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Google Sheets TODAY Date Function – How to get Today’s Date?

Google Sheets is one of the best spreadsheet software programs to organize datasets by date. The TODAY Date function allows users to display the current date. You need to navigate to the “Insert” tab of the main menu and click on “Functions” to use this formula.

In contrast to others, Google Sheets TODAY date is a dynamic function that automatically updates every time you make any changes or even the spreadsheet.

The date displayed by this function depends on the local date and time settings of the user’s computer.

Most of the time, this formula is coupled with a series of others to perform complex calculations and reports.

Let us learn how to use the TODAY function in Google Sheets in this article. Make sure to read the article till the end because we are about to discuss the TODAY function syntax, steps to use, combinations to generate year or month, and much more.

Download Example Google Sheets

Here is the Google Sheet with all the datasets we will use to demonstrate the TODAY function. I would suggest downloading the file and following me as I will take you through the article.

Click Here to Copy!

It will surely improve your knowledge of the TODAY function through practice.

If you have your own Google Sheets with date values, then skip downloading the above file.

Explained: Google Sheets TODAY Date Function

The function is used to return the current date as a serial number. It is a really simple yet powerful function when combined with the other formulas.

The general syntax for the TODAY function is as follows,

=TODAY()

Yes, you noticed that correctly. In contrast to the other Google Sheets functions, this function doesn’t require any arguments. Even if you try to put something inside the brackets in the place of the argument, the function won’t work and return the error.

The program will take inputs from your device’s date and time settings for this function to work.

Difference between the TODAY and NOW functions in Google Sheets

Both of the functions serve almost similar purposes in Google Sheets. The TODAY function generates today’s date only. Whereas the NOW function takes it beyond and includes the current time along with the date.

In short, the NOW function generates a timestamp that contains the current date and time.

The general syntax for the NOW function is as follows,

=NOW()

It also doesn’t need any argument to work. It takes input from the device’s time and date settings.

The NOW function is the perfect substitute for the TODAY function. Simply put, any combination of formulas using the TODAY function can use the NOW function and provide the same results.

How to use the Google Sheets TODAY Date Function

Let us discuss the TODAY function with an example. We will take the simple task of generating today’s date using this formula.

The TODAY function is pretty straightforward. It doesn’t require any expert knowledge.

Here are the steps to use this formula,

  • Type “=today
  • Select the first option from the popup or press Tab” on your keyboard
  • Close the brackets using “)
  • Press Enter” on your keyboard

Boom!

Google Sheets will instantly display today’s date. It is that simple!

Q. What is another way to access the Google Sheets TODAY Date function?

Apart from selecting the cell and starting typing the formula, you can access this formula from the main menu.

Let us look at the steps,

  • Click on the desired cell
  • Hover to the main menu and click on “Insert” tab
  • Select “Function” from the popup
  • Next, choose the “Date
  • A list of date functions will be displayed in the next popup
  • Scroll down and select “TODAY
  • Now, the formula has been entered into the cell
  • Press “Enter” on your keyboard

This way of accessing the TODAY function is quite lengthy.

We suggest selecting the cell and start typing the formula. It is one of the shortest functions by Google Sheets that doesn’t require any argument to work.

As both of them lead to the same results, we prefer typing the formula manually.

Here is what the output looks like,

The date generated by the TODAY function is displayed in default date format as mm-dd-yyyy.

In the next section of this article, we will learn to change the date format.

How to change the Google Sheets Today Date Format

There are tens of predefined date formats in Google Sheets, as shown in the following image.

The date displayed by the TODAY functions is as follows,

We will change it to a more readable date format as below,

Here are the steps to change the date format in Google Sheets:

  • Select the cells containing the dates
  • Hover to the main menu and click on the “Format” tab
  • Select the “Number” option from the popup
  • Next, click on “Custom date and time
  • A new popup will be displayed, as shown below. You will see a list of available date formats
  • Select the desired date format
  • Click on the “Apply” button in the green

The output is as follows,

Changing the date formatting in Google Sheets is pretty straightforward.

However, what if you will not find the perfect date format that matches your requirements?

No worries! Because Google Sheets allows you to create a custom date format.

Custom Date Format in Google Sheets

You can use the combination of day, month, year, hour, minute, seconds, and more to create a unique date format that matches your requirements.

Follow the steps below to create a custom date format in Google Sheets.

  • Select the cells containing the dates
  • Go to the main menu and click on the “Format” tab
  • Select the “Number” option from the popup
  • Next, click on “Custom date and time
  • A new popup will be displayed. It is divided into two sections: Editor and List of Date Formats
  • Use the “Delete” key and erase everything in the Editor box
  • Click on the Dropdown icon as shown below
  • Select the “Day
  • A new button named “Day (5)” will be inserted into the Editor Box. Refer to the following image
  • Click on the “Day (5)” button and choose the first option, “Day without leading zero (5)
  • Click anywhere in the Editor box and press “Space” key on your keyboard
  • Click on the Dropdown icon again
  • Select “Month” from the popup
  • Next, click on the “Month (8)” button to see various formatting options available for the month
  • Choose the fifth option, “Month as abbreviation (Aug)
  • Now, click on the Editor box and press “,” key and then “Space” key on your keyboard
  • Click on the Dropdown icon
  • Select “Year
  • Click on the “Year (30)” button
  • Choose “Full numeric year (1930)
  • Click on the “Apply” button at the top

This way, you can change the default date format to a more readable one. It will help you prepare reports that colleagues and clients can easily interpret.

How to change the default update time for the TODAY function

Google Sheets allows you to change the time interval at which the TODAY function will update the generated date.

This is particularly helpful in the case of functions like NOW.

For example, when you share the Google Sheet with your colleagues and the current date and time is important to them. In this case, you may wish to generate the exact date and time using the NOW function.

Here are the steps,

  • Go to the main menu and click on the “File” button
  • Next, select “Settings” from the popup
  • A new dialog box will open, as shown below
  • Click on the “Calculation” tab
  • Click on the dropdown below the option “Recalculation
  • Let’s choose the “On change and every minute” option
  • Now, click on the “Save settings” button in the green

This will make sure that the current date generated using the TODAY function will update every minute.

What is the quickest way to enter today’s date in a cell?

If you are in a hurry and just quickly wish to enter today’s date. Here’s the solution for you!

Select the desired cell

  • Type “@today
  • Select the first option from the popup or pressTab” on your keyboard
  • Press Enter

Next, you can format this date as per your preference by following the steps discussed in the previous sections.

SIDENOTE: In contrast to the date generated using the TODAY function, the date entered by following the above steps won’t update automatically.

Final Words

The TODAY function helps you generate the current date in your spreadsheet regardless of when you created it.

If you need the current date and time, then go for the NOW function. It is very similar to the TODAY function but generates a timestamp that reflects the exact date and time based on the user’s device configurations.

I hope this quick guide helped you learn all the bells and whistles when it comes to the TODAY function in Google Sheets.

Feel free to comment below if you are stuck somewhere or need any help using the TODAY function. Our team is always here to help you.

Also, don’t forget to explore our blog section, which contains useful tips and tricks about managing dates in Google Sheets.