The Excel NOW function returns the current date and time in a cell. It’s a handy tool for tracking when you last updated a document, calculating time intervals, or creating timestamps.
Syntax
NOW()
Arguments
| None |
How to use
To use the Excel NOW function, follow these steps:
1. Open an Excel spreadsheet where you want to insert the current date and time.
2. Click on the cell where you want the date and time to appear.
3. In the cell, type the following formula:
|
1 |
=NOW() |
This formula does not require any arguments; it simply retrieves the current date and time.
4. Press Enter, and the cell will display the current date and time in the default date and time format.
Examples:
Let’s look at some examples of using the Excel NOW function:
Example 1: Insert the current date and time in cell A1.
|
1 |
=NOW() |
This formula will display the current date and time in cell A1.
Example 2: Calculate the time difference between two dates.
Suppose you have two dates in cells A1 and B1, and you want to calculate the time difference in hours. You can use a formula like this:
|
1 |
=B1 - A1 |
This formula subtracts the date and time in cell A1 from the date and time in cell B1, giving you the time difference in hours.
Example 3: Automatically update a “Last Updated” timestamp.
If you want to track the last time you updated a document, you can place the NOW function in a specific cell, like A1:
|
1 |
=NOW() |
Now, every time you open the document or make changes, the cell with the NOW function will update to the current date and time.
Keep in mind that the NOW function continuously updates whenever Excel recalculates. If you need a static timestamp, you should copy and paste the value as needed.
