Enter the Date In Excel Sheet ~ Step-by-Step Procedure!!
Tags: excelpreface, enterthedate, excelbasics, exceltutorials
Published: 2021-01-18 03:57:35

---
title: Enter the Date In Excel Sheet ~ Step-by-Step Procedure!!
published: true
date: 2021-01-11 04:05:00 UTC
tags: ExcelPreface,Enterthedate,ExcelBasics,ExcelTutorials
canonical_url: https://geekexcel.com/enter-the-date-excel/
---

Entering the date in Excel is very easy. However, knowing the exact methods to do so will be more helpful. The Excel **[DATE function](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-date-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)** combines three values to create a date. When you specify the **[year](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-year-function-in-excel-365/)**, **[month](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-month-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)**, and **[day](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-excel-day-function-in-office-365-with-examples/)**, Excel produces a serial number that can be formatted as a normal-looking date. Here, we will show some cute steps to **enter the date in Excel**. Get an official version of ** MS Excel**  from the following link: [https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-365/excel)

## Steps to enter a regular date:

By default, the **[date](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-date-function-in-microsoft-excel-365/)** is “MM/DD/YYYY” format in Excel. You can format a date to different styles, but the format in the **[formula bar](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-formula-bar-for-various-purpose-in-excel-365/)** will not be changed.

- First, you need to select the cell in which you want to enter the date.

![Select the cell](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Select-the-cell.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-20889">Select the cell</figcaption>

- Then enter the month number. For example, if you need to enter the date in April month you need to enter the number 4.

![Enter the month](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Enter-the-month.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-20891">Enter the month</figcaption>

- Put the slash and enter the date number.

![Enter date](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Enter-date.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-20892">Enter date</figcaption>

- After that put the slash and enter the year. Now, you can see the complete date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

![Enter the year](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Enter-the-year.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-20890">Enter the year</figcaption>

## Steps to enter Today:

There are a number of quick tricks for entering today’s date. Let’s see them below:

### Using the Today Function:

You can use the **[TODAY function](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-excel-today-function-in-office-365-simple-steps/)** to get the current date on your workbook.

**=[TODAY](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-use-excel-today-function-in-office-365-simple-steps/)()**

- You just copy the above formula, paste the formula in the output cell and execute it to print Today’s date.

![Today function](https://eadn-wc04-371788.nxedge.io/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Today-function.png)<figcaption id="caption-attachment-20893">Today function</figcaption>

### By using Excel Shortcut:

- You can also use the shortcut key to enter today’s date in your worksheet.
- Just press the **CTRL** + **;** (semicolon) keys to return today’s date.

## Wrap-Up:

Here, we have described the step-by-step procedure to **enter the date** in your worksheet in Excel. If you have any other **ideas** or **question,** do share with us here in the **comments** section below. To learn more, check out **[Geek Excel!!](https://geekexcel.com/)**

### Read Also:

- **[How to Enter a Formula in Excel Office 365 ~ Easy Tutorial!!](https://geekexcel.com/how-to-enter-formula-in-excel/)**
- **[Quick Shortcuts for Entering Data Options in MS Excel 365!!!](https://geekexcel.com/quick-shortcuts-for-entering-data-options-in-ms-excel-365/)**
- **[Convert Date to Month & Year Only in Excel Office 365!!](https://geekexcel.com/convert-date-to-month-year-only-in-excel-office-365/)**