---
title: Next.js encountered the unstable value Date.now() while prerendering
kind: insight
---

<div
  style={{
    padding: '1.25rem 1.5rem',
    border: '1px solid var(--ds-gray-400)',
    borderRadius: '12px',
    background: 'var(--ds-background-200)',
    margin: '1.5rem 0 2rem',
    fontSize: '0.95rem',
    lineHeight: '1.6',
  }}
>
  This Insight is part of the [Instant
  Navigations](https://nextjs.org/blog/next-16-3-instant-navigations) feature
  introduced in Next.js 16.3. If you're new to it, start with the [Ensuring
  instant navigations](/docs/app/guides/instant-navigation) guide for an
  overview of what instant navigations are and how Next.js validates them, then
  come back here for the specific fix.
</div>

During [prerendering](/docs/app/glossary#prerendering), a Server Component called [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now), [`Date()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date), or [`new Date()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date) outside of [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense). With [Cache Components](/docs/app/api-reference/config/next-config-js/cacheComponents) enabled, Next.js can't bake "now" into the prerendered HTML. The timestamp at build time will be stale at runtime, so you need to choose: cache the value (treat it as "now-ish" with a tolerated drift), defer the read behind a [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) boundary so it runs per-request, or move it to the client.

Other unpredictable APIs ([`Math.random()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Math/random), [`crypto.randomUUID()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Crypto/randomUUID)) have parallel error pages: see [`Math.random()`](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-random) and [crypto APIs](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-crypto). The Client Component case is handled at [`Date.now()` in a Client Component](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-current-time-client).

## Ways to fix this

<FixCardGrid>
  <FixCard
    group="dynamic"
    title="Generate on every request"
    href="#generate-on-every-request"
    snippets={[
      { text: 'await connection()', highlight: true },
      { text: 'const t = Date.now()' },
      { text: 'return <Banner time={t} />' },
    ]}
  />
  <FixCard
    group="cache"
    title="Cache the timestamp"
    href="#cache-the-timestamp"
    snippets={[
      { text: 'function Timestamp() {' },
      { text: '  "use cache"', highlight: true },
      { text: '  return <time>{Date.now()}</time>' },
    ]}
  />
  <FixCard
    group="client"
    title="Render on the client"
    href="#render-on-the-client"
    snippets={[
      { text: '"use client"', highlight: true },
      { text: '// runs in the browser' },
      { text: 'const t = Date.now()' },
    ]}
  />
  <FixCard
    group="measure"
    title="For telemetry, use a timing API"
    href="#for-telemetry-use-a-timing-api"
    snippets={[
      { text: 'const start = performance.now()', highlight: true },
      { text: 'doWork()' },
      { text: 'const ms = performance.now() - start' },
    ]}
  />
</FixCardGrid>

## Generate on every request

Choose this fix when the user needs to see the current time. A "last updated at" banner, a server-issued timestamp on a transaction, a "happy new year" banner that flips at midnight. Add [`await connection()`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/connection) before the call to tell Next.js the surrounding component is request-bound. The component is excluded from the prerender and streamed in from the nearest [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) boundary on each request.

### Patterns

#### Use `await connection()` before the timestamp read

Call [`connection()`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/connection) before the [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now) or [`new Date()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date) call. Everything after the `await` is request-time. Wrap the component in [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) so the surrounding shell stays prerendered and only the dynamic part streams in.

Push the [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) boundary as close to the timestamp read as possible. If the parent has cached content (metrics, headers, navigation), isolate the timestamp in its own component so only that piece falls behind the boundary.

```jsx filename="app/dashboard/page.js"
import { Suspense } from 'react'

export default function Page() {
  return (
    <DashboardShell>
      <Suspense fallback={<UpdatedAtSkeleton />}>
        <UpdatedAt />
      </Suspense>
      <CachedMetrics />
    </DashboardShell>
  )
}
```

```jsx filename="app/dashboard/updated-at.js"
import { connection } from 'next/server'

export async function UpdatedAt() {
  await connection()
  return <small>Updated at {new Date().toLocaleString()}</small>
}
```

#### Alternative: `await io()`

Use [`io()`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/io) from `next/cache` to keep the read out of the static shell. Unlike [`connection()`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/connection), `io()` doesn't block prefetches and works inside `"use cache"` scopes and Client Components.

```jsx filename="app/dashboard/updated-at.js"
import { io } from 'next/cache'

export async function UpdatedAt() {
  await io()
  return <small>Updated at {new Date().toLocaleString()}</small>
}
```

Learn more: [`io`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/io), [Streaming](/docs/app/guides/streaming).

### Trade-off

The route renders on every request. The shell still ships instantly because of the [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) boundary, but the dynamic region waits on the server render before it paints. Design the fallback so it approximates the final layout. A generic spinner or empty box causes a layout shift when the content arrives. See [minimizing layout shift](/docs/app/guides/streaming#cls-cumulative-layout-shift).

### Gotchas

- Any UI rendered as part of the prerender shell must be deterministic. That includes [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) fallbacks, [`loading.js`](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/loading), [`error.js`](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/error), [`not-found.js`](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/not-found), and [`global-error.js`](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/error#global-error). Calling [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now) in any of them raises this same error.
- If you're showing a relative time ("3 minutes ago"), the relative formatting belongs on the client so it can update without a re-render. See [Render on the client](#render-on-the-client).

## Cache the timestamp

Choose this fix when a stale timestamp is acceptable for the cache window. A "last refreshed" footer on a daily report, an "as of" banner on an hourly chart. Move the [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now) call into a function with [`use cache`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache). Next.js evaluates the function once per cache key and reuses the result.

### Patterns

#### Cache the producer function

Wrap the timestamp read in a function with [`use cache`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache). The returned value is part of the cache entry, so every consumer sees the same timestamp until the cache is invalidated.

```jsx filename="app/page.js"
async function getRenderedAt() {
  'use cache'
  return Date.now()
}

export default async function Page() {
  const renderedAt = await getRenderedAt()
  return <ReportFooter renderedAt={renderedAt} />
}
```

Learn more: [Caching with `use cache`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache).

#### Cache the timestamp alongside the data it relates to

When the timestamp captures "when this cached content was produced" (a "last refresh" footer, a generation timestamp), include the [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now) read inside the same cached function that produces the data. The timestamp and the data are part of the same cache entry, so they refresh together.

```jsx filename="app/dashboard.js"
async function InformationTable() {
  'use cache'
  const data = await fetch('https://api.example.com/info')
  return (
    <>
      <table>{renderData(await data.json())}</table>
      <small>Last refresh: {new Date().toString()}</small>
    </>
  )
}
```

#### Cache stable annotations like the copyright year

For values like the current year used in a copyright footer, the cached read effectively never changes (until the next year), so it can live in a `cacheLife('max')` entry.

```jsx filename="app/layout.js"
import { cacheLife } from 'next/cache'

async function getCurrentYear() {
  'use cache'
  cacheLife('max')
  return new Date().getFullYear()
}

export default async function Layout({ children }) {
  return (
    <>
      <main>{children}</main>
      <footer>Copyright {await getCurrentYear()}</footer>
    </>
  )
}
```

#### Set the rotation window with `cacheLife`

When you want the timestamp to refresh on a schedule, set a [`cacheLife`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/cacheLife) profile.

```jsx filename="app/page.js"
import { cacheLife } from 'next/cache'

async function getHourlyTimestamp() {
  'use cache'
  cacheLife('hours')
  return Date.now()
}
```

Learn more: [How to configure cache lifetimes](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/cacheLife).

### Trade-off

Every visitor in the cache window sees the same timestamp. That's fine for "as of" labels on cached data, wrong for "right now" labels.

### Gotchas

- A cached timestamp is the time of the most recent cache miss, not the time of the current visit. If users expect the displayed time to match their visit, use [Generate on every request](#generate-on-every-request) instead.
- If you cache a function and still see this error, the [`cacheLife`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/cacheLife) may be too short to prerender. See [Short-lived caches](#short-lived-caches).

### Short-lived caches

[`use cache`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-cache) accepts a [`cacheLife`](/docs/app/api-reference/functions/cacheLife) profile. A short profile (such as `"seconds"` or `"minutes"`) whose `revalidate` is shorter than the prerender's effective lifetime prevents the value from being included in the prerender. The segment becomes a dynamic hole instead. The cache entry still helps the [Client Cache](/docs/app/glossary#client-cache) and protects upstream APIs, but the page falls back to streaming.

To keep the page prerendered, use a profile with a longer revalidate window such as `"default"` (15 minutes), `"hours"`, or `"days"`. If a short profile is intentional, treat the value as dynamic and use [Generate on every request](#generate-on-every-request) instead.

## Render on the client

Choose this fix when the timestamp belongs to the user's local clock or needs to update while they're on the page. A relative time label that ticks ("3 seconds ago"), a localized time display, a stopwatch. Move the component into a [Client Component](/docs/app/getting-started/server-and-client-components) so the value is produced after hydration.

### Patterns

#### Move the component to the client

Add [`use client`](/docs/app/api-reference/directives/use-client) and compute the timestamp inside the component.

```jsx filename="app/now.js"
'use client'

import { startTransition, useEffect, useState } from 'react'

export function Now() {
  const [now, setNow] = useState(null)
  useEffect(() => {
    // Wrap in startTransition so that if any component below suspends
    // during this update, React keeps the existing UI visible instead
    // of flashing the nearest outer <Suspense> fallback.
    startTransition(() => {
      setNow(Date.now())
    })
    const id = setInterval(() => {
      startTransition(() => {
        setNow(Date.now())
      })
    }, 1000)
    return () => clearInterval(id)
  }, [])
  return <time>{now ? new Date(now).toLocaleString() : '…'}</time>
}
```

Learn more: [Client Components](/docs/app/getting-started/server-and-client-components#using-client-components).

### Trade-off

The first paint shows the SSR fallback (often `null` or an em-dash), and the timestamp appears only after the browser hydrates the component. That's fine for time-of-day displays but wrong for timestamps that have to be in the prerendered HTML. See [Preventing flash before hydration](/docs/app/guides/preventing-flash-before-hydration) for techniques that eliminate the flash.

### Gotchas

- A Client Component that calls [`Date.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/now) inline during render still trips this error during SSR. See the dedicated [`Date.now()` in a Client Component](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-current-time-client) page for the [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) and effect-based recipes.

## For telemetry, use a timing API

Choose this fix when the timestamp isn't user-visible at all. Logging, performance instrumentation, span correlation: all measurements that need a clock but don't render anything. Switch to [`performance.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now), a high-resolution monotonic timer that doesn't carry the same semantic ("the current wall-clock time") that prevents prerendering.

### Patterns

#### Replace `Date.now()` with `performance.now()`

Drop-in replacement for any elapsed-time calculation.

```jsx filename="app/page.js"
export default async function Page() {
  const start = performance.now()
  const data = await computeReport()
  const elapsedMs = performance.now() - start
  console.log(`computeReport took ${elapsedMs}ms`)
  return <Report data={data} />
}
```

Learn more: [`performance.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now).

### Trade-off

[`performance.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now) returns a high-resolution timestamp relative to time origin, not a wall-clock time. It's the wrong tool if you actually need to know "what is today's date". Use it only for durations.

### Gotchas

- [`performance.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now) values from the server can't be compared to values from the browser. Each environment has its own time origin.
- Don't pass a [`performance.now()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Performance/now) value into the rendered output or into a cached function. The high-resolution timestamp is non-deterministic and shouldn't influence what's prerendered.
- For absolute time in an observability tool, use `performance.timeOrigin + performance.now()` to get a wall-clock timestamp without tripping this error.

## Verifying the fix

After applying a fix, reload the route and confirm the page immediately paints meaningful UI, with any `<Suspense>` fallbacks covering only the regions that stream in. A [`<Suspense>`](https://react.dev/reference/react/Suspense) boundary placed around the whole page body can pass validation with an empty shell, which defeats the point of an instant navigation.

In [`next dev`](/docs/app/api-reference/cli/next#next-dev-options), the error overlay points at the failing component with file paths and line numbers. When working from a build instead, the default [`next build`](/docs/app/api-reference/cli/next#next-build-options) output is more abbreviated. Run `next build --debug-prerender` for full user-frame stack traces and `next build --debug-build-paths /dashboard /settings` to iterate on specific routes.

## Why `instant = false` doesn't clear this error

This error fires from the prerender, not from instant-navigation validation. `new Date()` and `Date.now()` return a different value on every render, so the prerender can't bake them into a static shell regardless of the segment's `instant` config or [`experimental.instantInsights.validationLevel`](/docs/app/api-reference/file-conventions/route-segment-config/instant#configuring-validation-defaults). Use one of the fixes above.

## Related Insights

- [Runtime data during prerendering](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-runtime)
- [Uncached data during prerendering](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-dynamic)
- [URL data in a Client Component outside of Suspense](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-client-hook)
- [Runtime data in `generateMetadata()`](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-metadata-runtime)
- [Uncached data in `generateMetadata()`](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-metadata-dynamic)
- [Runtime data in `generateViewport()`](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-viewport-runtime)
- [Uncached data in `generateViewport()`](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-viewport-dynamic)
- [`Math.random()` while prerendering](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-random)
- [`Math.random()` in a Client Component](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-random-client)
- [`Date.now()` in a Client Component](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-current-time-client)
- [Crypto APIs while prerendering](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-crypto)
- [Crypto APIs in a Client Component](/docs/messages/blocking-prerender-crypto-client)
- [Dynamic data during prefetching](/docs/messages/instant-link-prefetch-partial)
- [URL data outside of Suspense](/docs/messages/instant-shell-url-data)
- [Unrendered segment](/docs/messages/instant-unrendered-segment)
