Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 4, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
When Farol uses the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+; Excel enters the local time in the cell. He wonders if there is any way to have it, instead, enter GMT (+7 or +8 hours) into the cell.
There is no way to configure Excel to do this, but it is a very easy task to create a macro that will enter the adjusted time. If you know that your local time is 8 hours behind GMT, then you can use a macro such as the following:
Sub EnterGMT()
ActiveCell = Time + (8 / 24)
End Sub
You can then assign the macro to a shortcut key and use it to enter the time in any cell. If your local time is actually 7 hours behind GMT, then simply change the 8 to a 7 in the formula.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (13084) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
Excel is great at working with times and dates. Sometimes, though, it can be a bit tricky to figure out how to work with ...
Discover MoreWhen working with elapsed times, you may want to calculate an average of those times. This tip demonstrates just how easy ...
Discover MoreWhen adding values to a time to calculate a new time, you may naturally choose to use the TIME function. This can cause ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-09-04 16:03:19
Mike
A more general solution, which would appear to work in any time zone, at any time of the year, can be found here.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1600875/how-to-get-the-current-datetime-in-utc-from-an-excel-vba-macro/23968601
The code is written as a UDF but to run it as a sub, the code in the tip could then be:
Sub EnterGMT()
ActiveCell = Format(UtcTime(Time), "hh:mm")
End Sub
2021-09-04 11:04:33
Tomek
You have to remember to change this macro when there is a change from summer to standard time. Is there a function that can tell whether the current time is standard or daylight savings time?
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments