The NOW returns the current date and time.
This function can be useful for tracking time, creating timestamps, and other tasks related to date and time.
Syntax
NOW()
No arguments are allowed for this function.
Examples of use
Enter the formula in the cell:
=NOW()
Result: the current time and date, for example, 03/11/2025, depending on your date and time format settings.
You can use the NOW function to calculate the time difference.
For example, to find out how much time has passed since a certain date:
=NOW()-DATE(2025, 1, 1)
This formula will return the number of days that have passed since January 1, 2025.
If you want to format the output to display only the time or only the date, you can use formatting functions such as TEXT:
=TEXT(NOW(), "MM.DD.YYYY hh:mm:ss")
The expression will display the current date and time in the specified format.
Notes
–The function value is updated when you open the file, change any cell, insert or delete rows or columns, rename or move a sheet, manually recalculate data, or change the calculation mode from “Manual” to “Automatic.”
–To display the current date without time, use the TODAY function.