How do I automatically add a timestamp when a cell changes in Excel?

Use the Worksheet_Change event in VBA. Place the code in the target sheet's code area (not a Module), and it fires automatically whenever a cell on that sheet changes.

Can I record just the date without the time in the Excel timestamp macro?

Yes - remove + Time from the line Cells(Target.Row, 4).Value = Date + Time. Using just Date returns only the current date with no time component.

Why does my timestamp macro run in an infinite loop?

Setting a cell value inside Worksheet_Change triggers the event again. Wrap the code with Application.EnableEvents = False before writing the timestamp and True after, as shown in the macro.

Auto Timestamp on Cell Update in Excel with VBA

You may be working on databases or tables in Excel that contain changing data which needs to be timestamped. You could manually enter the date or time every time you work (or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + : which brings in the current date and time). However, if you want to automate this task, you could use the following macro.

This code works within the target worksheet and gets activated when a change is detected in any cells in Column C (the 3rd column). It responds to the change by entering the current date and time in the column next to Column C - the 4th column.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

If Target.Column = 3 Then

Application.EnableEvents = False

Cells(Target.Row,4).Value = Date + Time

Application.EnableEvents = True

End If

End Sub

Adjust the column numbers as appropriate for you. If you wanted just the date and not the time, remove “+ Time” at the end of the third line of the code.

Remember to place the code within the focus worksheet (Sheet1) coding area, and not in ThisWorkbook or a Module.

Auto-Insert a Timestamp When a Cell is Updated in Excel (VBA)

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