NOW Formula Generator (2026) — Current Date & Time | Free Excel & Sheets

Returns the serial number of the current date and time.

Generated Formula
=NOW()

Learning Resources

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Common Errors & Fixes

  • NOW is not showing the correct time

    Causes:
    • The cell is formatted to show only the date, hiding the time portion.
    • The system clock is incorrect.
    • Manual calculation mode is enabled (F9 to recalculate).
    Fixes:
    • Format the cell as "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS" to see both date and time.
    • Check your system clock settings.
    • Press F9 to force recalculation if manual mode is on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does NOW update every time I open the spreadsheet?

NOW is a volatile function — it recalculates whenever the worksheet recalculates. The result changes to the current date and time each time.

How do I freeze the value from NOW?

Copy the cell and paste as values (Ctrl+Shift+V) to convert the formula to a static date/time. Alternatively, use Ctrl+; for the date and Ctrl+Shift+; for the time.

Does NOW work in Google Sheets?

Yes, NOW works identically in Google Sheets. It also updates when the sheet recalculates or is reopened.

Related Formulas

DATEDIFTODAYNETWORKDAYSYEARMONTH

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