2

Ctrl+; is not working to insert the current date and time into Excel 2013.

How can I fix that?

UPDATE

Glitch disappeared when Excel restart, so nobody knows the reason and I awarded just "direct" answer.

UPDATE 2

Suppose Ctrl+; is not working and Excel restart doesn't help.

What can prevent shortcut from working?

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  • What happens when you try it?
    – DavidPostill
    Mar 5, 2015 at 17:19
  • Nothing happens
    – Dims
    Mar 5, 2015 at 17:20

4 Answers 4

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How do I insert the current data and time in Excel?

To insert the current date and time, Ctrl+; (semicolon), then Space, then Ctrl+Shift+: (colon).


Ctrl+; (semicolon) Insert current date

Ctrl+Shift+: (colon) Insert current time

Source Excel 2013 Shortcuts

3
  • I know this, but suppose it is not working.
    – Dims
    Mar 5, 2015 at 17:22
  • 2
    Do other control keys work?
    – DavidPostill
    Mar 5, 2015 at 17:26
  • Yes, most other control keys work
    – Dims
    Aug 18, 2016 at 18:35
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What can prevent shortcut from working?

If you switch your keyboard to a language that has the semicolon on a different key that requires Shift to type it and then start Excel, the shortcut Ctrl+; doesn't work. The shortcut Ctrl+Shift+: may still work for inserting time.

Switching the keyboard back to English may solve the problem in some cases, but not always. Closing and reopening the document may also not help. The only reliable way I found to solve the problem is restarting Excel after switching the keyboard to English (or a language that doesn't require Shift to type the semicolon).

0

If Ctrl+; is not working, then Ctrl+Shift+H almost certainly will work.

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The problem with my set-up was only mentioned in one website, called "nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com". I had reinstalled TinySpell the other day, a very useful spellchecker that runs in the background, but unknown to me the latest version uses Ctrl+; as a keyboard shortcut within the app, which disabled it in Excel. Cancelling the shortcut in TinySpell settings restored normal service.

There are probably plenty of other little utilities running in the background that could do this.

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