Excel: Shortcut for Entering the Current Date and Time

 Last reviewed: March 17, 1998
Article ID: Q89776
2.x 3.00 4.00 4.00a 5.00 | 2.x 3.00 4.00 4.00a 5.00 | 2.20 2.21 3.00 
WINDOWS                  | MACINTOSH     | OS/2
kbother

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 7.0, 97
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2 versions 2.2, 2.21, 3.0

In Microsoft Excel, you can quickly enter the current date and time using the following keystrokes:

For the current date, press: 

   CTRL+;   (COMMAND+HYPHEN on the Macintosh)
For the current time, press: 

   SHIFT+CTRL+:  (COMMAND+; on the Macintosh)
These keystrokes enter the date and time in the formula bar. To complete the entry in the cell, press ENTER (RETURN on the Macintosh) after you have entered the date or time in the formula bar.

To enter both the date and the time in a single cell:

  1. Press CTRL+; (COMMAND+HYPHEN on the Macintosh).

  2. Press SPACEBAR to put a space between the date and time.

  3. Press CTRL+SHIFT+: (COMMAND+; on the Macintosh).

  4. Press ENTER (RETURN on the Macintosh).

Additional query words: 5.00 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0
3.00 4.0 4.00 7.0 97 keyboard key

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Last reviewed: March 17, 1998
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