How to Calculate a Future Date in Microsoft Word

Keep your Word document up-to-date by inserting a date field.

When you create a document but are unsure of the send date or will be changing the content to send later, you can use Microsoft Word to automatically update the date every time you open your document. As you reopen the file in order to amend your document, Word will calculate the date and time based on your computer's internal clock. Check that your clock is current, particularly if you travel to different time zones.

Instructions

1. Click the place in the document where you would like the date to appear.

2. Select the "Insert" tab on the Microsoft Word Ribbon at the top of the screen.

3. Click "Date & Time" in the Text group.

4. Select the date format you want.

5. Click the check box next to "Update automatically" to update the date every time you open the document.

6. Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to display a single future date but do not want it to be updated to match the date every time you open it, write that date in manually without inserting a date field.

References

• Microsoft: Insert the Current Date and Time