Insert Date in Excel (Ctrl+; / ⌃;)
Stamp the current date into a cell: press Ctrl+; on Windows or ⌃; (Control+semicolon) on the Mac. It inserts a static date that does not change tomorrow.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insert today's date (static) | ⌃; | Ctrl+; | |
| Insert the current time (static) | ⌃⇧; | Ctrl+Shift+; | |
| Insert date + time | ⌃; then space then ⌃⇧; | Ctrl+; Space Ctrl+Shift+; | |
| Live date that updates (formula) | =TODAY() | =TODAY() |
Static vs. live dates
Ctrl+; (Windows) / ⌃; (Mac) types the date as a fixed value — it is a timestamp, so it will still read today's date next week. If you need a date that always shows the current day, type =TODAY() instead.
Date and time together
Press the date shortcut, type a space, then press the time shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+; / ⌃⇧;) to get a full date-time stamp in one cell.
FAQ
What is the insert-date shortcut in Excel?
Press Ctrl+; on Windows or ⌃; (Control+semicolon) on the Mac to insert a static current date.
How do I insert the current time in Excel?
Press Ctrl+Shift+; on Windows or ⌃⇧; on the Mac.
Why doesn't the date update the next day?
Ctrl+; inserts a static value. For a self-updating date use the =TODAY() formula instead.