Microsoft Excel stores and analyses data worldwide. Excel is still the go-to data analytics tool despite newer tools. Its many features simplify data organization. Moreover, Excel shortcuts speed up data manipulation. Excel uses shortcuts, and Excel shortcut keys speed up our work and boost productivity. These shortcut keys work with most Windows versions of Excel.
Why do we use Excel Shortcut keys
Excel shortcut keys are a way to speed up work in an Excel model that is often overlooked. When you use these shortcut keys instead of clicking on the toolbar, you can do essential things much faster and more efficiently.
There are thousands of keyboard shortcuts for Excel that are useful for making work more quickly. These shortcuts can do many different things, from making it easy to move around the spreadsheet to fill in formulas or grouping data.
- Speed: Shortcuts on the keyboard let you do things faster. For example, copy text by pressing “Ctrl” and “C” simultaneously.
- Convenient: Keyboard shortcuts are convenient because they let you do things without taking your hands off the keyboard. For example, pressing the “Windows” key and the “D” key simultaneously brings you to the Desktop and closes all of your open windows.
- Accuracy: Shortcuts on the keyboard help you avoid making mistakes. Ex: if you want to write an email address, you can paste the “Ctrl” and “V” keys on your keyboard. It will keep you from making mistakes.
- Customization: Keyboard shortcuts can be changed to work for you. You can make a keyboard shortcut that opens your favourite website.
- Health Problems: If you use a keyboard shortcut instead of a mouse, you can avoid problems like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Excel shortcut keys
| F1 | Open help |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo last action |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo last action |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selection |
| F4 | Repeat last action |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selection |
| Ctrl + V | Paste content from clipboard |
| Ctrl + Alt + V | Display the Paste Special dialog box |
| Ctrl + F | Display find and replace with Find tab selected |
| Ctrl + H | Display find and replace with Replace tab selected |
| Ctrl + Shift + F4 | Find previous match (after initial Find) |
| Shift + F4 | Find next match (after initial Find) |
| Alt + F1 | Insert embedded chart |
| F11 | Insert chart in new sheet |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Toggle Autofilter |
| Alt + ↓ | Activate filter |
| Ctrl + T OR Ctrl + L | Create table |
| Shift + Space | Select table row |
| Ctrl + Space | Select table column |
| Ctrl + A | Select table (when active cell is in table) |
| Alt + C | Clear slicer filter |
| F7 | Run Spellcheck |
| Shift + F7 | Open Thesaurus |
| Alt + F8 | Open Macro dialog box |
| Alt + F11 | Open VBA Editor |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate object, formula, text |
| Alt | Snap to grid (whilst dragging) |
| Ctrl + 6 | Hide or show objects |
| Alt + ‘ | Open Modify Cell Style dialog box |
| Shift + F10 | Show right-click menu |
| Alt Space | Display control menu |
Excel Worksheet shortcut keys
| Shift + F11 | Insert new worksheet |
| Ctrl + PgDn | Go to next worksheet |
| Ctrl + PgUp | Go to previous worksheet |
| Alt + O , H R | Rename current worksheet |
| Alt + E , L | Delete current worksheet |
| Alt + E , M | Move current worksheet |
| F6 OR Shift + F6 | Move between the worksheet, Ribbon, task pane and zoom controls in a worksheet that has been split |
| Ctrl + Shift + PgUp/PgDn | Select adjacent worksheets |
| Ctrl + Click | Select non-adjacent worksheets |
| ScrLk | Toggle scroll lock |
| Ctrl + Shift + F1 | Toggle full screen |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + F2 | Open print preview window |
| Alt + P , R S | Set print area |
| Alt + P , R C | Clear print area |
| Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Up | Zoom in |
| Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Down | Zoom out |
| Alt + R , P S | Protect sheet |
| Ctrl + N | Create new workbook |
| Ctrl + O | Open workbook |
| Ctrl + S | Save workbook |
| F12 | Save as |
| Ctrl + Tab | Go to next workbook |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Go to previous workbook |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize current workbook window |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize current workbook window |
| Alt + R , P W | Protect workbook |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close current workbook |
| Alt + F4 | Close Excel |
Excel Ribbon Shortcut Keys
| Ctrl + F1 | Expand or collapse ribbon |
| Alt | Activate access keys |
| → ← ↑ ↓ | Move through Ribbon tabs and groups |
| Space OR Enter | Activate or open selected control |
| Enter | Confirm control change |
| F1 | Get help on selected control |
Excel Drag and Drop (After Seleting Cells) Shortcut Keys
| Drag | Drag and cut |
| Ctrl + Drag | Drag and copy |
| Shift + Drag | Drag and insert |
| Ctrl + Shift + Drag | Drag and insert copy |
| Alt + Drag | Drag to worksheet |
| Ctrl + Drag | Drag to duplicate worksheet |
Excel Navigation Shortcut Keys
| → | Move one cell right |
| ← | Move one cell left |
| ↑ | Move one cell up |
| ↓ | Move one cell down |
| Alt + PgDn | Move one screen right |
| Alt + PgUp | Move one screen left |
| PgUp | Move one screen up |
| PgDn | Move one screen down |
| Ctrl + → | Move to right edge of data region |
| Ctrl + ← | Move to left edge of data region |
| Ctrl + ↑ | Move to top edge of data region |
| Ctrl + ↓ | Move to bottom edge of data region |
| Home | Move to beginning of row |
| Ctrl + End | Move to last cell in worksheet that contains data |
| Ctrl + Home | Move to first cell in worksheet |
| End | Turn End mode on |
Excel Active Cell Shortcut Keys
| Shift + Backspace | Select active cell (when multiple cells already selected) |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Show the active cell on worksheet |
| Ctrl + . | Move active cell clockwise to corners of selection |
| Enter | Move active cell down in selection – wrap to next column |
| Shift + Enter | Move active cell up in selection – wrap to previous column |
| Tab | Move active cell right in a selection – wrap to next row |
| Shift + Tab | Move active cell left in a selection – wrap to previous row |
Excel Selection Shortcut Keys
| Shift + Space | Select entire row |
| Ctrl + Space | Select entire column |
| Ctrl + A | Select current region if worksheet contains data. Press again to select current region and summary rows. Press again to select entire worksheet. |
| Shift + Click | Expand selection |
| Ctrl + Click | Add non-adjacent cells to selection |
| Ctrl + Alt + → | Move right between non-adjacent selections |
| Ctrl + Alt + ← | Move left between non-adjacent selections |
| Shift + F8 | Toggle ‘Add to Selection’ mode |
| Esc | Exit ‘Add to Selection’ mode |
Excel Extend Selection Shortcut Keys
| Shift + → | Extend selection right |
| Shift + ← | Extend selection left |
| Shift + ↑ | Extend selection up |
| Shift + ↓ | Extend selection down |
| Ctrl + Shift + → | Extend the selection to the last cell on the right that contains data, or to the next cell that contains data, or to the last column |
| Ctrl + Shift + ← | Extend the selection to the last cell on the left that contains data, or to the next cell that contains data, or to the first column |
| Ctrl + Shift + ↑ | Extend the selection to the last cell up that contains data, or to the next cell that contains data, or to the first row |
| Ctrl + Shift + ↓ | Extend the selection to the last cell down that contains data, or to the next cell that contains data, or to the last row |
| Shift + PgUp | Extend selection up one screen |
| Shift + PgDn | Extend selection down one screen |
| Alt + Shift + PgDn | Extend selection right one screen |
| Alt + Shift + PgUp | Extend selection left one screen |
| Shift + Home | Extend selection to start of row(s) |
| Ctrl + Shift + Home | Extend selection to first cell in worksheet |
| Ctrl + Shift + End | Extend selection to last cell in worksheet |
| F8 | Toggle ‘Extend Selection’ mode |
| Esc | Cancel ‘Extend Selection’ mode |
Excel Select Special Shortcut Keys
| Ctrl + G OR F5 | Display ‘Go To’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Select cells with comments |
| Ctrl + Shift + * | Select current region around active cell |
| Ctrl + A | Select current region |
| Ctrl + [ | Select direct precedents |
| Ctrl + Shift + { | Select all precedents |
| Ctrl + ] | Select direct dependents |
| Ctrl + Shift + } | Select all dependents |
| Alt + ; | Select visible cells only |
Excel Cell Edit Mode Shortcut Keys
| F2 | Edit the active cell |
| Shift + F2 | Insert or edit comment |
| Shift + F10 , M | Delete comment |
| Esc | Cancel editing |
| Shift + → | Select one character right |
| Shift + ← | Select one character left |
| Ctrl + → | Move one word right |
| Ctrl + ← | Move one word left |
| Ctrl + Shift + → | Select one word right |
| Ctrl + Shift + ← | Select one word left |
| Shift + Home | Select to beginning of cell |
| Shift + End | Select to end of cell |
| Ctrl + Delete | Delete to end of line |
| Backspace | Delete character to left of cursor |
| Delete | Delete character to right of cursor |
| Alt + Enter | Start a new line in the same cell |
Excel Entring Data Shortcut Keys
| Enter | Enter data and move down |
| Shift + Enter | Enter data and move up |
| Tab | Enter data and move right |
| Shift + Tab | Enter data and move left |
| Ctrl + Enter | Enter data and stay in same cell |
| Enter | Enter same data in multiple cells (after copying, then selecting cells) |
| Ctrl + ; | Insert current date |
| Ctrl + Shift + : | Insert current time |
| Ctrl + D | Fill down from cell above |
| Ctrl + R | Fill right from cell on left |
| Ctrl + ‘ | Copy formula from cell above (formula is exact copy) |
| Ctrl + Shift + “ | Copy value from cell above |
| Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink |
| Alt + ↓ | Display AutoComplete list |
| Ctrl + E | Flash fill |
Excel Formatting Shortcut Keys
| Ctrl + 1 | Format cells |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Display Format Cells With Font Tab Selected |
| Ctrl + B | Apply or remove bold |
| Ctrl + I | Apply or remove italics |
| Ctrl + U | Apply or remove underscore |
| Ctrl + 5 | Apply or remove strikethrough |
| Alt + H, A C | Align center |
| Alt + H, A L | Align left |
| Alt + H, A R | Align right |
| Alt + H, 6 | Indent |
| Alt + H, 5 | Remove indent |
| Alt + H, W | Wrap text |
| Alt + H, A T | Align top |
| Alt + H, A M | Align middle |
| Alt + H, A B | Align bottom |
| Alt + H, F G | Increase font size one step |
| Alt + H, F K | Decrease font size one step |
Excel Number Formatting Shortcut Keys
| Ctrl + Shift + ~ | Apply general format |
| Ctrl + Shift + ! | Apply number format |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Apply time format |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Apply date format |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Apply currency format |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Apply percentage format |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Apply scientific format |
Excel Borders Shortcut Keys
| Alt + H , B | Open list of border styles from Ribbon |
| Ctrl + Shift + & | Add border around selected cells |
| Alt + H , B R | Add or remove right border |
| Alt + H , B L | Add or remove left border |
| Alt + H , B P | Add or remove top border |
| Alt + H , B O | Add or remove bottom border |
| Alt + H , B A | Add all borders to all cells in selection |
| Ctrl + Shift + – | Remove borders |
Excel Formulas Shortcut Keys
| #NAME? | Begin entering a formula |
| F4 | Toggle absolute and relative references (in cell edit mode) |
| Shift + F3 | Open the Insert Function Dialog Box |
| Alt + = | Autosum |
| Ctrl + ` | Toggle displaying formulas on and off |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Insert function arguments |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Enter array formula |
| F9 | Calculate worksheets |
| Shift + F9 | Calculate active worksheet |
| Ctrl + Alt + F9 | Force calculate all worksheets |
| F9 | Evaluate part of a formula (in cell edit mode) |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Expand or collapse the formula bar |
| Ctrl + A | Display function arguments dialog box |
| Ctrl + F3 | Open Name Manager |
| Ctrl + Shift + F3 | Create name from values in row(s)/column(s) |
| F3 | Paste name into formula |
| Tab | Accept function with auto-complete |
Excel Rows and Columns Shortcut Keys
| Ctrl + + | Display Insert Dialog box |
| Ctrl + + | Insert selected number of rows |
| Ctrl + + | Insert selected number of columns |
| Ctrl + – | Display Delete dialog box |
| Ctrl + – | Delete selected number of rows |
| Ctrl + – | Delete selected number of columns |
| Delete | Delete contents of selected cells |
| Ctrl + 0 | Hide columns |
| Ctrl + 9 | Hide rows |
| Ctrl + Shift + 9 | Unhide rows |
| Alt + Shift + → | Group rows or columns (with rows/columns selected) |
| Alt + Shift + ← | Ungroup rows or columns (with rows/columns selected) |
| Alt + Shift + → | Open Group Dialog Box (no rows/cols selected) |
| Alt + Shift + ← | Open Ungroup Dialog Box |
| Ctrl + 8 | Hide or show outline symbols |
Excel Pivot Tables Shortcut Keys
| Alt + N , V | Create pivot table |
| Ctrl + A | Select entire pivot table |
| Alt + Shift + → | Group pivot table items |
| Alt + Shift + ← | Ungroup pivot table items |
| Ctrl + – | Hide (filter out) pivot table item |
| Alt + H , S C | Unhide (clear filter on) pivot table item |
| Alt + N , S Z C | Insert pivot chart |
Excel Dialog Boxes Shortcut Keys
| Tab | Move to next control |
| Shift + Tab | Move to previous control |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move to next tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move to previous tab |
| Enter | Accept and apply |
| Space | Check and uncheck box |
| Esc | Cancel and close the dialog box |