How to Add Date in Google Sheets: Complete Guide

How to Add Dates Automatically in Google Sheets - Quick Steps

1. Open Google Sheets >> Select a Cell
2. Type =TODAY() or =NOW() for date & time
3. Press Enter to apply >> Date Entered Automatically

Adding dates in Google Sheets can be tedious if done manually. Google Sheets offers several ways to automate this process, saving you time and effort. Whether you need to track daily tasks, create a timeline, or maintain records, this article will explore Google Sheets date autofill, automatically adding the date in Google Sheets, date formula in Google Sheets, Google Sheets shortcuts for date, and Google Sheets date functions.

Date Format Vs Time Format in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, Date Format and Time Format allow you to display and manage dates and times in various styles. Date Format is used to represent calendar dates, such as "MM/DD/YYYY" or "DD-MMM-YYYY," while Time Format is for displaying time values, like "HH

AM/PM" or "HH:MM

Both formats can be customized for different regional preferences, making it easy to work with data that involves scheduling, timestamps, or duration calculations.

How to Add Dates in Google Sheets Using Drag Down Feature

If you are looking to Fill a Column with Sequential Dates in Google Sheets then the below steps will help you to insert date in Google Sheets easily:

Step 1: Open Google Sheets and Select a Document

Open your Google Sheets on your desktop and select a new spreadsheet or you can also select an existing one.

Step 2: Enter Date

After opening your Google sheet enter your desired date on a particular location and place your cursor on the corner of the cell in which the date has been entered.

Step 3: Select and Scroll down the Cell

Now in the cell in which you have entered the date select it and scroll down till your desired cell you want to enter the date.

How to Automatically Enter the Current Date on Google Sheets

Follow the steps to learn how to insert date automatically in Google Sheets:

Step 1: Autofill Days in a Column in Google Sheets

Open your Google Sheet in which you want to autofill days and enter the day's formula in a cell which is:

"=ARRAYFORMULA(SEQUENCE(10,1, TODAY(),1))"

Press Enter.

Step 2: Autofill Weeks in a Column on Google Sheets

Open Google Sheets and enter the weeks formula:

"=ARRAYFORMULA(SEQUENCE(10, 1, DATE(YEAR(TODAY()), MONTH(TODAY()), 1) + (ROW(A1:A10)-1)*7))"

Press Enter to autofill the weeks in a column.

Step 3: Autofill Months in a Column on Google Sheets

Enter the Month Formula:

"=ARRAYFORMULA(EOMONTH(DATE(YEAR(TODAY()), ROW(A1:A12), 1), 0))"

Press Enter.

How to Autofill Weekdays Only in Google Sheets

Follow the steps given below to autofill the weekdays in Google Sheets.

Step 1: Open Google Sheets and Select a Document

Open your Google Sheets on your desktop and select a new spreadsheet or you can also select an existing one.

Step 2: Enter WeekDays Formula

Enter the weekday formula and press Enter. It will autofill date when cell is updated Google Sheets.

How to Enter Date Using Functions for Automatic Date Entry

Google Sheets Functions can also be used to enter date in Google Sheets automatically, here's how we use Google Sheets function.

Step 1: Open Google Sheets and Select a Document

Open your Google Sheets on your desktop and select a new spreadsheet or you can also select an existing one.

Step 2: Enter "=Today()"

After selecting a particular cell enter the formula: "=Today()" in the cell and press Enter.

Step 3: Date Entered Automatically

Now your date has been entered automatically in the cell.

How to Create a Date Formula in Google Sheets

Follow the steps to know how to add date formula in Google Sheets:

Step 1: Finding Specific Date

To find a specific date click on any of your cell and type the formula "=DATE(2023, 12, 25) // This will create the date December 25, 2023".

Step 2: Adding Subtracting Between Dates

Select any of you cells and enter the difference formula to find the difference between dates "=DATE(2023, 12, 25) + 7 // This will result in January 1, 2024 (7 days after December 25, 2023),

=DATE(2023, 12, 25) - 3 // This will result in December 22, 2023 (3 days before December 25, 2023)".

How to Add Date Automatically in Google Sheets on Mobile Devices

Now we will learn how to insert dates in Google Sheets automatically on mobile:

Step 1: Open the Google Sheets App

To open Google Sheet App on your phone locate the icon and give it a click.

Step 2: Select your Google Sheet

After opening the Google Sheet app on your mobile click on the desired Google sheet in which you want to enter the date.

Step 3: Enter the Date, Select the Date and Click Copy

After opening your desired sheet enter a date in a particular cell and then select it to view some additional options from the options select Copy to copy the date first.

Step 4: Drag it Down and Click Paste

When you have selected the date drag it till you want to enter the date and then click on the Paste button to paste the copied date.

Step 5: Date Copied

When you will leave dragging the date it will stop copying and will be entered automatically in the cells and you don't have to write the date one by one in the cells.

How to Change date format in Google Sheets

Now in the case you need to change the data format in Google Sheets then you can follow the steps given below:

Step 1: Select the Cells with Dates

Highlight the cells that contain the dates you want to reformat.

Step 2: Open the Format Menu and Choose Number and Date

Go to the top menu and click on "Format." Hover over "Number," then click on "Date." This applies the default date format.

Step 3: Select the Desired Date Format

In the "Custom date and time formats" window, choose a preset format or create a custom one by arranging the date elements (e.g., day, month, year). Click "Apply."

Google Sheets Keyboard Shortcuts for Addign Time (All Devices)

Follow the below shortcut to add date in Google Sheets:

• For Windows: Press "Ctrl + ;" to enter the current date.
• For Mac: Press "Command + ;" to enter the date.
• For Current Time on Windows: Press "Ctrl + Shift + ;"
• For Current Time on Mac: Press "Command + Shift + ;"

Also Read:

• How to Add Bullet Points in Google Sheets
• How to Add Date and Time in Google Sheets
• How to Automate Task in Google Sheets

Conclusion

Adding dates automatically in Google Sheets is an efficient way to save time and maintain organized records. By using the methods and shortcuts provided, you can quickly autofill dates and ensure your data is up-to-date without manual entry. Whether you're using a desktop or mobile device, Google Sheets offers versatile tools to help you manage dates seamlessly.