How to insert a date into an Excel spreadsheet?

Question

I want to insert date and time into a cell of an Excel spreadsheet. NOW() and TODAY() don't fit my needs. These functions insert dynamic date. But I want static: if I insert the date it won't change with time.

Answer 1

To insert the current date, hold control and press the semicolon key. This will quickly insert the current date in a non-dynamic way.

Control + ; will insert the date
Control + Shift + ; will insert the time.

Answer 2

Type it.

Make sure to set the cell type as date.

(Mokubai's answer is much better though!)

Answer 3

You can copy > paste special > value then it won't change. You can use this for all sorts of formulas, such as RAND().