How do I Add a Date in Excel?

You can add a date in Excel by entering it directly into a cell and, if necessary, formatting it to display correctly. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Entering Dates

Excel recognizes various date formats. You can enter dates like:

Excel will often automatically recognize these entries as dates and format them accordingly.

Sometimes, Excel might not display your date exactly as you want it, or it might show a serial number instead. Here's how to format dates:

Select the Cell(s): Click on the cell(s) containing the date you want to format.
Open the Format Cells Dialog:
- Press Ctrl + 1 on your keyboard to open the "Format Cells" dialog box.
Navigate to Number Tab: In the "Format Cells" dialog, ensure you are on the Number tab.
Choose Date Category: In the "Category" list, click on Date.
Select a Date Format: Choose your desired date format from the "Type" list. Examples include:
- MM/DD/YYYY
- MMMM DD, YYYY (e.g., December 25, 2024)
- YYYY-MM-DD
Click OK: Click the OK button to apply the new format. Your selected cells should now display the date in the format you chose, and instead of displaying a serial number it will show the date.

If you entered 45295 in a cell, Excel may display it as a number. To display this as a date:

Select the cell.
Press Ctrl+1, go to the "Number" tab, choose "Date" under Category, pick a format, and press OK. It should now display the actual date like 12/25/2023.

Entering Today's Date: Type Ctrl + ; to enter the current date into a cell. This date will not change.
Entering Current Date and Time: Type Ctrl + Shift + ; to enter the current date and time into a cell. This will also not change.
Using Formulas: You can use formulas like =TODAY() to display the current date, which will update each time the worksheet recalculates.

By using these methods, you can confidently enter and format dates in your Excel spreadsheets.