Written By Sophanith Dith
Last Updated June 16, 2026
Applies to Microsoft Excel 365 (Windows only)
When you are updating a report, recording a payment, or entering an order, typing the date manually can slow you down and lead to mistakes. Fortunately, learning how to insert today’s date in Excel takes only one simple keyboard shortcut.
Select a cell and press Ctrl + ;. Excel immediately enters the current date as a fixed value, saving time when you enter dates repeatedly.
Why This Excel Date Shortcut Matters
Entering one date manually may not take long, but repeated typing adds up. The shortcut helps you enter dates faster, more consistently, and with fewer typing mistakes.
The shortcut is useful when recording:
- The date an order was received.
- The date a payment was processed.
- The date a task was completed.
- The date a report was updated.
- The date an employee submitted information.
It also reduces typing mistakes, especially when you are working quickly or entering dates into many rows.
To speed up other parts of your worksheet, you can also learn the keyboard shortcuts to move between cells in Excel.
How to Insert Today’s Date in Excel with a Keyboard Shortcut
Excel provides separate shortcuts for the current date and current time. The following table gives you a quick reference before you try the steps.
| What you want to insert | Keyboard shortcut |
|---|---|
| Current date | Ctrl + ; |
| Current time | Ctrl + Shift + ; |
| Current date and time | Ctrl + ;, press Space, then Ctrl + Shift + ; |
To enter today’s date as a fixed value:
- Click the cell where you want the date to appear.
- Hold down Ctrl, then press the semicolon (;) key.
- Release both keys.
Excel inserts the current date into the selected cell.
For example, Excel might display the inserted date as “6/13/2026”. The exact appearance depends on the date format applied to the cell. Learn how to format dates in Excel to display the date the way you want.
This is the fastest way for anyone wondering how to enter today’s date in Excel without typing it manually.
Once you know the basic shortcut, it is important to understand when the inserted date is most useful.
When to Use This Tip
The current-date shortcut works best when you need to record the date on which something happened. Because the result stays fixed, it creates a reliable record that will not change the next day.
Common examples include:
- Order tracking: Record the date a customer order arrives.
- Expense logs: Add the date when an expense is entered.
- Attendance sheets: Record the date of an absence or attendance update.
- Task lists: Add the completion date beside a finished task.
- Inventory records: Record when stock was received or counted.
For instance, in Sales_Report.xlsx, suppose column A contains order numbers and column B contains received dates. Select cell B2, press Ctrl + ;, and continue entering the order details.
This method is especially helpful when you need to know how to add today’s date in Excel as a permanent record rather than as a date that changes automatically.
That difference between a permanent date and an updating date is important.
Static Date Versus an Automatically Updating Date
The Ctrl + ; shortcut inserts a static date. This means the date remains the same when you reopen the workbook tomorrow, next week, or next month.
An automatically updating date behaves differently:
- Ctrl + ; for a permanent date.
- The TODAY function for a date that updates automatically.
For example, an order-received date should normally remain fixed. A dashboard heading that says “Report as of” might need an automatically updating date instead.
This article stays focused on the quick keyboard shortcut. For a date that updates automatically, see our guide to using the TODAY function in Excel.
For more information about static and automatically updating dates, see Microsoft Support’s guide to inserting the current date and time in an Excel cell.
Choosing the correct type of date prevents one of the most common Excel mistakes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The shortcut is simple, but a few small issues can cause confusion. Checking these points will help you get the expected result.
- Expecting the date to update automatically: A date inserted with Ctrl + ; stays fixed.
- Using the wrong shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + ; inserts the current time, not the date.
- Selecting the wrong cell: Confirm that the correct cell is active before pressing the shortcut.
- Seeing a row of number signs: If the cell shows #####, widen the column so Excel has enough space to display the date.
- Thinking the date is incorrect: The cell may be using a different date format, such as day-month-year instead of month-day-year.
If you enter the date in the wrong location, press Ctrl + Z immediately. You can learn more in How to Use the Undo and Redo Shortcut in Excel.
After avoiding these mistakes, you can extend the same shortcut to create a complete timestamp.
How to Insert the Current Date and Time in Excel
Sometimes the date alone is not enough. You may also need the exact time when an order, request, or update was recorded.
To insert both values in the same cell:
- Select the destination cell.
- Press Ctrl + ; to insert the current date.
- Press the Spacebar once.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + ; to insert the current time.
- Press Enter.
The cell will contain a result similar to: 6/13/2026 7:45 PM.
This is a quick solution for users searching for how to insert current date and time in Excel. Both the date and time remain fixed after they are entered.
The best way to remember the shortcuts is to try them in a worksheet immediately.
Quick Practice
Use XcelTips_Practice.xlsx to practice inserting a date and timestamp.
- Open the workbook and select an empty cell.
- Press Ctrl + ; to insert today’s date.
- Select another cell and press Ctrl + ;, Space, and Ctrl + Shift + ; to insert the current date and time.
Close and reopen the workbook to confirm that both entries remain unchanged.
With the shortcut practiced, the following answers cover the most common beginner questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This section explains a few details that may not be obvious the first time you use the shortcut.
How do I put today’s date in Excel without typing it?
Select the destination cell and press Ctrl + ;. Excel enters the current date based on your computer’s date settings.
Will the inserted date change tomorrow?
No. The Ctrl + ; shortcut inserts a fixed date. It will continue showing the original date unless you edit the cell.
What is the shortcut for the current time?
Press Ctrl + Shift + ; to insert the current time as a fixed value.
Why does my date appear in a different format?
The cell may be using a different date format. To change its appearance, read How to Format Date in Excel Correctly.
Can I insert today’s date into several cells at once?
The shortcut normally enters the date into the active cell. For a few cells, select each destination and use the shortcut. Filling many cells at once would involve a broader data-entry method outside the scope of this quick tip.
You now have a fast way to record dates without interrupting your workflow.
With these common questions answered, you are ready to use the shortcut confidently in your own worksheets.
Conclusion
Learning how to insert today’s date in Excel can make routine data entry faster and more accurate. Select a cell and press Ctrl + ; whenever you need a permanent record of the current date.
For a complete timestamp, insert the date, press the Spacebar, and then press Ctrl + Shift + ;. Practicing these shortcuts a few times will help them become a natural part of your Excel workflow.
Continue improving your speed with How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Move Between Cells in Excel, or follow the Excel Beginner Learning Path to build your skills in a structured order.