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How to display system time or date in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

Learn how to display the current system time or date in Excel effortlessly. This guide provides multiple methods, including keyboard shortcuts, formulas, and advanced features with Kutools for Excel, to insert dynamic or static system date and time into cells, headers, or footers.

Display system time or date by shortcuts
Display dynamic system time or date by formula
Easily display system time and date in cell/header/footer in Excel

Display system time or date by shortcuts

You can use shortcuts to quickly display the system time or date in Excel. Follow these steps:

Insert system time

Select a cell and press Ctrl + Shift + ; (semicolon).

Insert system date

Select a cell and press Ctrl + ; (semicolon).

Easily display system date and time in cell/header/footer in Excel:

With the Insert Workbook Information utility of Kutools for Excel, you can not only insert system date and time into a certain cell, but also insert the system date and time into worksheet's header or footer as you need.

A screenshot showing the Kutools for Excel feature for inserting system date and time into a cell, header, or footer in Excel

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Display dynamic system time or date by formula

If you want to display dynamic system time or date in Excel, the =NOW() and =TODAY() formula can help you.

Insert dynamic system date and time

Select a cell, enter the formula =NOW() to get the dynamic system date and time. See screenshot:

A screenshot demonstrating the result of using =NOW() to insert dynamic system date and time in Excel

Insert dynamic system time

Select a cell, enter the formula =TODAY() to get the dynamic system date. See screenshot:

A screenshot demonstrating the result of using =TODAY() to insert dynamic system date in Excel

Note: The date or time in cells will be changed automatically with the system time and date.

Easily display system time and date in cell/header/footer in Excel

If you want to display system time and date in a certain cell, header or footer of a worksheet, the Insert Workbook Information utility of Kutools for Excel will do you a good favor. Please do as follows.

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1. Click Kutools Plus > Workbook > Insert Workbook Information. See screenshot:

A screenshot showing the Insert Workbook Information tool in Kutools Plus tab in Excel

2. In the Insert Workbook Information dialog box, select the Current date and time option in the Information section, choose Range, Header or Footer as you need in the Insert at section, and then click the OK button. See screenshot:

A screenshot of the Insert Workbook Information dialog box with options for inserting current date and time in Excel

The system date and time is then inserted into the specified cell, header, or footer immediately.

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Demo: Easily display system time and date in cell/header/footer with Kutools for Excel

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