Why Use a Date and Time Shortcut?
Typing the date and time manually can be slow and inefficient. Whether you’re working in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Google Docs, LibreOffice, or OpenOffice, using a date and time shortcut will help you insert or check the current time instantly.
In this guide, we’ll show you the best keyboard shortcuts for date and time across Windows, Ubuntu Linux, and macOS, along with how to use them in popular applications like Excel, Word, and Google Docs.
Date and Time Shortcuts for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu Linux
System-Level Shortcuts to Check Date and Time
| Operating System | Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Win + Alt + D | Show date and time on the taskbar |
| macOS | Cmd + Space, then type “date” | Check current date and time |
| Ubuntu Linux | Super + M | Open notification center with date and time |
Date and Time Shortcuts for Popular Applications
1. Microsoft Excel – Insert Date and Time Instantly
| Function | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Insert Current Date | Ctrl + ; | Cmd + ; |
| Insert Current Time | Ctrl + Shift + ; | Cmd + Shift + ; |
| Insert Date & Time Together | Ctrl + ; then Space then Ctrl + Shift + ; | Cmd + ; then Space then Cmd + Shift + ; |
Example: Use these Excel time shortcuts to quickly timestamp entries in spreadsheets.
2. Microsoft Word – Insert Date and Time Automatically
| Function | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Insert Date & Time (Dialog Box) | Alt + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D |
📌 Tip: You can also enable automatic date updates in Word under Insert → Date & Time.
3. Google Docs – Quick Date and Time Entry
| Function | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert Date (via @ menu) | Type @date |
| Insert Time (via @ menu) | Type @time |
📌 Tip: Google Docs currently does not have built-in keyboard shortcuts for date and time, but the @ menu makes it quick and easy!
4. Microsoft Outlook – Add Date and Time in Emails
| Function | Windows Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Insert Current Date | Alt + Shift + D | Cmd + Shift + D |
📌 Tip: This works when composing emails or notes in Outlook.
5. LibreOffice & OpenOffice – Date and Time Shortcuts
| Function | Windows/Linux Shortcut | Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Insert Current Date | Ctrl + ; | Cmd + ; |
| Insert Current Time | Ctrl + Shift + ; | Cmd + Shift + ; |
📌 Tip: LibreOffice and OpenOffice follow similar shortcuts to Excel, making it easy to switch between applications.
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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