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Date and Time - NOW Function
Description
The NOW function returns the serial number of the current date and time.
Syntax
NOW ()
Arguments
The NOW function syntax has no arguments.
Notes
If the cell format was General before the function was entered, Excel changes the cell format so that it matches the date and time format of your regional settings. You can change the date and time format for the cell by using the commands in the Number group of the Home tab on the Ribbon.
The NOW Function is useful when you need to display the current date and time on a Worksheet or calculate a value based on the current date and time, and have that value updated each time you open the Worksheet.
If the NOW Function does not update cell values when you expect it to, you might need to change settings that control when the Workbook or Worksheet recalculates. These settings can be changed in Control Panel of Excel.
Excel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so that they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,447 days after January 1, 1900.
Numbers to the right of the decimal point in the serial number represent the time; numbers to the left represent the date. For example, the serial number 0.5 represents the time 12:00 noon.
The results of the NOW Function change only when the worksheet is calculated or when a macro that contains the function is run. It is not updated continuously.
Applicability
Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016
Example
