How to Enter Time in Excel: 4 Methods

Method 1 – Enter Current Time in Excel

i. Using Keyboard Shortcut to Enter Time

Step 1:

We have a dataset containing only the names of some candidates. We need to enter the current time in the “Start Time” column by using the keyboard shortcut.

Step 2:

Select cell C4. Press “CTRL+SHIFT+; (Semi-colon)” to enter the current time.

• Copy them down to the end of the dataset.

Step 3:

Change the time format to hh:mm:ss or hh:mm:ss AM/PM you can do it easily. Go to the Number Format Ribbon and click on this icon  to show all formatting styles.

• In the new window, you can choose your suitable time formats. We chose the hh:mm:ss AM/PM format. Click Ok to apply this format.

• The format is successfully applied.

ii. Using the NOW Function to Enter Time

Step 1:

Use the NOW function to display the current time. In cell C4, apply the NOW function. The function is,

• Press OK to get the current time.

Step 2:

The result is in date and time format. Change the format by following the procedures that we discussed in the previous method. Open the number formatting window. Choose a suitable time format for you.

• Click OK to apply the format.

Step 3:

Copy down the value to the end of the column. That’s how you can enter the current time.

Method 2. Using the FILL HANDLE Feature to Enter Time

Step 1:

The names of some workers are given and their “Start Time” and “End Time” columns are given. Every worker starts his/her work one hour after the previous worker. We must enter their starting and ending times using the Fill Handle feature.

Step 2:

The first value for “Start Time” and “End Time” is given. Click on cell C4. Move your mouse to the bottom right corner of the cell until you see the fill handle icon (+).

• Double click on the Fill handle icon to get the time value serially.

Step 3:

• Do the same in the End Time column. Select cell D4 and get the Fill Handle icon.

• Double-click on the icon to get the result.

Method 3 – Change Cell Format to Enter Time in Excel

We can enter time by changing the number format of the cell.

Step 1:

We were given the time value of some candidates in number format. Use the formatting options to change those numbers in time.

Step 2:

Go to the Number Format Ribbon, and click on this drop-down icon  to open formatting styles. Choose the time formatting.

And our values have turned into time values.

Step 3:

Change the format from the formatting style window.

• Click OK to get your format.

Method 4 – Use TIME Function to Enter Time in Excel

Step 1:

“Hours”, “Minutes”, and “Seconds” are given in different columns for some workers. We must find their “Total Working Time” using those values.

Step 2:

In cell F4 of the Reporting Time column, apply the TIME function. Insert the values, and the final form is,

Where, C4, D4, and E4 are the values for hours, minutes, and seconds.

• Press Enter to apply the function.

Step 3:

Drag down the Fill Handle to fill all the cells.

Things to Remember

➤ The results of the NOW function changes only when the worksheet is calculated. The date and time that are used are taken from the computer’s system clock.

➤ Change the number formatting of the columns before entering time values.

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