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Editing shortcut

Insert the current time as a fixed value

Ctrl + Shift + ; on Windows, ⌘ + ; on Mac.

CommonDifficulty 950 · Capable
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Inserts the current time as a fixed value.

The shape of it

Windows
Ctrl + Shift + ;
Mac
⌘ + ;

Worked examples

  • Stamp a time

    Press Ctrl + Shift + ; → The current time appears

    Logging a call or a start time.

  • Elapsed time

    Start time in A2, later Ctrl + Shift + ; in B2, =B2-A2 in C2 → Elapsed time

    Format C2 as h:mm.

  • Full timestamp

    Ctrl + ; Space Ctrl + Shift + ; → Full date-time

    Combined stamp.

Worth knowing

  • NOW() updates; this does not.
  • Seconds are not included; type them if needed.
  • Mac uses ⌘ + ;.

Where it goes wrong

  • No seconds, so two stamps in the same minute look identical.
  • Time only, so subtracting across midnight gives a negative.

Related

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