How to autocomplete dates in Microsoft Excel

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If you want to fill in sequential dates in your spreadsheet cells, you don’t have to type them manually. Microsoft Excel offers two ways to quickly and automatically fill dates into chosen cells. We will show you how to use those methods.

In both methods, you enter the first date in a cell on your spreadsheet. Then, based on this date, Excel automatically fills in the other cells with sequential dates. You get the same results no matter which fill method you use next. However, the fill command method gives you control over the counted date unit.

Use fill handle to automatically fill dates in Excel

With the fill handle, you drag the first date across all the cells where you want to add the dates. Excel fills those cells with sequential dates.

To use this method, in your spreadsheet, click the cell that contains a date. If you don’t already have one, write one, such as today’s date.

From the bottom right corner of the selected cell, drag down covering all the cells where you want dates.

Advice: To fill in the dates in the columns, drag the date cell that covers your columns.

Drag the date cell down.

Your selected cells now have sequential dates in them.

Dates filled in automatically.

And everything is ready.

RELATED: 13 Microsoft Excel Date and Time Functions You Should Know

Fill in sequential dates in Excel using the fill command

Using the Fill command, you tell Excel your first date and the cells where you want sequential dates. The command then fills the specified cells with sequential dates.

To use this command, in your spreadsheet, select your date cell, as well as the cells where you want sequential dates.

Choose the date and other cells.

While your cells are highlighted, on the Excel ribbon at the top, click the “Home” tab. Then, from the “Edit” section, choose Fill > Series.

Select "Series" on the menu.

In the “Series” box, in the “Date Unit” section, choose the unit you would like to fill in your cells. Then click “OK”.

Back in the spreadsheet, you will find that Excel has filled the selected cells with the dates.

Dates filled in automatically.

And that’s how you take the hassle out of manually entering dates into your Excel spreadsheets. Very useful!

RELATED: How to fill Excel cells automatically with Flash Fill and Auto Fill

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