- Excel Functions - Home
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- SEARCH Function
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- SUBSTITUTE Function
- T Function
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- DAY Function
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- EDATE Function
- EOMONTH Function
- HOUR Function
- ISOWEEKNUM Function
- MINUTE Function
- MONTH Function
- NETWORKDAYS Function
- NETWORKDAYS.INTL Function
- NOW Function
- SECOND Function
- TIME Function
- TIMEVALUE Function
- TODAY Function
- WEEKDAY Function
- WEEKNUM Function
- WORKDAY Function
- WORKDAY.INTL Function
- YEAR Function
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- AVERAGE Function
- AVERAGEA Function
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- BETA.DIST Function
- BETA.INV Function
- BINOM.DIST Function
- BINOM.DIST.RANGE Function
- BINOM.INV Function
- CHISQ.DIST Function
- CHISQ.DIST.RT Function
- CHISQ.INV Function
- CHISQ.INV.RT Function
- CHISQ.TEST Function
- CONFIDENCE.NORM Function
- CONFIDENCE.T Function
- CORREL Function
- COUNT Function
- COUNTA Function
- COUNTBLANK Function
- COUNTIF Function
- COUNTIFS Function
- COVARIANCE.P Function
- COVARIANCE.S Function
- DEVSQ Function
- EXPON.DIST Function
- F.DIST Function
- F.DIST.RT Function
- F.INV Function
- F.INV.RT Function
- F.TEST Function
- FISHER Function
- FISHERINV Function
- FORECAST Function
- FORECAST.ETS Function
- FORECAST.ETS.CONFINT Function
- FORECAST.ETS.SEASONALITY Function
- FORECAST.ETS.STAT Function
- FORECAST.LINEAR Function
- FREQUENCY Function
- GAMMA Function
- GAMMA.DIST Function
- GAMMA.INV Function
- GAMMALN Function
- GAMMALN.PRECISE Function
- GAUSS Function
- GEOMEAN
- GROWTH
- HARMEAN
- HYPGEOM.DIST
- INTERCEPT Function
- KURT Function
- LARGE Function
- LINEST Function
- LOGEST Function
- LOGNORM.DIST Function
- LOGNORM.INV Function
- MAX Function
- MAXA Function
- MAXIFS Function
- MEDIAN Function
- MIN Function
- MINA Function
- MINIFS Function
- MODE.MULT Function
- MODE.SNGL Function
- NEGBINOM.DIST Function
- NORM.DIST Function
- NORM.INV Function
- NORM.S.DIST Function
- NORM.S.INV Function
- PEARSON Function
- PERCENTILE.EXC
- PERCENTILE.INC
- PERCENTRANK.EXC
- PERCENTRANK.INC
- PERMUT
- PERMUTATIONA
- PHI
- POISSON.DIST
- PROB
- QUARTILE.EXC
- QUARTILE.INC
- RANK.AVG
- RANK.EQ
- RSQ
- SKEW
- SKEW.P
- SLOPE
- SMALL
- STANDARDIZE
- STDEV.P
- STDEV.S
- STDEVA
- STDEVPA
- STEYX
- T.DIST
- T.DIST.2T
- T.DIST.RT
- T.INV
- T.INV.2T
- T.TEST
- TREND
- TRIMMEAN Function
- VAR.P Function
- VAR.S Function
- VARA Function
- VARPA Function
- WEIBULL.DIST Function
- Z.TEST Function
- Web Functions
- Web Functions
- ENCODEURL Function
- FILTERXML Function
- WEBSERVICE Function
Excel - NOW Function
NOW Function
The Excel NOW function retrieves the date serial number of the current date and time. You may format this serial number using Custom formatting to display the current date and time in the format "dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm" in a cell. It is a part of the DATE & TIME functions. For example, if you wish to append the date and time adjacent to the patient names column that will be discharged soon in the patient spreadsheet, you may benefit from using the NOW() function.
Compatibility
This advanced Excel function is compatible with the following versions of MS Excel –
- Excel for Microsoft 365
- Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
- Excel for the web
- Excel 2024
- Excel 2024 for Mac
- Excel 2021
- Excel 2021 for Mac
- Excel 2019
- Excel 2016
- Excel 2013
- Excel 2010
- Excel 2007
Syntax
The syntax of the NOW function is as follows −
=NOW()
Arguments
The NOW function syntax has no arguments.
Points to Remember
- In the Date serial numbers, the number before the decimal point denotes the date, and the number after the decimal point denotes the time. For instance, the number 43370.34, where the 43370 denotes the date that is 27-09-2018 and 08:09:36
- The NOW() function is not updated automatically unless the macro comprises the function is being executed or the worksheet is evaluated.
- Additionally, the NOW formula in Excel without time is achievable using the TODAY() function, which only displays the current date.
- If you wish to display the time when evaluating the Excel NOW() function, either use this expression =NOW()-TODAY() to get the time or use the custom format like hh:mm: ss. When you evaluate this expression, the result would be the decimal number. You can use the Custom cell format and choose the "hh:mm:ss" time format.
- Ensure the cell where the formula is defined is formatted as a date and time. Otherwise, the users may find understanding the date serial number challenging.
- If the NOW() function is not working in Excel, then, in this case, you need to modify the calculation settings to "Automatic".
Example of the NOW Function
Practice the following example to learn how to use the NOW function in Excel.
Utilizing the NOW Function to Obtain the Excel Current Date and Time
In this example, the NOW() function is evaluated to extract the current date and time in a specific range of cells.
Solution
Step 1 − First, open a new worksheet, place a cursor on the B2 cell, double-click, and enter the formula =NOW().
And then, press the Enter tab.
Therefore, the NOW() retrieves the date serial number as the cell format is set to General.
Step 2 − Furthermore, to format the NOW() function in Excel, press the "Ctrl + 1" and select Custom under the Category section, select the "dd-mm-yyyy hh: mm" format and click the OK button
Therefore, the date serial number is changed to the perfect date and time format.
To calculate the date and time of the 14 days in the past, you can enter the formula =NOW()-14 in the B3 cell and hit the Enter tab.
Hence, the resulting date is displayed in the B3 cell.
Step 3 − Similarly, you may add specific days to the current date and time. Enter the formula "=B2+21" in the B4 cell. Here, the 21 days are being added to the B2 cell, indicating today's date.
Download Practice Sheet
You can download and use the sample data sheet to practice the NOW function.
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