NOW Function in Excel: Get the Current Date and Time Automatically

If you want Excel to show the current date and time automatically, you can use the NOW function.

In this guide, we will learn about the NOW function, how to use it, and some common problems you may face.

What Is the NOW Function in Excel?

The NOW function adds the current date and time to a cell.

It is useful when you want Excel to automatically use the current date and time in calculations, reports, trackers, invoices, or other worksheets.

For example, you can use NOW to:

• Show the current date and time
• Track when a worksheet was updated
• Calculate how much time has passed
• Calculate the time between two dates and times
• Check whether a deadline has crossed
• Create date and time-based reports

NOW Function Syntax:

The syntax of the NOW function is very simple:

=NOW()

The NOW function does not require any arguments.

You simply enter `NOW()` inside the formula.

How to Use the NOW Function?

Let’s see a simple example.

Suppose you want to display the current date and time in cell A1.

Click cell A1 and enter:

=NOW()

Press Enter.

Excel will display the current date and time.

For example:

28-Sep-2026 8:30 PM

The date and time you see will depend on your computer’s current date and time.

How Does NOW Update Automatically?

One useful feature of the NOW function is that you don’t need to enter the current date and time manually.

For example, if you enter:

=NOW()

Excel may show:

23-Sep-2026 8:30 PM

If Excel recalculates the formula later, the result can change.

For example, it may later show:

23-Sep-2026 9:15 PM

If you open the same worksheet on the next day, it can also show the new date and time.

The NOW function does not work like a live digital clock. The time does not change every second.

Instead, Excel updates the NOW formula when the worksheet is recalculated.

So, the result can change when Excel recalculates the worksheet, when you make certain changes, or when you open the workbook again.

This is important to remember when using NOW in calculations.

Can You Use NOW to Calculate How Much Time Has Passed?

Yes.

You can use NOW to calculate how much time has passed since a particular date and time.

There is just one important thing to remember.

You need one fixed date and time to compare with the current date and time.

For example, suppose an order was received at:

23-Sep-2026 05:49 AM

Enter this fixed date and time in B2.

Then, in C2, enter:

=NOW()

Excel will show the current date and time.

You can then calculate how much time has passed in D2:

=C2-B2

For example, if the current date and time is:

28-Sep-2026 03:54 PM

the time passed is:

130 hours and 5 minutes

We will see how to display the result as hours and minutes in the next section.

Here, B2 contains the fixed starting time, while C2 uses `NOW()` to get the current time.

If you use `=NOW()` for both cells, both cells will update together when Excel recalculates. So, Excel will not give you the time that has passed since the earlier event.

Therefore, keep the starting date and time fixed and use `NOW()` for the current date and time.

How to Display the Time Passed Correctly

When you subtract two date and time values, Excel calculates the difference as a fraction of a day.

You can change the cell format to display the result as hours and minutes.

Show the Result as Hours and Minutes:

1. Right-click the result cell.

2. Select Format Cells.

3. Select Custom.

4. Enter:

[h]:mm

Excel will display the result as:

130:05

This means 130 hours and 5 minutes.

The `[h]:mm` format is useful when the total time can be more than 24 hours.

For example, if the time passed is 28 hours and 30 minutes, Excel will show:

28:30

It will not start again from zero after 24 hours.

Calculate the Result as Hours:

Sometimes you may want the result as a number of hours instead of hours and minutes.

For this, use:

=(C2-B2)*24

You may get a result such as:

130.36

Why do we use `24`?

Excel stores time as a fraction of a 24-hour day.

For example, 4 hours is:

4 ÷ 24 = 0.1667

So Excel stores 4 hours as approximately 0.1667 of a day.

When you multiply it by 24:

0.1667 × 24 = 4

So, multiplying the result by 24 converts the time difference into hours.

For example:

Formula	Result	What it shows
=C2-B2 with [h]:mm	130:05	130 hours and 5 minutes
=(C2-B2)*24	130.36	130.36 hours

Both results show the same amount of time. The difference is how Excel displays the result.

The 0.36 in 130.36 is a fraction of an hour. It does not mean 36 minutes.

Use `[h]:mm` when you want to see the time as hours and minutes.

Use `24` when you need the total time as a number of hours for another calculation, such as working hours or billing.

Example: Check Whether a Deadline Has Crossed

You can also use NOW with the IF function to check whether a deadline has passed.

Suppose cell D2 contains a deadline:

30-Sep-2026 6:00 PM

In E2, enter:

=IF(D2<NOW(),”Overdue”,”Not Due”)

If the current date and time is after the deadline, Excel will show:

Overdue

If the deadline has not arrived yet, Excel will show:

Not Due

This can be useful for:

• Project deadlines
• Payment due times
• Appointment times
• Task tracking
• Order processing

NOW vs TODAY in Excel:

The NOW and TODAY functions are similar, but they return different results.

Function	Returns
=TODAY()	Current date
=NOW()	Current date and current time

For example:

=TODAY()

may return:

23-Sep-2026

While:

=NOW()

may return:

23-Sep-2026 8:30 PM

So, if you only need the current date, use TODAY.

If you need the current date and time, use NOW.

Does NOW Require Any Arguments?

No.

The NOW function has empty parentheses:

=NOW()

You don’t need to enter anything between the parentheses.

For example, this is incorrect:

=NOW(23-09-2026)

The correct formula is:

=NOW()

Important Things to Remember:

There are a few things to keep in mind when using NOW.

1. NOW Returns a Changing Date and Time

The result of:

=NOW()

can change when Excel recalculates the formula.

For example, it may show:

23-Sep-2026 8:30 PM

Later, it may show:

23-Sep-2026 9:15 PM

So, if you need a date and time that should not change, don’t use NOW.

Instead, enter the date and time manually.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts to enter fixed values:

Ctrl + ; inserts the current date.

Ctrl + Shift + ; inserts the current time.

2. You Can Change the Date and Time Format

Excel may display the NOW result in different formats depending on your regional settings or the format applied to the cell.

For example, the same date and time could appear as:

23-Sep-2026 8:30 PM

23/09/2026 20:30

09/23/2026 8:30 PM

These represent the same date and time. Only the way Excel displays them is different.

If you don’t like the format, you can change it.

Right-click the cell and select:

Format Cells

Then choose the date or time format you want.

The formula remains:

=NOW()

Only the display format changes.

Check article to know How to change Date Formatting in Excel.

3. NOW Does Not Continuously Update Every Second

The NOW function does not act like a live digital clock.

It updates when Excel recalculates the worksheet.

So, you should not expect the time in the cell to change every second automatically.

If you need a continuously changing clock, the NOW function by itself will not work that way.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does the NOW function do in Excel?

The NOW function returns the current date and time.

The formula is:

=NOW()

Does NOW update the date and time automatically?

Yes.

NOW can update when Excel recalculates the worksheet or when the workbook is reopened, depending on Excel’s calculation settings.

However, it does not update every second like a live clock.

What is the difference between TODAY and NOW?

TODAY returns the current date, while NOW returns the current date and time.

Can I use NOW in an IF formula?

Yes.

You can use NOW with IF to check whether a deadline has passed.

For example:

=IF(B2<NOW(),”Overdue”,”Not Due”)

How do I enter the current date and time without using a formula?

You can use keyboard shortcuts.

Press:

Ctrl + ; to enter the current date.

Press:

Ctrl + Shift + ; to enter the current time.

You can use both shortcuts to enter a fixed date and time.

Can NOW calculate how many hours have passed?

Yes.

For example:

=(C2-B2)*24

This calculates the number of hours between the fixed date and time in B2 and the current date and time in C2.

Remember that C2 should contain:

=NOW()

while B2 should contain a fixed starting date and time.

Conclusion:

The NOW function in Excel is a simple and useful function for working with the current date and time.

You can use:

=NOW()

to automatically display the current date and time.

It becomes even more useful when combined with functions such as IF, TODAY, INT, and other date and time functions.

If you’re creating a deadline tracker, project report, order tracker, or any worksheet that depends on the current date and time, NOW can save you from entering the date and time manually.

Just remember that NOW returns a changing date and time, so it should not be used when you need a fixed timestamp.