How to Insert a Timestamp in Excel [Formula + VBA + Shortcut]

1. Using a Keyboard Shortcut to Insert a Timestamp

There are two different shortcuts to insert a date and a time, and here we need to use both of them, one after the other. Here are the steps:

1. First of all, select the cell where you need to insert a timestamp.
2. After that, use the shortcut key Control + ; (Press and hold Control and then press the semicolon). Once you press this, it will insert the current date (according to your system) in the cell.
3. At this time, your cell is in edit mode. Press the Space bar to add a space after the date.
4. Now, press Control + Shift + : (Press and hold the Control and Shift keys and then press the semicolon key, which gives the colon). It inserts the current time.
5. Your cell is still in edit mode; now press the Enter key to complete the entry.

In short, you need to press two shortcuts in sequence to insert this. And if you want to add only the date or only the time, just skip the other shortcut key. On a Mac, use Control + ; for the date and Command + ; for the time.

2. Insert a Timestamp with NOW Function

A simple dynamic method. If you want to use a formula to insert a timestamp, the perfect way is to use the NOW function. When you enter this function in a cell, it returns the current date and time according to your system’s settings.

The default format of the date and time returned by NOW is mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm (it follows your system’s date settings). But for some reason, if you want a custom format, you can change its format using the custom format option. Select the cell ➜ Press shortcut key control + 1 ➜ Select “Custom” ➜ Enter “mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm” in the input box ➜ Click OK.

And if you want to enter only the date, then you can use TODAY instead of NOW, as it only returns the current date according to the system’s settings.

Pros

1. It’s a dynamic method.
2. You can use both of the functions with an IF function to create a condition to enter a timestamp if another cell has a value.

Cons

1. Even though it’s a dynamic method, both functions are volatile, so they get updated whenever you make changes to your worksheet.
2. And if you just want values instead of formulas you need to convert them into values manually.

3. Using Circular Reference for Creating a Timestamp

If you want to get into an advanced method and don’t want to use methods #1 and #2, then you can use a circular reference to insert a timestamp.

But before you learn this method, let’s understand what a circular reference is all about. Let’s say you have a value of 5 in cell A1 and a value of 10 in cell B1. Now, if you enter the formula =A1+B1+C1 in cell C1, Excel shows a circular reference warning.

This is because you are using cell C1 as a reference in cell C1. When a circular reference happens, there is a never-ending loop in the cell: the value of cell C1 depends on cell C1, and cell C1 depends on its own value.

But when a circular reference is entered, Excel doesn’t calculate it, and the never-ending loop never starts.

Here’s the deal:

You can enable the “iterative calculation option” to force Excel to perform the calculation at least one time and use the NOW function in the calculation. This way, Excel will update the cell formula only one time instead of every time. Steps to enable the iterative calculation option:

1. Go to File ➜ Options.
2. In the Excel options, select Formulas.
3. In the Calculation options section, check the Enable iterative calculation option.
4. Click OK.

After that, in cell B2, enter the below formula in the formula bar.

=IF(A2<>"",IF(B2<>"",B2,NOW()),"")

Now, when you enter any value in cell A2, the formula in cell B2 will return a timestamp. As the formula refers to its own cell (B2), it keeps the first timestamp and doesn’t change it later, even when Excel recalculates. If you clear A2, the timestamp goes away. Format column B with a date and time format, as the formula returns the date and time as a number.

Keep in mind that iterative calculation applies to the whole Excel application, so it also hides real circular reference mistakes in your other formulas.

4. VBA to Add a Timestamp

If you are a VBA freak, then I’m sure you’ll find this VBA code useful. With this, you don’t need to enter a formula or even use any shortcut key. Just select the cell where you need to enter a timestamp and run the macro.

Sub timeStamp()

Dim ts As Date

With Selection

.Value = Now
.NumberFormat = "m/d/yyyy h:mm:ss AM/PM"

End With

End Sub

How to use this code

To use this code, you can add it to the QAT (quick access toolbar) and run it every time whenever you need to add a timestamp.

Here are the steps:

• Add this code to a module by opening the VBA editor.
  
• After that, go to File -> Options -> Quick Access Toolbar.
• Choose “Macros” from the “Choose commands from” drop-down.
• After that, add the timeStamp macro to the QAT.
  
• Now, select that macro and click the Modify button.
  
• Select an icon and click OK.

Now you have an icon on the QAT, and whenever you need a timestamp, you can select the cell and click this button to insert it.

4.1 Using UDF for Timestamp

Yes, you can also create a custom Excel function for inserting a timestamp in Excel. Below is the code for this UDF.

Function Timestamp(Reference As Range)
If Reference.Value <> "" Then
Timestamp = Format(Now, "dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss")
Else
Timestamp = ""
End If
End Function 

By using this user-defined function, you can get a timestamp in a cell if another cell has a value in it. Please follow the below steps:

• Go to the Developer tab and open the VBA editor.
• In the VBA editor, insert a new module and paste this code into it.
• Now, close the VBA editor and come back to your worksheet.
• In cell B2, enter the formula (formula below this list).
  
• Now, when you enter any value in cell A2, cell B2 will get a timestamp.

=Timestamp(A2)

A few things to know about this function: it returns the date and time as text (because of Format), so you can’t use it in date calculations; it updates again whenever A2 changes; and it can also update when you force a full recalculation (Ctrl + Alt + F9). Also, VBA names are not case-sensitive, so put the timeStamp macro and the Timestamp function in different modules, or rename one of them, to avoid the “Ambiguous name detected” error.

5. Automatic Timestamp with a Worksheet Change Event

This is the method I suggest when you want a timestamp that is added automatically and never changes. The code runs every time you change a cell in A2:A1000 and adds the current date and time in the next cell of column B. If you clear the cell in column A, it clears the timestamp too.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim c As Range
    If Intersect(Target, Me.Range("A2:A1000")) Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    For Each c In Intersect(Target, Me.Range("A2:A1000"))
        If c.Value = "" Then
            c.Offset(0, 1).ClearContents
        ElseIf c.Offset(0, 1).Value = "" Then
            c.Offset(0, 1).Value = Now
            c.Offset(0, 1).NumberFormat = "dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss"
        End If
    Next c
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

1. First of all, right-click the sheet tab and click View Code.
2. After that, paste the code into the code window of that sheet (not in a normal module).
3. In the end, save the file as a macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm).

Unlike the NOW function, this timestamp is a real value, so it doesn’t change when Excel recalculates, and you don’t need iterative calculation.

Which Method to Use

• Now and then, by hand: the keyboard shortcuts.
• A live date and time that should change: NOW or TODAY.
• An automatic timestamp that stays fixed, without macros: the circular reference formula.
• An automatic timestamp that stays fixed, with macros allowed: the Worksheet_Change code (the most reliable).

Conclusion

Adding a timestamp is something we often do while working in Excel. And you have 5 different methods to insert it, plus the change event code. If you ask me, I love to use the VBA button on the QAT for this. The best way is to add this code in a personal.xlsb so that you can use it in all the workbooks. This is the whole story about timestamps, and I’m sure you found it useful, but now tell me one thing.

Do you know any other method for this?

Please share with me in the comment section. I’d love to hear from you, and please don’t forget to share this tip with your friends.

Frequently Asked Questions