A Simple Timestamp Google Sheets Tutorial

Occasionally, you may need to keep track of work by using a timestamp. This simple record is a great way to illustrate precisely when activities were carried out. It’s also a regular part of my everyday workflow. That’s why I made this timestamp Google Sheets tutorial.

Below, I’ll show you the quick and easy hacks to show time and date info in your file. As always, I include practical examples from my life.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Insert Timetamps in Google Sheets

To quickly insert a timestamp in one cell (or a few cells), you can use the below keyboard shortcuts. Note that these keyboard shortcuts insert a static date and time value. If you make any changes in the worksheet – then close and reopen it – these date/time values won’t change. I’ll show you how to insert timestamps for Windows and Mac below. Basically, that means swapping out the “control” button for the “command” button and the “alt” button for the “option” button. Easy, right?

Timestamp Shortcuts for Windows :

1. Insert the current date: Control + : 
2. Insert the current time: Control + Shift + :
3. Insert the current date and time: Control + Alt + Shift + ;

Timestamp Shortcuts for Mac

1. Insert the current date: Command + : 
2. Insert the current time: Command + Shift + :
3. Insert the current date and time: Command + Option + Shift + ;

Remember to convert the formula to value to ensure that the combined timestamp (with date and time) is a static value (hint: use Paste Special to do this).

Formulas to Insert Timestamps in Google Sheets

If you want to insert a timestamp that updates, you’ll want to try a different method. To do this, I’m including a few different options. Note that you can use several formulas to insert timestamps in Google Sheets.

Let’s start with volatile formulas. With these, if the Sheets cell is changed, it will recalculate and update what appears in the cell. For example, if you used the TODAY function in a cell and opened that Google Sheet document the following day, the formula would update to the current date.

If you want these to be static values, you can convert the formula (or use the keyboard shortcuts covered in the previous section).

Inserting Current Date

To insert the current date, use the below formula:

=TODAY()

Here’s how to use the formula:

1. Click on the cell you want to add a timestamp to.
2. Type =Today or select it from the formula suggestions.
3. Click Enter.

These formulas will be shown as a number. Users can format the results in several different formats. For example, if the date is 01-01-2032, it can be displayed as:

• 01 January 2032
• January 01, 2032
• 01/01/2032
• 01 Jan 2032

Not sure how to do it? I discussed how to change date formats. It’s a pretty simple process. I even made a video about it on YouTube.

Inserting Current Date & Time

Sometimes you’ll want to insert the current time along with the date. That requires a different function. To insert the current date as well as the current time, use the formula below:

=NOW()

Here’s how to use the NOW formula:

1. Click on the cell you want to add a timestamp to.
2. Type = Now or select it from the formula suggestions.
3. Click Enter.

Note: You can display the time in AM/PM format or military hour format. Military hours help you avoid having to distinguish morning from afternoon and evening hours, so they’re pretty standard in my workflow.

Timestamp Google Sheets Script

The main reason I created this guide was to show how I built a script that automatically inserts a timestamp in Google Sheets. I use this along with a little more code to automatically insert a time stamp when someone clicks a check box on my sheet. That dramatically changes my sheet. With this ability, I’m able to share it with my coworkers so I can follow along with their progress as they complete a series of tasks.

 

 

 

 

I think it’s a major time saver. It might not seem like much to update an individual time, but that stacks up when my teammates complete a bunch of tasks in a single day. My little code block saves boatloads of time, and it’s the best way to track tasks in Google Sheets.

So why use a timestamp Google Sheets script? While both keyboard shortcuts and formulas work well, these won’t automatically insert anything unless you program them to do so. That’s what I did.

Here’s how you can apply my method: Suppose you have a dataset where you’re tracking activities. You want a timestamp to be inserted as soon as an activity is added to a cell. This can be done with a simple Google Sheets script.

Note: The following code only works on Sheet1. It has also been created for entering the data in column A and receiving a timestamp in Column B. If I want to update this to reference another sheet, I have to change that name to whatever the sheet is called.

Here’s how to use a script that automatically adds timestamps in Google Sheets:

1. Open the Google Sheets document.
2. Click on Tools > Script Editor.

In the script editor code window, copy-paste the following code (credit for the original script goes to Stackoverflow):

function onEdit() {
  var s = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
  if( s.getName() == "Sheet1" ) { //checks that we're on Sheet1 or not
    var r = s.getActiveCell();
    if( r.getColumn() == 1 ) { //checks for the column we're using is column A
      var nextCell = r.offset(0, 1);
      if( nextCell.getValue() === '' ) //checks whether the adjacent cell is empty or not
        nextCell.setValue(new Date());
    }
  }
}

3. Save the code by clicking on the Save icon in the toolbar. It may ask you to give it a name.

Now, when anything is added in any cell under Column A, a timestamp automatically appears in the adjacent cell in Column B. While this timestamp is static, it won’t change when you make any change in the worksheet.

Related reading: How to Add and Subtract Time in Google Sheets

How do you automatically insert timestamps in Google Sheets?

You can use my timestamp script to automatically insert a timestamp into Google Sheets. This automates the process. That means you don’t need to fill out a formula every time you need to mark a date. I use this on several of my most commonly-used spreadsheets for work. It’s especially valuable when tracking tasks for my team.

How do you choose a different column in the Google Sheets timestamp script?

The key to this question in, of course, in the code. See the note in the code block that shows where you’re checking whether you’re in column A? That block is set to if( r.getColumn() == 1 ) {  as a default. Just change the 1 to a 2 to get column B. Or change it to 3 to get column C. Here’s how it would look if you wanted to check column D instead: if( r.getColumn() == 4 ) {

How do you add custom code in Google Sheets?

I regularly enhance my Google Sheets interface with custom code. To do this, just choose “Script Editor” from the Tools menu. I have a whole guide on the Script Editor in Google Sheets.

Google Sheets Hacks: Beyond Timestamps

I hope that my timestamp Google Sheets tutorial has been useful! If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of spreadsheets, I’ve got you covered. My site has a bunch of spreadsheet hacks. My goal is to help you save time, so you can work as efficiently as possible. Here are a few other articles you may want to check out:

• How to Insert Bullet Points in Google Sheets
• How to Insert Checkboxes in Google Sheets
• How to Determine Word Count in Google Sheets

Thanks to all of my awesome commenters in the community below. They have some smart advice for additional changes you may want to make in your Google Sheets timestamp script.