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How to Automatically Record the Date an Item is Added to Microsoft Lists

WPS Editor Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically record and display the exact date and time when a new item is added to Microsoft Lists.

How to Automatically Record the Date an Item is Added to Microsoft Lists

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking the exact creation time of list entries for record-keeping purposes.
Observed behavior: The user needs to show a fixed timestamp for item creation on the main view without opening Version History or creating a Power Automate action.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions to edit the current view of your Microsoft List so you can modify which columns are displayed.

Solution 1Recommended

Display the Built-in Created Column

Use the default system-generated Created column to display a fixed, immutable timestamp of when the item was originally added.

Microsoft Lists automatically generates a timestamp in the background whenever a new item is added. You do not need to create a new column or a Power Automate flow to capture this information; you simply need to make the hidden system column visible.

Open your Microsoft List

Navigate to Microsoft Lists and open the specific list where you want to track the item addition dates.

Access the Column Settings

Scroll to the far right of your column headers and click on 'Add column', or click the drop-down arrow next to any existing column header, select 'Column settings', and choose 'Show/hide columns'.

Enable the Created Column

In the pane that opens on the right side of the screen, scroll down through the list of available columns and check the box next to 'Created'.

Apply Changes

Click the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the pane. The 'Created' column will now appear in your list view, showing the exact date and time each item was added.

Fixed Timestamp: The Created column is read-only and permanently fixed, ensuring accurate historical records that cannot be accidentally modified.

Solution 2

Use a Calculated Column (Alternative Method)

Create a calculated column using the =Today() formula to generate dates based on calculations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Power Automate to record the creation date in Microsoft Lists?

Yes, you can build a Power Automate flow that triggers when a new item is created and updates a specific date column. However, simply showing the built-in 'Created' column is much faster, requires no setup, and achieves the exact same result.

Why does my calculated column with =Today() change dates?

The =Today() formula is a dynamic function designed to always display the current system date. Whenever the list is refreshed, the item is modified, or the calculation is triggered, the date will update to the current day, erasing the original entry date.

Can I sort my Microsoft List by the date an item was added?

Yes. Once you have made the built-in 'Created' column visible in your list view, you can click on the 'Created' column header and select 'Sort older to newer' or 'Sort newer to older' to organize your items chronologically.

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