TODAY and NOW depend on spreadsheet time settings and recalculation. They are not permanent timestamps recording when a row was first entered.
Check the file’s time zone
On a computer, open File > Settings and inspect Time zone. This is a spreadsheet setting shared by collaborators, not simply each viewer’s current device location.
Confirm which regional day the report is meant to represent. Around midnight, the same instant can belong to different calendar dates in different zones, so a one-day difference is not automatically a broken clock.
Inspect recalculation and formatting
NOW represents the current date and time at the last recalculation. TODAY returns a date without the time component. Check the Calculation settings, including whether the current workbook is using Manual mode.
Inspect the cell’s number format too. A hidden time or date component may be a display choice rather than missing information. Changing the format does not itself freeze a volatile formula.
Use a stable timestamp when required
If a record needs an immutable creation or completion time, use an authorized fixed-value entry or a carefully designed automation. Copying NOW down a column creates recalculating formulas, not a reliable historical event log.
Test the displayed date against a known time in the chosen zone and inspect behavior after an intentional recalculation. Avoid placing many unnecessary volatile formulas throughout a large workbook. Document the report’s zone and as-of time so readers do not confuse a refreshed dashboard with a historical snapshot or assume that every source record was collected at the moment NOW last updated.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.