If you have a template or other type of document that regularly requires the date to be updated, you can make Microsoft Word 2016 or 2013 display a date that automatically updates. This is much easier than remembering to update it manually yourself.
- Place the mouse cursor in the area where you would like the date to appear.
- Select the “Insert” tab.
- Under the “Text” group, select “Quick Parts” > “Field“.
- Under the “Categories” box, select “Date and Time“.
- “CreateDate” – Displays date the document was created.
- “PrintDate” – Displays date the document was printed.
- “SaveDate” – Displays date the document was last saved.
- Select the date and time format that you want in the “Date formats” box.
- Select “OK” when ready, and you’re done.
Note: You can manually update the date by right-clicking the field and selecting “Update Field“.
Now the date in your document will be inserted into the document and will update automatically based on the selection you made whenever you open the MS Word document.
Anne E. Winn says
Many of our computers were recently updated and our longstanding templates were lost; therefore I am now trying to re-create our most used (and ‘beloved’) timesheet form. In the past we would open our timesheet form and the current date would automatically be in the document. Upon saving the document, the current date was somehow preserved so when our time entry staff opened the timesheet form a week later it had the date the timesheet was for (rather than automatically updating). I have not been able to re-create this function – do you have any suggestions.
Amanda says
I’m trying to make this an automatic update anytime I open a Word doc I am editting to make any date typed as mm/dd/yy to month, date, year I can use these steps for individual updates, but if I open a new word doc it doesn’t save my option.
Meghan says
Richard,
If you do not want to update the date, all you need to do it go to the insert tab, then under the text section, click on “Date & Time”. This will allow you to add today’s date without the field box.
Thanks,
M
Richard Green says
I think I found out how to change the format so that the date will not update. From the word Help: Unlink a field
Click the field, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+F9.
Note Once a field is unlinked, the current field result is regular text. If you later want to update the information, you must insert the field again.
PS My version is from MS office 2000 pro. Still works!
Richard Green says
Thank you. But how do I change the format so that the date will not update?
Jen says
Worked great – thank you!
Mohan Menon says
Exactly what I wanted. Thank you so much!