edit mode or the sheet protected. Select an empty cell and try again.
- The date looks like a number such as 46000: format the cell as a date with Ctrl + 1.
- On keyboards with another layout the semicolon sits on a different key. Press Ctrl with the key that shows the semicolon on your layout.
Quick answers
What is the shortcut for today's date in Excel?
Ctrl + ; inserts today's date as a fixed value. On a Mac use Control + ;. The current time is Ctrl + Shift + ; on Windows.
How do I insert the current date and time in Excel?
Press Ctrl + ;, then Space, then Ctrl + Shift + ; for a fixed date and time. For a value that updates, use =NOW() and format the cell as date and time.
Why is Ctrl + ; not working in Excel?
Check that the cell is not in edit mode and the sheet is not protected, and that your keyboard layout has the semicolon where Excel expects it. If the combination still does nothing, type =TODAY() instead.