Excel Created Last Modified Time?

Excel does not automatically show you when a file was created or last modified in the workbook itself, but you can easily find both timestamps in File Explorer, the Open dialog, or with a simple formula. The created time is the moment the file was first saved on your computer, and the modified time updates every time you save changes. This article explains exactly where to see these dates, how to insert them into a worksheet, and what to do when they seem wrong.

Formula

The calculator above is unrelated to Excel timestamps; it is a general pace calculator. For Excel file timestamps, the formula you might use in a cell is:

=FILEINFO("creationtime") or =INFO("directory") are not built-in. Instead, Excel has no native function to read a file’s created or modified time directly. You can use VBA for that, or simply look at the file properties. The most common approach is to use the LastModified property in VBA:

Sub ShowTimes()
    MsgBox "Created: " & FileDateTime(ThisWorkbook.FullName)
End Sub

This returns both created and modified times, but it is not a worksheet formula.

Worked Example

Suppose you want to see the created time of the currently open workbook. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor, insert a module, and paste the code above. Press F5 to run it. A message box appears with the creation date and time. If you want the modified time, use FileDateTime after saving the file. The result will show the exact date and time in the format of your Windows regional settings.

Where Excel Stores Created and Modified Times

Excel itself does not store these timestamps inside the .xlsx file in a way you can see in a cell. The file system (NTFS, APFS, etc.) tracks three main timestamps for every file:

• Creation time – when the file was first created on the current volume. Copying a file often updates this to the copy time.
• Modified time – the last time the file’s content was changed and saved.
• Accessed time – the last time the file was opened or read (often disabled for performance).

Excel only writes the modified time when you save. The creation time is set by the operating system when the file is first written. This means if you download a file or receive it via email, the creation time may be the time it was saved to your disk, not when the author created it.

How to See Created and Modified Times in Windows

To view these timestamps in Windows File Explorer:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing your Excel file.
2. Right-click the column header (e.g., “Name�) and choose More.
3. Check Date created and Date modified.
4. Click OK. The columns now appear in the list.

Alternatively, right-click the file and select Properties. The General tab shows Created, Modified, and Accessed times. On macOS, select the file and press Command+I to see similar info.

How to Insert Created or Modified Time into a Cell

If you need the timestamp inside the workbook (for a log or report), you have a few options:

• Static value: Press Ctrl+; to insert the current date, and Ctrl+Shift+; for the current time. This is a snapshot, not a formula.
• Dynamic formula: Use =TODAY() for the date or =NOW() for date and time. These update every time the workbook recalculates, so they reflect the last opened time, not the last save.
• VBA macro: Use the FileDateTime function to pull the actual file timestamps into a cell. For example, in a cell you can’t directly call VBA, but you can assign a macro to a button that writes the value.

There is no built-in worksheet function like =FILEMODIFIED(). The only reliable way to get the true file creation time into a cell is via VBA or a third-party add-in.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common issue is that the “Created� date changes when you copy a file. For example, if you copy a workbook from a USB drive to your desktop, the creation time becomes the copy time, not the original creation time. The modified time, however, is preserved from the original file. This surprises many users who expect the created date to reflect the original author’s save date.

Another misconception is that Excel’s “Last Modified� in the Recent Files list is the same as the file system’s modified time. They are usually the same, but Excel may show the last time you opened the file if you changed it and then undid the changes without saving. The file system only updates on save.

If you see a modified time in the future, it is usually due to incorrect system clock settings or time zone changes. Excel uses the system clock for all timestamps, so if your clock is wrong, the timestamps will be wrong too.

Comparing Created vs Modified vs Accessed

These three timestamps serve different purposes:

• Created – useful for knowing when a file first appeared on your system.
• Modified – the most important for version tracking; it tells you when the content last changed.
• Accessed – rarely used on modern systems because it updates on every read, which causes disk overhead. Many systems disable it.

For Excel workbooks, the modified time is what you should rely on to know if a file has been updated. The created time is often irrelevant if the file has been copied or moved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see the created time of an Excel file without opening it?

Yes. In File Explorer, right-click the file and choose Properties. The General tab shows “Created� with the exact date and time. You can also add the “Date created� column to the folder view.

Why does the created date change when I copy a file?

Because the operating system treats the copy as a new file. The creation timestamp is set to the current time when the copy is made. The modified time, however, is copied from the original file.

Is there a formula to show the last modified time in a cell?

No built-in formula exists. You can use VBA with FileDateTime(ThisWorkbook.FullName) to get the last modified time, but it’s not a worksheet function. Alternatively, you can use a macro to write the value into a cell when the workbook opens.

How do I make Excel automatically record when a cell was changed?

You can use a worksheet change event in VBA. For example, when a specific cell changes, the macro writes the current date and time into another cell. This is not a native Excel feature, but it’s a common add-in technique.

Does Excel store the author’s original creation time?

No. The file system only stores the creation time on your local drive. If the file was created elsewhere and then sent to you, the creation time is when you saved it to your disk. The original creation time is not embedded in the file.

Why does the modified time not update when I open and close the file?

Because opening a file does not change its content. The modified time only updates when you save changes. If you open a file and close it without editing, the modified time stays the same.

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