You can insert the current date and time in PowerPoint in two ways:
- Automatically updating Date and Time — PowerPoint will update the date and time automatically to the current date and time every time you open the presentation.
- Fixed — The date and time will remain the same as you had inserted them, and will not change.
Let us show you how to do the above.
Inserting Auto Updating Current Date and Time in PowerPoint
Step #1: Open a Presentation
Open the PowerPoint document where you want to add the current date and time.
Step #2: Choose the Normal view
Click on the View tab in the top menu bar.
In the Presentation Views section, Click on the Normal icon.
Step #3: Open the Header and Footer dialog
Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
In the Text section, Click on the Date and Time icon.
This opens the Header and Footer dialog window.
Step #4: Include the Date and Time in Slides
In the Header and Footer dialog, Click on the Slide tab.
Under the heading Include on slide, click on and select Date and time.
You will be presented with two options, of which PowerPoint has already chosen Update automatically by default. This option allows PowerPoint to update the date and time to the current values every time you open the presentation.
Step #5: Select the Date and Time format
Under Update automatically, click on the small down arrow beside the date.
This will open a drop-down menu.
Click on the date and time format you prefer.
Step #6: Change the Language
Under Language, click on the small down arrow beside the displayed language.
This will open a drop-down menu.
Click on the language of your preference.
Note: Changing the language may affect the date format displayed.
Click on the Apply to All tab at the bottom of the dialog.
The current date and time appear at the left-hand bottom corner of the slide.
Step #7: Change the Date and Time Position
Click on the date and time on the slide.
A box will appear around the date and time.
Click on the boundary of the box and drag it to its new position.
Click anywhere on a blank space in the slide to remove the box.
Method #2: Inserting Fixed Date and Time in PowerPoint
Step #1: Open a Presentation
Open the PowerPoint document where you want to add the current date and time.
Step #2: Choose the Normal view
Click on the View tab in the top menu bar.
In the Presentation Views section, click on the Normal icon.
Step #3: Open the Header and Footer dialog
Click on the Insert tab in the top menu bar.
In the Text section, Click on the Date and Time icon.
This opens the Header and Footer dialog window.
Step #4: Include the Date and Time in Slides
In the Header and Footer dialog, click on the Slide tab.
Under the heading Include on slide, click on and select Date and time.
You will be presented with two options, of which PowerPoint has already chosen Update automatically by default. However, you may want to insert a fixed date and time.
Click on and select the other option, Fixed.
This option places the current or any date and time in the slide, and PowerPoint will not update it. This option allows the audience to know when you had placed the date and time.
Step #5: Write the Date and Time format
Click within the box under Fixed.
Write the date and time in any format you prefer.
Click on the Apply to All tab at the bottom of the dialog.
The date and time you have written appear at the left-hand bottom corner of the slide.
Step #6: Change the Date and Time Position
Click on the date and time on the slide.
A box will appear around the date and time.
Click on the boundary of the box and drag it to the new position.
Click anywhere on a blank space in the slide to remove the box.
Conclusion
We have shown you two methods of inserting the current date and time in PowerPoint slides. One method allows automatic updating to the current date and time, while the other is an unchanging time stamp during the slide creation. Use the one most suitable to your application.
If you have any questions, please enter them in the comments section below.