Excel Retrieve Date and Time From Your Computer
Yes. Excel can retrieve the current date, the current time, or both from your computer’s system clock using the TODAY and NOW functions. Enter =TODAY() for the date or =NOW() for the date and time; these values update when Excel recalculates the worksheet.
Use TODAY or NOW
Choose the function based on what you need in the cell:
=TODAY()returns today’s date, without a time component.=NOW()returns the current date and time.
Both functions take no arguments, so include the parentheses even though nothing goes inside them. After typing a formula in a cell, press Enter. If the result looks like a number rather than a date, change the cell’s number format; the underlying value may still be correct.
For example, if the computer’s clock says October 12, 2026, at 3:45 p.m., =TODAY() represents October 12, 2026, and =NOW() represents that date and time. The displayed format depends on the cell’s formatting and regional settings.
How Excel stores and displays the result
Excel stores dates and times as serial numbers. In the common 1900 date system, the whole-number portion represents the date and the fractional portion represents the time of day. For example, a fraction of 0.5 represents noon, because noon is halfway through a 24-hour day.
The cell format controls how that number appears. The same NOW result could display as a date and time, only a date, only a time, or a number with decimals. To change it, select the cell and use the number-format options on the Home tab, or open Format Cells and choose an appropriate date, time, or custom format. Available formats can vary with the computer’s regional settings.
This distinction matters: formatting changes what you see, not the value itself. If you format a NOW cell to show only a date, the time remains in the stored value and can still affect calculations.
Make the date or time update
TODAY and NOW are volatile functions. Excel can recalculate them when the workbook recalculates, so they are useful for live indicators but are not permanent timestamps. They do not continuously tick forward every second. Their displayed values generally change when a recalculation occurs, such as when you edit a cell or reopen or recalculate the workbook.
If a formula seems stuck on an old date or time, check the calculation setting:
- Open the Formulas tab and look for Calculation Options.
- If calculation is set to Manual, choose Automatic if that is appropriate for the workbook.
- Trigger a recalculation. In many Excel desktop versions, F9 recalculates formulas; the exact shortcut can vary by platform.
Manual calculation can be intentional in a large workbook, because recalculating every formula after each edit may take time. In that case, the result will remain unchanged until a recalculation is requested.
Keep a permanent timestamp
A common misconception is that entering =NOW() records the exact moment the formula was first entered. It does not: the formula is recalculated, so its result can change later. The same is true of =TODAY().
If you need a fixed value—for example, the date an order was received—insert a static date or time instead of leaving a volatile formula in the record. In Excel for Windows, common shortcuts are Ctrl+; for the current date and Ctrl+Shift+; for the current time. On other platforms, shortcut behavior can differ, so check the application’s current keyboard-shortcut help. You can also copy a formula cell and use Paste Special to paste its value, replacing the formula with the displayed result.
A fixed value will not change when the workbook recalculates. This makes it more suitable for logs and records, while TODAY and NOW are better for dashboards, deadlines, and calculations that should reflect the current clock.
Show only a date, time, or custom format
You can control the display without changing the function. For instance, enter =NOW(), then choose a time format to show only the time. To show a date and time together, choose a format that includes both. Custom formats can also display components such as month, day, year, hour, or minutes.
Be careful when interpreting a time-only display: it can hide the date portion of NOW. If you later subtract two cells that show only times, the hidden dates may still affect the result. Likewise, a date-only display may conceal a time that changes how comparisons or elapsed-time calculations behave.
For a formula that needs only the time portion as a fraction of a day, use =MOD(NOW(),1) and format the result as a time. To extract the date portion from NOW as a serial date, use =INT(NOW()) and format it as a date. In most worksheets, however, simply choosing the correct display format is clearer.
Common problems and limitations
- A serial number appears: Apply a date or time number format. Excel’s stored date value is numeric.
- The result does not update: Check whether calculation is set to Manual, then recalculate.
- The time differs from another device: Excel uses the system clock available to the application. Check the computer’s date, time, and time-zone settings; the formula is not an independent time service.
- A formula is shown as text: The cell may be formatted as Text, or the entry may have a leading apostrophe. Set the cell to General or an appropriate date format, then re-enter the formula.
- Regional date formats look unfamiliar: The display order and separators can depend on regional settings. Use an explicit number format if the workbook needs a consistent appearance.
TODAY and NOW read the system date and time available to Excel; they do not verify that the computer clock is accurate. They also should not be treated as a continuously updating stopwatch or as proof of when a record was created. For audit-sensitive records, a spreadsheet formula alone may not provide the controls or history required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Excel formula returns today’s date?
Use =TODAY(). It returns the current date according to the computer’s system clock and updates when the workbook recalculates.
What formula returns the current time?
Use =NOW(), then format the cell to display only a time if you do not want to show the date. NOW contains both date and time, even when the format hides one of them.
Does NOW update every second?
No. NOW is recalculated when Excel recalculates the worksheet or workbook; it is not a continuously running clock.
How do I stop a date or time from changing?
Replace the formula with a static value. You can insert the date or time with a keyboard shortcut where supported, or copy the formula cell and paste its value.
Why does Excel show a number instead of a date?
Dates and times are stored as numbers. Apply a date or time number format to display the value in a familiar way.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.