NOW Function in Excel
Beginner
Returns the serial number of the current date and time.
Syntax
=NOW()Example
Use Case
Timestamp a calculation.
Common Errors to Avoid
- Constantly updates - not suitable for permanent timestamps
- Returns different values each time sheet recalculates
- Displays as number if cell not formatted as date/time
Pro Tips
For permanent timestamps, use Ctrl+; (date) or Ctrl+Shift+; (time). Format cell as 'mm/dd/yyyy h:mm' to display both date and time. Use INT(NOW()) to get just the date portion.
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