How to insert today's date on iPhone
Dating a note, stamping a log entry, or writing "as of" in a message means typing the date by hand on iPhone, every time. On a Mac you might use a text expander snippet for this. On iPhone the obvious tool, Text Replacement, can't do it. Here is why, and the ways that do work.
Quick answer
iPhone has no built-in key or shortcut that types the current date. Text Replacement only stores fixed text, so a shortcut like "ddate" would insert the same date forever. You have two practical options: build an Apple Shortcuts automation that copies the formatted date to your clipboard so you can paste it, or use a custom keyboard with date variables, like WordBoard, where a key such as {{ date:"EEEE, MMM d, yyyy" }} types today's date at your cursor in any app.
Why Text Replacement can't insert the date
Text Replacement (Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement) swaps a short shortcut for a phrase you saved. The phrase is plain, fixed text. There is no placeholder for "today", so whatever date you type into the phrase is the date you get back next week and next year.
This is the most common reason people go looking for a workaround. On a Mac, apps like TextExpander handle it with date macros. On iPhone you need either an automation or a keyboard that understands variables. If your existing Text Replacement shortcuts aren't expanding at all, that is a separate problem: see iPhone Text Replacement not working.
Option 1: an Apple Shortcuts automation
The Shortcuts app can format the current date and copy it to your clipboard. The rough recipe:
- Open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut.
- Add a Date action (set to Current Date), then a Format Date action with the format you want.
- Add a Copy to Clipboard action.
- Run it from the Home Screen, a widget, or Back Tap (Settings, Accessibility, Touch, Back Tap), then paste where you need the date.
It works, and it's free. The catch is that it's two steps every time: run the shortcut, then paste. It also overwrites whatever was on your clipboard, and each format (date only, date and time, tomorrow) needs its own shortcut. Action names move around between iOS versions, so expect small differences from the steps above.
Option 2: a date key in WordBoard
WordBoard is a custom keyboard where your saved text appears as labelled keys. Keys can include template variables, and the date variable is filled in at the moment you tap the key. So a key labelled "Today" inserts today's date, today, and tomorrow it inserts tomorrow's.
- In WordBoard, create a new key and give it a label like "Today" or "Timestamp".
- For the text, enter a date variable, for example
{{ date:"EEEE, MMM d, yyyy" }}. - Switch to WordBoard in any app and tap the key. The formatted date is typed straight into the text field, with no clipboard involved.
The variable can sit inside a longer phrase too. Notes for {{ date:"EEEE d MMMM" }} gives you a dated heading, and Prices correct as of {{ date:"MMM d, yyyy" }}. keeps a disclaimer current. The full syntax is documented in WordBoard's support article on dynamic dates and times with variables.
Date and time formats you can use
The format inside the quotes uses standard Unicode date pattern letters, so you can build almost any style. Some useful ones:
| Variable | Inserts something like |
|---|---|
{{ date:"EEEE, MMM d, yyyy" }} |
Sunday, Oct 11, 2026 |
{{ date:"d MMMM yyyy" }} |
11 October 2026 |
{{ date:"MM/dd/yyyy" }} |
10/11/2026 |
{{ date:"yyyy-MM-dd" }} |
2026-10-11 |
{{ date:"h:mm a" }} |
9:41 AM |
{{ date:"yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm" }} |
2026-10-11 09:41 |
The letters that matter most: yyyy is the year, MM the month number, MMM and MMMM the short and full month name, d or dd the day, EEE and EEEE the short and full weekday, HH 24-hour time, h 12-hour time, mm minutes, and a AM or PM. Letters are case-sensitive: MM is month, mm is minutes.
Tomorrow, yesterday, and other offsets
WordBoard also has a datehouroffset variable that shifts the date by a number of hours before formatting it. Use a positive number to move forward and a negative number to move back:
- Tomorrow:
{{ datehouroffset:"EEEE, MMM d", 24 }} - Yesterday:
{{ datehouroffset:"EEEE, MMM d", -24 }} - A week from today:
{{ datehouroffset:"MMM d", 168 }}
That makes a key like See you tomorrow, {{ datehouroffset:"EEEE", 24 }}! or a follow-up reminder a week out possible without checking the calendar. For the other variables WordBoard supports, including clipboard, cursor placement, and randomized text, see iPhone keyboard variables explained.
Date keys worth setting up
- Today: the plain date in the format you write most.
- Timestamp: date and time for log entries, site visits, or shift notes.
- Note heading: a dated title for meeting notes or a daily journal.
- As of: a line for quotes, prices, or availability that should always show when it was sent.
- Tomorrow: for confirming appointments and next-day plans.
Keep them together in a Dates folder, and combine them with full reply templates where it helps, for example an appointment confirmation that already includes tomorrow's day. See an iPhone keyboard with templates for more on building those.
WordBoard is free to download with 6 keys included. WordBoard Pro unlocks unlimited keys for a full set of date keys and templates.
FAQ
Is there a shortcut to insert today's date on iPhone?
Not built in. iOS has no key or Text Replacement code that types the current date. You can build an Apple Shortcuts automation that copies the date to your clipboard, or use a custom keyboard like WordBoard with a key containing a date variable such as {{ date:"MMM d, yyyy" }}.
Can iPhone Text Replacement insert the current date?
No. Text Replacement only stores fixed text, so a date saved in a shortcut never changes. It has no variables for today's date or the current time.
How do I insert the current time on iPhone?
In WordBoard, create a key with a time format such as {{ date:"h:mm a" }} for 9:41 AM, or {{ date:"yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm" }} for a full timestamp. Tapping the key types the time at the moment you tap it.
How do I insert tomorrow's date on iPhone?
Use WordBoard's datehouroffset variable with a 24-hour offset, for example {{ datehouroffset:"EEEE, MMM d", 24 }}. Use -24 for yesterday, or any other number of hours.
Does a WordBoard date key work in any app?
Yes. WordBoard works in any app that uses the standard iOS keyboard, including Notes, Messages, Mail, and web forms. The date is typed directly at your cursor, so it doesn't touch your clipboard. WordBoard Pro is required for unlimited keys.