How to insert Timestamp in Excel and Google Sheets

In this post, we will show you how to insert Timestamp in Excel & Google Sheets. Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets support two types of timestamps: Static and Dynamic. Static timestamps do not update and are suitable for fixed logs, data entries, or records that must remain unchanged. Dynamic timestamps update automatically whenever the sheet recalculates, making them ideal for live dashboards, trackers, or reports requiring real-time data. In the upcoming sections, we will show you how to insert these timestamps in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

To insert timestamps in Excel & Google Sheets, you can use a keyboard shortcut, formulas, or VBA code (Excel only). Each method obtains a slightly different result, depending on whether you need a static or a dynamic timestamp.

Let us see this in detail.

How to insert Timestamp in Excel

Open Excel and navigate to the worksheet where you want to add the timestamp. Next, click the cell where you want the date or time to appear.

A] Insert timestamps using keyboard shortcuts

For Static timestamps, use the following shortcuts:

• Insert Date: Press Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
• Insert Time: Press Ctrl + Shift + ;
• Insert Date & Time: Press Ctrl + ;, then press Space, then press Ctrl + Shift + ;

If the timestamp doesn’t appear in the desired format, you may choose a different format to display the timestamp. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell containing the timestamp.
2. Go to the Home tab in the Ribbon.
3. Click the Number Format dropdown (under the Number group), select More Number Formats…, and choose the desired date/time/custom format.

B] Insert timestamps using formulas

For Dynamic timestamps, type one of the following formulas and press Enter:

Insert Current Date: =TODAY()
Insert Current Date & Time: =NOW()

The above formulas will update dynamically whenever the sheet recalculates, displaying the current date/time in the cells. To convert them into a static value, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell with the formula.
2. Press Ctrl + C to copy it.
3. Right-click on the same cell and select Paste Special > Values.
4. Press Enter.

This replaces the formula with a fixed value, keeping the default cell format for the static timestamp. If you want a custom format, the TEXT() function is required to control the output before making it static.

For example, to display the output as ‘Dec 30, 2024 10:30 AM‘, type the following formula and press Enter.

=TEXT(NOW(), "mmm dd, yyyy hh:mm AM/PM")

Similarly, you can use other date/time formats in the above formula to display the timestamp in your preferred style.

C] Insert timestamps using VBA code

You can also insert dynamic and static timestamps in Excel using VBA code. Here’s how:

Open the workbook where you want to insert the timestamps. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor. In the VBA editor, click the Insert menu and select Module. This will create a new module where you can write and run your code.

For a dynamic timestamp that updates automatically, type the following code into the module:

Sub InsertDynamicTimeStamp()
ActiveCell.Value = "=NOW()"
End Sub

For a static timestamp that doesn’t update, paste the following code into the module:

Sub InsertStaticTimeStamp()
ActiveCell.Value = Now()
End Sub

Press Alt + Q to close the VBA editor and return to Excel.

Next, press Alt + F8 to open the Macro dialog box. Select the macro you want to run (InsertDynamicTimeStamp or InsertStaticTimeStamp) and click Run.

How to insert Timestamp in Google Sheets

Open your Google Sheets worksheet, select the cell where you want to insert the timestamp, and then use one of the methods below to add a static or dynamic date and time:

A] Insert timestamps using keyboard shortcuts

For Static timestamps, use the following shortcuts:

• Insert Date: Press Ctrl + ; (semicolon)
• Insert Time: Press Ctrl + Shift + ;
• Insert Date & Time: Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ;

To apply a different format to the displayed timestamp, follow these steps:

1. Highlight the cell(s) containing the timestamp.
2. Go to the Format menu in the toolbar.
3. Click on Number > Custom date and time.
4. In the dialog box, select a preset format.
5. Click Apply to save changes.

B] Insert timestamps using formulas

For Dynamic timestamps, type one of the following formulas and press Enter:

Insert Current Date: =TODAY()
Insert Current Date & Time: =NOW()

Just like in Excel, to convert dynamic timestamps to static ones in Google Sheets, you can copy the cell containing the dynamic formula and then paste it as values (right-click the cell, select Copy, then right-click again and choose Paste special > Values only).

If you need a custom format for the timestamp, use the TEXT() function before pasting it as values.

That’s it! I hope you find this useful.

Read: How to show file path in the title bar in Excel and Word.

How do I add timestamps to Google Sheets?

You can add timestamps to Google Sheets using keyboard shortcuts or formulas. Keyboard shortcuts are ideal for adding static timestamps that do not change, while formulas create dynamic timestamps that update automatically.

How do I add a timestamp to an Excel spreadsheet?

To add a static timestamp in an Excel spreadsheet, you can use keyboard shortcuts. Press Ctrl + ; for the current date and Ctrl + Shift + ; for the current time. To insert a dynamic timestamp (that updates automatically), use the formula =TODAY() for the date or =NOW() for date and time.

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