diff --git a/hydra/core/utils.py b/hydra/core/utils.py
index 4c58938b963..f9d572a6e7f 100644
--- a/hydra/core/utils.py
+++ b/hydra/core/utils.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 import warnings
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import datetime
 from os.path import basename, dirname, splitext
 from pathlib import Path
-from time import localtime, strftime
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union, cast
 
 from omegaconf import DictConfig, OmegaConf, open_dict, read_write
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def register(name: str, f: Any) -> None:
             pass
 
     # please add documentation when you add a new resolver
-    register("now", lambda pattern: strftime(pattern, localtime()))
+    register("now", lambda pattern: datetime.now().strftime(pattern))
     register(
         "hydra",
         lambda path: OmegaConf.select(cast(DictConfig, HydraConfig.get()), path),
diff --git a/news/1287.bugfix b/news/1287.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c4a2d9b2f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/1287.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add support for %f directive (microseconds) to the ${now:} resolver
diff --git a/tests/test_hydra.py b/tests/test_hydra.py
index 597cd3bd90b..691805e15a1 100644
--- a/tests/test_hydra.py
+++ b/tests/test_hydra.py
@@ -730,6 +730,24 @@ def test_local_run_workdir(
     )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "task_config",
+    [
+        ({"hydra": {"run": {"dir": "${now:%Y%m%d_%H%M%S_%f}"}}}),
+    ],
+)
+def test_run_dir_microseconds(tmpdir: Path, task_config: DictConfig) -> None:
+    cfg = OmegaConf.create(task_config)
+    assert isinstance(cfg, DictConfig)
+    integration_test(
+        tmpdir=tmpdir,
+        task_config=cfg,
+        overrides=[],
+        prints="str('%f' not in os.getcwd())",
+        expected_outputs="True",
+    )
+
+
 def test_hydra_env_set_with_config(tmpdir: Path) -> None:
     cfg = OmegaConf.create({"hydra": {"job": {"env_set": {"foo": "bar"}}}})
     integration_test(
diff --git a/website/docs/configure_hydra/Intro.md b/website/docs/configure_hydra/Intro.md
index 57c2eb68bdc..cefca7fb0fb 100644
--- a/website/docs/configure_hydra/Intro.md
+++ b/website/docs/configure_hydra/Intro.md
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ Hydra supports several [OmegaConf resolvers](https://github.com/facebookresearch
 **hydra**: Interpolates into the `hydra` config node. e.g. Use `${hydra:job.name}` to get the Hydra job name.
 
 **now**: Creates a string representing the current time using 
-[strftime](https://docs.python.org/2/library/datetime.html#strftime-strptime-behavior). 
+[strftime](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#strftime-and-strptime-behavior).
 e.g. for formatting the time you can use something like`${now:%H-%M-%S}`.
 
 **python_version**: Return a string representing the runtime python version by calling `sys.version_info`.