Using Date Fields In Microsoft Word

Calculated Dates

How do I insert a date?

Why does it (not) change when I re-open the document?

This page last revised: Thursday, January 02, 2025. For Versions of Word 97-2019 (365).

Downloadable Menu Add-On for Date fields

The easy (but probably wrong) way to put a date in your document is Insert --> Date and Time.

If you don't check "Update Automatically" it is the same as typing the date yourself (except harder). If you do check "Update Automatically" it will update when you print (if you have the setting under printer options as "Update Fields" which is the default). So, if you use the document on a future date, it will be different. You can manually force an update by putting your insertion point in the date and pressing the [F9] key.

If you want to put a date in a template that updates to the current date when a document is created based on the template, or want to change the format or do other things with the date field, you want to use Insert --> Field --> Date and Time instead. Using the options here, you can either pick a format or type your own characters (called a picture) for the format. The options for the type of date include:

{ DATE } - The date you are looking at the document. Always today (although it may not show on screen as today until you update the field).

{ CREATEDATE } - The date the document was created (or saved using Save As). When used in a template, it will update in a new document based on the template, to the date the document is created.

{ PRINTDATE } - The date the document was last printed. Updates while printing before printing.

{ SAVEDATE } - The date the document was last saved.

{ TIME } - Essentially the same as the DATE field. When used without a "picture" it will give you the current time. With a "picture" it gives the same information as the DATE field.