Excel Date and Time Shortcut Keys Explained

In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, press Ctrl+; to insert today’s date, or Ctrl+Shift+; to insert the current time. These shortcuts enter fixed values, not formulas, so the date or time will not update later.

The Excel shortcuts for date and time

Both shortcuts work in the selected cell while you are editing a worksheet. The date shortcut uses the semicolon key; the time shortcut adds Shift:

Current date: Ctrl+;
Current time: Ctrl+Shift+;

They use your computer’s current date and local time. Excel stores the result as a value in the cell, which means you can sort, calculate with, or format it like other date and time entries. The visible appearance depends on the cell’s number format: a date might appear as 11/2/2026, while the same value could be displayed as 2-Nov-2026.

To put both in one cell, press Ctrl+; to enter the date, press the Spacebar, then press Ctrl+Shift+; to enter the time. The space separates the two entries. If Excel displays only part of the result, the cell’s number format or column width may be hiding information; the stored value can still contain both date and time.

How to enter a date or time

Select the cell where you want the entry.
Press Ctrl+; for the date, or Ctrl+Shift+; for the time.
Press Enter to confirm the entry, or continue editing the cell if needed.

The shortcut writes to the active cell. Selecting a range does not fill every cell in that range with the date or time; only the active cell receives the entry. For a timestamp in a single cell, enter the date, a space, and then the time shortcut before confirming.

To enter the same fixed date in several separate cells, you can copy the completed cell and paste it elsewhere. That preserves the date value. By contrast, dragging a fill handle or using fill commands can follow Excel’s series rules, so check the results if you need every cell to contain exactly the same value.

Fixed entries versus dates that update

A shortcut is useful for recording when something happened: for example, the date an order arrived, the time a call began, or the day a task was completed. Because the inserted value is fixed, reopening the workbook tomorrow will not change yesterday’s entry. This makes shortcuts suitable for logs and records where the original timestamp matters.

Excel also has date and time functions that calculate values. In a blank cell such as A1, enter =TODAY() to show the current date. In a blank cell such as A1, enter =NOW() to show the current date and time. These are formulas, not fixed stamps: their results can change when the workbook recalculates. TODAY returns a date; NOW returns both a date and a time, although the cell’s format controls what you see.

Use a shortcut when you want to preserve the value entered at that moment. Use a function when you want a cell to reflect the current date or time as the workbook recalculates. A formula is not necessarily a continuously ticking clock; Excel recalculates according to its calculation settings and workbook activity, rather than updating every second by default.

Formatting the result

Excel stores dates and times as numbers and uses number formats to display them in familiar ways. That is why a cell may show a time such as 9:30 AM even though the underlying value is numeric. Changing the format changes the display, not the timestamp itself.

To change a cell’s appearance in Excel for Windows, select it and use Home > Number Format. Choose a suitable date or time option, or select More Number Formats to see additional choices. You can also press Ctrl+1 to open Format Cells and choose a format on the Number tab.

Choose a short date format for compact logs, such as 11/2/2026.
Choose a longer date format when you want the month written out, such as 2 November 2026.
Choose a time format with AM/PM if readers need to distinguish morning from afternoon.
Use a date-and-time format when a single cell contains both entries.

If a time appears as a decimal or a date appears as a number, the value may be present but formatted as General or Number. Apply a date or time format rather than re-entering the shortcut. If a cell shows a row of number signs, widen the column or use a shorter format; Excel often displays this when the column is too narrow for the formatted value.

Why Excel stores dates and times as numbers

Excel represents dates as serial numbers, with the whole-number portion corresponding to a calendar date. Time is represented as a fraction of a day: noon is one-half because it is half a day, and six hours is one-quarter. A date-and-time value can therefore contain both a whole-number date and a fractional time.

This number system lets you sort dates chronologically and subtract one timestamp from another to calculate elapsed time. It also explains why formatting matters: changing a cell’s format can reveal a number rather than a familiar date, but it does not mean the entry has been erased. Copying a date or time into another workbook can sometimes produce a different-looking result if the workbooks use different date systems, so verify dates when moving data between files with unusual settings.

Another common misunderstanding is that the shortcut inserts text that only looks like a date. In ordinary use, Excel recognizes the entry as a date or time value, so date-aware sorting and formatting work. If a cell was already formatted as Text, however, entry and interpretation can be affected. Change the cell to a suitable date or time format and enter the value again if Excel treats it as text.

Windows, Mac, and Excel for the web

The Windows shortcuts are Ctrl+; for the date and Ctrl+Shift+; for the time. In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Mac, the corresponding shortcuts are generally Control+; and Control+Shift+;. The key is Control, not Command. Keyboard layouts vary, so the semicolon may be positioned differently or require a different key combination on some devices.

Excel for the web runs inside a browser, and browser or operating-system shortcuts can sometimes interfere with a key combination. If a shortcut does not enter the value, try the desktop Excel app or consult the keyboard-shortcut guidance for the web app and your keyboard layout. Do not assume that a shortcut using Command on Mac is interchangeable with one using Control; many Excel commands differ, but these date and time entries use Control.

Common problems and quick fixes

The shortcut does nothing: Confirm that the worksheet cell is selected and that you are not typing in a dialog box. Check whether another app or browser is capturing the key combination, and verify the semicolon key on your keyboard layout.
The value looks wrong: Select the cell and apply a date, time, or date-and-time number format. The stored value may be fine even if its display is unexpected.
The date or time changes later: Check whether the cell contains a formula such as TODAY or NOW instead of a shortcut-entered value. A shortcut inserts a fixed entry; those functions recalculate.
The date appears as text: Check whether the cell is formatted as Text. Change the format and enter the value again so Excel can recognize it.
The full entry is not visible: Widen the column or choose a shorter format. A narrow column can conceal a date or time even when the cell contains it.

For records where the timestamp is important, avoid replacing a fixed shortcut entry with a current-time formula later. If you need a reliable audit trail or multiple users must record events consistently, agree on a format and process, and consider whether a spreadsheet alone meets your record-keeping needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut for today’s date in Excel?
In Excel for Windows, press Ctrl+;. On Mac, use Control+;. The shortcut inserts a fixed date value based on the computer’s current date.

What is the shortcut for the current time in Excel?
Press Ctrl+Shift+; on Windows. On Mac, use Control+Shift+;. The result is a fixed time entry, not a live clock.

How do I put the date and time in the same Excel cell?
Press Ctrl+;, press the Spacebar, then press Ctrl+Shift+; before confirming the cell. If the display does not show both parts, apply a date-and-time number format or widen the column.

Will Excel’s date shortcut update tomorrow?
No. The shortcut inserts a fixed value, so it stays the same. The TODAY function can show a recalculated current date, while NOW can show a recalculated current date and time.

Why does my date shortcut show a number?
Excel stores dates and times numerically. Apply a date or time format from Home > Number Format, or open Format Cells with Ctrl+1 and choose an appropriate format.

Can I use these shortcuts in Excel for the web?
They may work, but browser and keyboard-layout behavior can vary. If a combination is intercepted or does not enter a value, try Excel’s desktop app or check the web app’s shortcut guidance.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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