NOW in WPS on Windows: Introduction

NOW in WPS is a spreadsheet date-and-time function that returns the current system date and time; this guide covers 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index

About This Feature

Overview

The NOW function in WPS Spreadsheets returns the current system date and time in a cell. When you type the formula, WPS can show syntax guidance in the formula bar, which helps with time-based records, calculation sheets, and continuously updated worksheets.

Core capabilities include:

Return the current date and time for timestamp-style worksheet entries.
Show syntax guidance while you type in the formula bar.
Recalculate results after worksheet changes so time-based data can be refreshed.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	No mandatory internet connection is required for local formula calculation
Other	You need to open WPS Spreadsheets and edit formulas in cells

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Check after installation	Open WPS Office, launch Spreadsheets, and confirm that the Formula tab and formula bar are available

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	The NOW function returns the current system date and time in spreadsheet cells and supports formula guidance and recalculation.	Microsoft Word can insert the current date or date and time, and it can update the field automatically when the document is opened.	Google Docs highlights dynamic document content such as meeting notes, smart chips, and collaborative building blocks, but the product page does not describe an equivalent spreadsheet NOW formula in Docs.	Notion formulas support `now()` and date functions for database formulas that return the current date and time.	Adobe Acrobat can create dynamic stamps with an automatic date by using custom stamps and scripts in PDF workflows.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: Direct cell-based spreadsheet calculation for current date and time; Distinct: syntax guidance appears while entering `NOW(` in the worksheet formula workflow.	Compared with WPS: Word focuses on document date insertion and updating fields rather than spreadsheet cell formulas.	Compared with WPS: Google Docs focuses on collaborative document content instead of worksheet cell formula calculation on this page.	Compared with WPS: Notion uses database formulas and properties, so the workflow differs from traditional spreadsheet cell editing.	Compared with WPS: Acrobat handles automatic dates mainly through PDF stamps and form workflows rather than spreadsheet formulas.
Official Source	—	Insert today's date in a Word document	Google Docs product page	Formula syntax and functions	Create a custom dynamic stamp using Acrobat

Overall Conclusion
WPS is a practical fit when you need the current date and time directly inside spreadsheet cells and want to continue calculations in the same worksheet. Other products also provide date-related dynamic behavior, but their main scenarios are document editing, database formulas, or PDF stamping rather than spreadsheet formula entry.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable For	Main Need	How WPS Helps
1	Adding a daily report timestamp	Office staff	Show the current entry time in a worksheet	Enter the NOW function in a cell to return the current date and time
2	Tracking the latest data refresh time	Data organizers	Show when worksheet data was updated	Use the NOW function and recalculate the sheet when needed
3	Combining current time with other formulas	Spreadsheet users	Continue calculations based on the current time	Use the NOW function together with other worksheet formulas

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free Users	WPS Premium
Entering and calculating the NOW function	✅	✅
Basic spreadsheet editing	✅	✅
Additional office benefits	Depends on the current account benefits	Available according to the benefits listed on the pricing page

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Scenario	Recommended Plan	Why
Using the NOW function and basic spreadsheet calculations	Free	The function itself is available without membership restriction
Needing more cloud storage, templates, or broader office benefits	WPS Premium	You can choose a plan based on your broader work needs

WPS membership center: Subscribe now