Insert Date in Excel (Windows)
Press Ctrl + Semicolon to enter today's date into the cell.
What it does
The date goes into the cell as a fixed value. It does not change tomorrow, unlike the TODAY function, which is calculated again every time the sheet is. That makes it right for a log entry or the day an invoice was written. The cell shows the date in the short date format of your system, and the format can be changed later.
The same shortcut on other platforms
| Platform | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windowsthis page | Ctrl + Semicolon |
| macOS |
More Excel shortcuts: Editing
- Insert Current Time
- Fill Down
- Fill Right
- Copy Selection
- Paste Selection
All 159 Excel shortcuts for WindowsThe full list has a search and a printable PDF.
Questions
What is the Excel shortcut for Insert Date on Windows?
Ctrl+; (Ctrl + Semicolon). Press it to enter today's date into the cell.
What is the shortcut for Insert Date in Excel on macOS?
On macOS it is ⌃;.