Everything You Need To Know About: Excel NOW Function

excel now function Jun 10, 2023

Do you need help inserting the current date and time in your spreadsheet?

You can use the Excel NOW function to achieve this easily. With this feature, you can insert the current date and time into a cell.

Moreover, the NOW function helps track any changes made to the information or the last time you opened the Excel file. This blog post will teach you the syntax and provide examples of using the function.

Read on as we cover the following:

What Is the NOW Function
The NOW Function Features
NOW Function Examples
Final Thoughts on Excel NOW Function
Frequently Asked Questions on Excel NOW Function

What Is the NOW Function

The NOW function belongs to the DATE/TIME function group in Excel. Moreover, it is classified as a volatile function as it returns the current date and time.

The NOW Excel function generates a serial number showing the date and time.

When you refresh or reopen the Excel sheet, the data will update due to the volatile nature of the function.

Financial analysts use the NOW function when creating KPI reports because it shows the current date and time value and continuously updates the data with new information.

NOW function syntax

Here is the syntax for the NOW function:

The NOW function Excel

You can use the NOW function without arguments by typing empty parentheses after the function name.

The NOW Function Features

Here are the NOW function features that may help you:

The output of the NOW function will update automatically whenever the worksheet is changed or refreshed due to its volatile nature.
To update values in your sheet, press the F9 key. If the update doesn't occur, enable automatic recalculation in Formulas > Calculation Options > Automatic.
The NOW function in Excel returns a precise date and time value. If the output appears as a number with a decimal, you must review the cell's formatting.
Press Ctrl+Shift on your keyboard to input a static date and time value in Excel, press Ctrl+Shift on your keyboard.
To enter only the current date without the time, use the TODAY() function and not the NOW() function.
The date and time value you receive will follow the default format set in your Region settings. However, you can modify this format by using a custom time format.

NOW Function Examples

Let us see some examples of using the NOW function.

Basic NOW function example

To use the NOW function, insert it into a cell. The function doesn't require any data or arguments.

Formula Description:

The date and time static values will appear when you insert the NOW function in a cell.

Note: that the output you're currently seeing will change whenever you change the worksheet or reopen it.

Remember that the output you're currently seeing will change whenever you modify the worksheet or reopen it.

Cell values change because the NOW function generates the output, which updates in real-time.

Basic operations using the NOW function example

To calculate the time ten days and twelve hours from now using the NOW function, follow these steps.

To calculate the time ten days and twelve hours, the serial number representing an Excel date and time

Note:

In this context, 12 hours is .50, half the daily hours.

You may need to manually calculate the addition or subtraction of days or hours to adjust the time.

You can add or subtract any number of days or hours.

NOW function with the EDATE function example

You can use the NOW function within various other functions to display the current date and time. However, it's important to note that some functions may not retain the time portion.

To calculate a date value that is exactly two months from now, you can use the EDATE function. Remember that this formula will only return the date and not the time.

Excel-Now-Function-Example-03

To perform calculations up to the exact second, use this formula:

using the MOD function, you can include the time component.

Let's examine why this function retains the time component. The portion of the formula before the plus sign is the same as the one we used earlier, which solely produces a date.

However, using the MOD function, you can include the time component. Excel represents time as a decimal value.

The MOD function calculates the remainder of a division between two numbers.

To find this decimal value, you can use the function with two arguments: the value from the NOW function and 2. For instance, MOD(10,3) will return one as output.

Final Thoughts on the Excel NOW Function

After discovering Excel's NOW function and its uses, you can confidently approach any task requiring a current date and time.

By recalling the syntax for this crucial formula, you can expedite operations. After all, this function lets you avoid entering dates and times repeatedly.

Visit Simple Sheets for more easy-to-follow guides and examples, and remember to read the related articles section of this blog post.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Excel NOW Function

Where does the NOW function base its information?

Whenever you open or recalculate a worksheet, the NOW function automatically updates data based on your computer's system clock.

How can I use the NOW function without including the time in Excel?

To display only the date, format the cell with a date number format. Alternatively, use the TODAY function to show today's date without the time.

How many parameters does the NOW function accept?

The NOW function does not require any parameters or arguments.

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