How to Insert Current Date in Excel (4 Suitable Examples)

When making an assignment, report, or any other business-related document, it’s pretty common to add the current date. Sometimes we need to insert it several times and then it’s bothersome or time-consuming to insert the current date manually every time.

You will be glad to know that Excel offers some easy ways by which we can easily and quickly insert the current date for a short dataset or long dataset. In this article, we’ll learn how to insert the current date in Excel with 4 suitable examples.

How to Insert Current Date in Excel: 4 Suitable Examples

Now in this section, we’ll learn 4 suitable examples of how to insert current the date in Excel with easy steps and sharp illustrations.

We have used the date format- MM/DD/YYYY.

1. Insert Current Static Date Using Keyboard Shortcut in Excel

When you want to insert the current date in a few places of your dataset then using a shortcut is the best option for you.

• Select a cell where you want to insert the current date and then just press CTRL+ ; (semi-colon), soon after you will get the current date on that cell.
• Repeat the same process to insert the current date on the other cells.

Note: If you recalculate your workbook or reopen it on another day then it won’t update the date automatically.

Read More: How to Insert Date in Excel Formula

2. Use the Excel Function to Insert the Current Date (If the Worksheet Needs to Be Updated/Recalculated/Reopened)

When you want to update the current date while recalculating or reopening the workbook on another day then using the TODAY or NOW functions are very effective. Also, it’s feasible for a large dataset as we can use the Fill Handle tool.

2.1 Apply TODAY Function to Insert Current Date

First, we’ll learn to insert the current date using the TODAY function and some practical examples related to it. The TODAY function has the simplest syntax conceivable, with no arguments at all.

• Enter the following formula in a Cell E5-

• Then use the Fill Handle tool to copy it for the other cells.

Now let’s see some examples related to the TODAY function for inserting the current date.

Example 1. Add or Subtract Days from the Current Date

Suppose you know the before or after delivery days of some products from the current date then by adding or subtracting the days with the TODAY function you can get the delivery date quickly.

• Insert the following formula in Cell F5 and use the Fill Handle tool-

Example 2. Calculate Months or Years from the Current Date

If we use a nested formula using the DATEDIF and TODAY functions then we can get the number of months or years between a certain date and the current date. In the below dataset, we have some projects’ start dates, we’ll calculate the number of months or years till the current date.

Calculating Months:

• In Cell E5, write the following formula and then use the Fill Handle tool to get the output for the whole column-

• Here, the TODAY function will return the current date. And the DATEDIF function will calculate the month numbers between the given date and the current date. “M” is used for the month.

Calculating Years:

• To get the number of years, use the following formula-

• This formula works the same as the previous formula. “y” is used for the year.

Example 3. Get Age from Current Date

By using the TODAY function we can calculate the age from the current date. For that, we’ll need the help of the YEAR function here. Here, we have some employees’ years of birth and now we’ll calculate their ages. My current date is 4/5/2023.

• Type the below formula in Cell E5 and use the Fill Handle tool-

• The TODAY function will return the current date. Then the YEAR function will return the year number from the current date and then the birth year will be subtracted from that.

Example 4. Calculate the Closest Date to the Current Date

In this example, we’ll determine the closest past or future date to our current date by using the MAX, MIN, IF, and TODAY functions. My current date is 4/5/2023.

Closest Past Date:

• Insert the following formula in Cell D15–

Closest Future Date:

• Use the following formula to get the closest future date from the current date-

Example 4. Get a Date Closest to Today

Now here, we have some random dates that are before or after from current date, we’ll find the closest date from those dates. so we’ll need to apply the INDEX, MATCH, MIN, and ABS functions with the TODAY function. My current date is 4/5/2023.

• Apply the following formula in Cell D15–

Read More: How to Insert Dates in Excel Automatically

3. Apply Power Query to Insert Current Date

When we have a very large dataset then it’s quite difficult to use shortcuts or formulas to insert the current date in a long column. In that case, Excel Power Query is the best tool to use. Now let’s learn how to insert the current date in Excel using Power Query.

• First, select the dataset and click as follows: Data > From Table/Range.

• After opening the Power Query window, click: Add Column > Custom Column.

• Give a column name and insert the custom column formula:

• Now see, a column has been added with the current date and time. Click Close & Load to get it in a new sheet.

• Here’s the final output in a new sheet.

Read More: Automatically Enter Date When Data Entered in Excel

4. Apply Power Pivot Calculated Column to Get Current Date

Excel has some built-in COM Add-ins, Power Pivot is one of them. We can use it to insert the current date too. Here also we’ll use the TODAY function in Power Pivot to insert the current date in a column. So when you have a long column to insert the current date then by using this method, you can do it in a few clicks.

• You may not get the Power Pivot add-in by default, to activate it, open the Excel Options dialog box and click as follows: Add-ins > COM Add-ins > Go.

• Then mark Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel and press OK.

• Select the dataset, then click Add to Data Model from the Power Pivot ribbon.

• Next, double-click on the Add Column option and type the new column Name.

• We named the column- Current Date. now insert the TODAY function in the first cell of the column-

Soon after, you will get the current date in the whole column, no need to use the Fill Handle tool.

Use Power Pivot Measure to Get Current Date

There’s another option in Power Pivot named Measures, this feature can also insert the current date. For that, we’ll need a Pivot Table.

• Select the dataset range and click: Insert > PivotTable.

• Select the sheet option and mark Add this to the Data Model >> press OK.

• Drag Project Name and Start Date to the Rows field, and Budget to the Values field.
• Later, click as follows: Power Pivot > Measures > New Measure.

• The table name will be selected automatically according to the range, don’t change it. Or if you want to use another table then insert that table name.
• Next, give a measure name and insert the TODAY function in the formula section.
• Select Date from the Category section and choose your desired format from the Format section.

• The new measure is now available in the PivotTable Fields section, just mark it and it will automatically add a new column in the Pivot Table with the current date.

How to Highlight Current Date in Excel?

Sometimes, we need to highlight the current date in our dataset. Which helps us to identify the current date with a fill color or text color. By using the TODAY function in Conditional Formatting, we can perform it easily. Let’s see.

• Select the date range and click as follows: Home > Conditional Formatting > New Rule.

• After that, select Use a formula to determine which cells to format from the Select a Rule Type box.
• Then insert the following formula in the formula box and click on the Format tab-

• From the Fill section, select a fill color and press OK.

• It will take you to the previous dialog box, just press OK.

• My current date is 4/5/2023, the light green color is highlighting it.

✍ Things to Remember

✎ The output of the TODAY and NOW functions update only when the worksheet is recalculated or when a macro with these functions is run. The cells not updated continuously have these functions. The date and time will be taken from your computer’s system clock.

✎ You may need to alter the parameters that determine when the workbook or worksheet recalculates if the TODAY function does not update the date when you want it to. Click Options on the File tab, then make sure that Automatic is selected in the Formulas category under Calculation options.

✎  A decimal number is used to represent time values, which are part of a date value (for example, 12:00 PM is represented as 0.5 because it is half of a day).

✎ #VALUE! error occurs when the specified serial number is not a valid Excel time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to Insert Current Time in Excel?

To insert the current time, you can use the shortcut key- CTRL + SHIFT + ; or the NOW function.

2. How to Insert Current Static Date and Time in Excel?

Press CTRL + ; and CTRL + SHIFT + ; to insert the current static date and time together in a cell.

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.

Conclusion

To conclude, I hope this article has given you some useful information about how to insert current date in Excel both in static and dynamic ways. All of these procedures should be learned and applied to your dataset. Take a look at the practice workbook and put these skills to the test. We’re motivated to keep making tutorials like this because of your valuable support.

If you have any questions – Feel free to ask us. Also, feel free to leave comments in the section below.

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• How to Perform Automatic Date Change in Excel Using Formula
• How to Insert Day and Date in Excel
• How to Get the Current Date in VBA

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