NOW in WPS on Windows: Introduction

NOW in WPS on Windows is a date and time function for spreadsheets; this guide covers 1 core task, with 1 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	1	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	1	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 Spreadsheet returns the current system date and time in a worksheet cell. It can be used in calculations, dynamic records, and time-based analysis.

Core capabilities include:

Entering the NOW function in a cell to return the current date and time
Using formula hints in the formula bar while typing
Updating results after recalculation or data refresh
Working with other formulas for logs, reports, and time-based calculations

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 use; downloading, installation, and account actions require internet access
Other	You need to open WPS Spreadsheet and edit cell content

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install check	Open WPS Office, create or open a spreadsheet, and enter `=NOW()` in a cell to confirm that a date and time result appears

Source: WPS download page

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	In WPS Spreadsheet, `=NOW()` returns the current date and time for worksheet calculations and analysis.	Microsoft Word can insert the current date or date and time as text or as an automatically updating field.	Google Docs supports smart chips, calendar event insertion, and building blocks when users type `@`, but this is a document workflow rather than a spreadsheet formula workflow.	Notion supports reminders and date mentions such as `@remind`, with notifications for pages and databases.	Adobe Acrobat supports adding timestamps to PDFs for signing and document tracking scenarios.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: It works directly as a spreadsheet function, so the returned value can be used in cell formulas, dynamic time records, and nested calculations.	Compared with WPS: the official workflow focuses on inserting date fields in documents, not on spreadsheet formula entry and calculation.	Compared with WPS: the official workflow focuses on collaborative document content and smart building blocks instead of a worksheet NOW function.	Compared with WPS: the official workflow focuses on reminders and notifications rather than formula-based calculation.	Compared with WPS: the official workflow focuses on PDF timestamps and signing scenarios rather than spreadsheet calculations.
Official Source	—	Insert today's date in a Word document	Google Docs product page	Notion reminders	Add timestamps to PDFs in Acrobat

Overall Conclusion: If you need the current date and time to appear directly in a spreadsheet cell and continue into later calculations, the NOW function in WPS fits that workflow more closely. The other products listed here also provide time-related features, but they are mainly designed for document fields, reminders, or PDF timestamp scenarios.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable for	Main need	How NOW helps
1	Creating dynamic time records	Office staff	Need to record the current time in a worksheet	Enter `=NOW()` in a cell to return the current date and time
2	Building daily reports or duty schedules	Team members	Need to reference the current time in calculations	Use NOW together with other formulas
3	Testing time-related formulas	Spreadsheet users	Need to verify date and time results quickly	Type NOW in the formula bar and check the returned value
4	Generating auto-updating time fields	Data maintainers	Manual time entry is inefficient	Use NOW to reduce repeated input
5	Learning basic date and time functions	New users	Need a simple formula entry example	Follow the syntax hint and confirm the formula

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Feature	Free users	WPS Premium
Use the NOW function	Available	Available
Basic spreadsheet editing	Available	Available
Additional PDF, template, and extended benefits	Partially limited	More benefits available
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Usage scenario	Recommended plan	Why
Everyday use of NOW and basic spreadsheet calculations	Free	The function itself is available for regular spreadsheet work
Need more cloud storage or broader office benefits	WPS Premium	Suitable for users who also need more advanced benefits across WPS Office

Membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium