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How to insert a date picker showing the current date in Word?

Author Kelly Last modified

If you’re creating a Word template and want to insert a date picker that automatically displays the current date by default, you might notice that Word doesn’t provide a straightforward option for this. While adding a date picker is simple, getting it to show today’s date by default takes a few extra steps. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to set it up quickly and easily.

Insert date picker showing current date by default in Word

Insert a date picker showing the current date by default in Word

To insert a date picker that always displays the current date by default before a user selects a date, please follow these steps:

  1. Click "File" > "Options".
  2. In the Word Options dialog box:
    1. Click "Customize Ribbon" on the left pane.
    2. Check the "Developer" option on the right.
    3. Click "OK".
      Developer option in the Word Options window
  3. Click "Developer" > "Date Picker Content Control" Date Picker Content Control icon.
    Date Picker Content Control icon on the Developer tab on the ribbon
  4. After inserting the Date Picker, click "Developer" > "Design Mode" to enable design mode.
    Design Mode button on the Developer tab on the ribbon
  5. Select the placeholder text ("Click or tap to enter a date") inside the Date Picker. Then click "Insert" > "Date & Time".
    Text 'click or tap to enter a date' selected in the Date picker, with Insert tab and Date & Time option highlighted
  6. In the Date and Time dialog box:
    1. Select a date format.
    2. Check "Update automatically".
    3. Click "OK".
      Date and Time dialog box
  7. Click "Developer" > "Design Mode" to turn off design mode, then click "Developer" > "Properties".
    Design Mode and Properties button on the ribbon
  8. In the Content Control Properties dialog box:
    1. Enter a name in the "Title" field.
    2. Select a date format in the "Date Picker Properties" section or type a custom format.
    3. Click "OK".
      Content Control Properties dialog box

You have now inserted a Date Picker in your Word document that displays the current date by default until the user selects a different date.

Date picker inserted in Word document displaying the current date by default

Easily insert checkbox symbols or clickable checkboxes in Word

Kutools for Word lets you insert checkbox symbols or clickable checkboxes with ease. With just one click via "Kutools" > "Check Box", you can add stylish checkbox symbols, interactive checkboxes, or quickly apply them to entire lists - perfect for forms, checklists, and task documents.

Checkbox options offered by Kutools

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