Insert the Current Date in Word Documents Using Fields
Article by: Avantix Learning Team | Updated January 10, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)
You can insert today’s date into a Word document as a static date or as a dynamic date field that updates when a document is opened or printed. Word picks up the current date from the system date and the default formatting from your computer’s regional settings.
If you insert the Date field (or several other date fields), when you close, save and open the document, the date will be updated. If you want to manually update a date field, right-click it and choose Update Field from the drop-down menu.
Recommended article: How to Add or Remove Page Breaks in Microsoft Word
Inserting the current date using the Date & Time command
The most common way to insert the current date as a field in a Word document is to use the Date & Time command in the Ribbon. Date fields are entered in content controls in Word.
To insert the current date as a field using the Date & Time command:
- Click in the document where you want to insert the date:
- Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
- Select Date & Time in the Text group. The Date and Time dialog box appears.
- Click the date in the format that you want.
- Select the Update automatically check box to insert a dynamic date field.
- Click OK. Word will insert the Date field in a content control.
The Date and Time dialog box appears as follows:
Inserting the current date using a keyboard shortcut
To insert the current date using a keyboard shorcut, press Alt + Shift + D to insert the Date field in a content control.
Inserting other date fields
You can also insert the Date, CreateDate, PrintDate and SaveDate fields into Word documents. The PrintDate field will update when the document is printed.
To insert the PrintDate field or one of the other date fields:
- Position the cursor where you want to insert the date.
- Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Text group, click Quick Parts. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Field. A dialog box appears.
- Select Date and Time from the Categories drop-down list. Select PrintDate or one of the other date fields in the Field Names list.
- Under Field Properties, choose a date format.
- Click OK. The date field will be entered in a content control.
The Insert Field dialog box appears as follows with Date and Time fields:
If you want to update a date field (if it doesn’t appear to update), right-click the field and select Update Field from the drop-down menu.
Changing the formatting of a date field
If you have inserted date fields, you can also change the formatting of the field:
- Right-click the field. A drop-down menu appears.
- Select Edit Field. A dialog box appears.
- Under Field Properties, select a date format.
- Click OK.
Fields can be inserted in the main document or in headers and footers.
Subscribe to get more articles like this one
Did you find this article helpful? If you would like to receive new articles, join our email list.
Related articles
How to Insert a DRAFT Watermark in Word and Remove It (Add Text or Picture Watermarks)
How to Remove Hard Returns in Word Documents
How to Superscipt or Subscript in Word (with Shortcuts)
Related courses
Microsoft Word: Intermediate / Advanced
Microsoft Word: Designing Dynamic Word Documents Using Fields
Microsoft Word: Long Documents Master Class
Microsoft Word: Accessible Word Documents
Microsoft Excel: Intermediate / Advanced
Our instructor-led courses are delivered in virtual classroom format or at our downtown Toronto location at 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801 (Toronto Star Building), Toronto, Ontario, Canada (some in-person classroom courses may also be delivered at an alternate downtown Toronto location). Contact us at info@avantixlearning.ca if you'd like to arrange custom onsite training or an online course on a date that's convenient for you.
Copyright 2021 Avantix® Learning
You may also like
How to Stop Word from Changing Formatting Automatically
You can stop Word from changing formatting automatically in your documents by turning off AutoFormat As You Type settings in the AutoCorrect dialog box. If text or formatting is changing, there are several options you can turn off.
How to Use Wildcards in Word to Find and Replace
If you want to find and replace text or numbers in Word, you can use wildcards if you are not able to find an exact match. To use advanced find and replace techniques in Word, you will need to expand the Find and Replace dialog box.
How to Generate Random Text in Word
If you are creating a Microsoft Word document, template or mockup and you want to create placeholder text, you can generate random text using the built-in RAND function or LOREM function (which generates Latin or Lorem ipsum text).
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, Microsoft Office and related Microsoft applications and logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in Canada, US and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of the registered owners.
Avantix Learning | 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801 (Toronto Star Building), Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1W7 | info@avantixlearning.ca
