--- title: Save time when entering dates and times in Excel description: Learn how to save time and reduce errors by using Excel shortcuts to quickly insert dates and times in your spreadsheets. image: https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hubfs/Stock%20Images/kobu-agency-7okkFhxrxNw-unsplash.jpg --- [![logo](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hubfs/logo.png)](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk) - [Home](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk) - [Private Course](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/private-courses) - [Public Course](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/public-course-dates) - [Tips](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news) - [Contact us](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/contact) - [Home](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk) - [Private Course](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/private-courses) - [Public Course](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/public-course-dates) - [Tips](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news) - [Contact us](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/contact) [0800 044 3779](tel://08000443779) [Excel](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/tag/excel) # Save time when entering dates and times in Excel [Woodthorpe IT](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/author/woodthorpe-it) 17 March, 2026 ![](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hubfs/Stock%20Images/kobu-agency-7okkFhxrxNw-unsplash.jpg) If you regularly log updates, track tasks, or note when something was completed, typing the date and time by hand can be surprisingly slow — and it’s easy to make mistakes. ![KeyboardShortcut-Date-and-Time-Excel](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/KeyboardShortcut-Date-and-Time-Excel.gif?width=360&height=159&name=KeyboardShortcut-Date-and-Time-Excel.gif)Instead, let Excel do the work for you. - Press **Ctrl + ;** to instantly insert **today’s date** - Press **Ctrl + Shift + ;** to instantly insert the **current time** You can even use them together (date first, then a space, then time) to create a full timestamp like: 15/01/2026 09:42 This is perfect for things like: - Recording when a report was last updated - Tracking when data was entered - Keeping an audit trail in shared spreadsheets Using these shortcuts only takes a second, but across a day or a week they can save a surprising amount of time — and keep your data more accurate too.   Previous Post ###### [Preview your slideshow from the current slide](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/preview-your-slideshow-from-the-current-slide) Next Post ###### [Duplicate slides quickly in PowerPoint](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/duplicate-slides-quickly-in-powerpoint) ### Similar Blog Posts [![](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jun-23-2025-11-07-35-9312-AM.png?width=352&name=image-png-Jun-23-2025-11-07-35-9312-AM.png)](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/summarise-any-web-page-with-copilot-in-edge) #### [Summarise any web page with Copilot in Edge](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/summarise-any-web-page-with-copilot-in-edge) [![](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20Images/thisisengineering-pIdteYOzGFY-unsplash.jpg?width=352&name=thisisengineering-pIdteYOzGFY-unsplash.jpg)](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/5-keyboard-shortcuts-everyone-should-know) #### [✅ 5 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/5-keyboard-shortcuts-everyone-should-know) [![](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20Images/thisisengineering-pIdteYOzGFY-unsplash.jpg?width=352&name=thisisengineering-pIdteYOzGFY-unsplash.jpg)](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/paste-clean-text-with-ctrl-shift-v) #### [Paste clean text with Ctrl + Shift + V](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/tips-and-news/paste-clean-text-with-ctrl-shift-v) [![Logo 290x70 - white](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk/hubfs/Logo%20290x70%20-%20white.png)](https://woodthorpeitsolutions.co.uk) Woodthorpe IT Solutions are providers of Microsoft 365 training and consultancy.  Established in 2005 we have trained over 10k people and continue to help learners get the most from their computer. 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