Excel Shortcut Keys

MS Excel is a widely used spreadsheet software, and most people are quite familiar with working on it. Since it is a powerful software and has been around for a long time, it has several advanced features. One of such features is the use of shortcut keys in Excel. By using excel shortcut keys, we can undoubtedly speed up our working process and further increase the overall productivity of the work process.

In this article, we are discussing the wide range of shortcuts that can be used in Excel and make things more convenient. Since excel has a pretty long list of shortcuts, we have summarized most of the general shortcuts in different categories. This also helps us remember most of the shortcuts. One advantage of memorizing these excel shortcut keys is that they are compatible with almost every version of Excel we are using on the Windows platform.

Before discussing the shortcuts, let us discuss some fundamental concepts of shortcuts so that we can understand them efficiently:

  • When there is a use of plus sign (+) in a shortcut key combination, we must press multiple keys simultaneously. For instance, if a shortcut key to print any document is Ctrl + P, we need to press the 'Ctrl' key and the 'P' key together.
  • When there is a comma sign (,) in a shortcut key combination, we must press multiple keys in order. For instance, if we are given a shortcut key combination as Alt + H, A, C, we are first required to press the 'Alt' key and 'H' together, then release those keys and press A and C one after another.
  • When there is a use of function key (such as F1, F2, F3…..F12) in a shortcut key combination, we must first activate function keys by pressing the 'Fn' button from the keyboard and then try the corresponding shortcut. For some keyboards, it may not be necessary.
Excel Shortcut Keys

Keyboard shortcuts are essential alternatives to using a touchscreen or a mouse. Let us now come directly to the table of Excel shortcut keys, which also include their actions/ uses:

General Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes the shortcuts that are most commonly used in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
F1To Launch a Help Pane
Ctrl + ASelect All
Ctrl + BTo apply/ remove Bold from the selection
Ctrl + ITo apply/ remove Italic from the selection
Ctrl + UTo apply/ remove the underscore from the selection
Ctrl + CTo copy selection
Ctrl + VTo paste content from the clipboard
Ctrl + Alt + VTo launch the 'Paste Special' window
Ctrl + XTo cut the selection
Ctrl + ZTo undo the changes/ action
Ctrl + YTo redo the changes/ action
Ctrl + DTo duplicate the object, text, or formula
Ctrl + PTo print a Workbook
Ctrl + FTo launch the 'Find and Replace' window with the Find tab selected
Ctrl + HTo launch the 'Find and Replace' window with Replace tab selected
Ctrl + WTo close a Workbook
Ctrl + F4To close Excel
Ctrl + F2To switch to print preview
F4To repeat the last action/ command
F12To launch the 'Save As' command
F7To check the spelling
Alt/ F10To turn the key tips On/ Off
Ctrl + Shift + UExpand/ Collapse the formula bar
F11To insert a bar chart as per the selection (on a new sheet)
Alt + F1To insert an embedded bar chart as per the selection (on the current sheet)
Ctrl + Shift + F4To find a previous match (after initial Find)
Shift + F4To find the next match (after initial Find)
Ctrl + Shift + LTo toggle the Autofilter
Alt + ↓To activate the filter
Ctrl + T or Ctrl + LTo insert the table
Shift + SpaceTo select the table row
Ctrl + SpaceTo select the table column
Ctrl + A (when active cell is in table)To select the entire table
Alt + CTo clear the slicer filter
Shift + F7To launch the Thesaurus
Alt + F8To launch a Macro dialog box
Alt + F11To launch VBA Editor
Ctrl + 6To show/ hide objects such as images, watermarks, etc.
Alt + 'To launch the 'Modify Cell Style' window
Shift + F10To display the mouse, right-click menu options
Alt + SpaceTo show Control menu options
Alt + FTo display the 'File' tab options
Alt + HTo display the 'Home' tab options
Alt + NTo display the 'Insert' tab options
Alt + PTo display the 'Page Layout' tab options
Alt + MTo display the 'Formulas' tab options
Alt + ATo display the 'Data' tab options
Alt + RTo display the 'Review' tab options
Alt + WTo display the 'View' tab options
Alt + LTo display the 'Developer' tab options
Shift + F3To insert a function

Worksheet Related Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes the shortcuts that are most commonly used to perform worksheet (commonly called sheets) tasks in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Shift + F11To add a new worksheet
Ctrl + PgUpTo go to the previous worksheet
Ctrl + PgDnTo go to the next worksheet
Alt + E, LTo delete the current worksheet
Alt + O, H, RTo rename the current worksheet
Alt + E, MTo move the current worksheet
F6 OR Shift + F6To move the selection between the ribbon, task pane, worksheet, and zoom controls in splatted worksheets
Ctrl + Shift + PgUp/ PgDnTo select the adjacent worksheets
ScrLkTo toggle the scroll lock
Ctrl + Shift + F1To toggle full-screen view
Alt + P, R, STo set the print area for the worksheet
Ctrl + F2To view the print preview of the worksheet
Alt + P, R, CTo clear the print area
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel UpTo perform zoom in
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel DownTo perform zoom out
Alt + R, P, STo protect the sheet

Workbook Related Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to the workbook in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + NTo create a new Workbook
Ctrl + OTo open an existing Workbook from the local storage
Ctrl +STo save a Workbook
Ctrl + TabTo go to the next workbook
Ctrl + Shift + TabTo go to the previous workbook
Ctrl + F9To minimize the current workbook window
Ctrl + F10To maximize the current workbook window
Ctrl + F4To close the current workbook
Alt + F4To close the Excel

Ribbon Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes the shortcuts that are most commonly used to perform tasks related to Ribbon in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + F1To expand/ collapse the ribbon
AltTo activate the access keys
→ ← ↑ ↓To move through tabs and groups in ribbon
Space / EnterTo activate or open the selected control
EnterTo confirm control changes
F1To get help on the selected control

Drag/ Drop Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes the shortcuts that are most commonly used to perform drag/ drop tasks in Excel after the cells have been selected:

Shortcut Key/sAction
DragTo drag and cut
Ctrl + DragTo drag and copy
Shift + DragTo drag and insert
Ctrl + Shift + DragTo drag and insert the copy
Alt +DragTo drag to worksheet
Ctrl + DragTo drag to duplicate the worksheet

Navigation Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform tasks related to navigation in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
To move to the right side of the active cell
To move to the left side of the active cell
To move to the one cell upside
To move to the one cell downside
Alt + PgDnTo move one screen to the right side
Alt + PgUpTo move one screen to the left side
PgUpTo move one screen up
PgUpTo move one screen down
Ctrl + →To move to the right edge (last cell in the corresponding row) of the data region
Ctrl + ←To move to the left edge (Initial cell in the corresponding row) of the data region
Ctrl + ↑To move to the top edge (Initial cell in the corresponding column) of the data region
Ctrl + ↓To move to the bottom edge (last cell in the corresponding column) of the data region
HomeTo move to the beginning of the current row
Ctrl + EndTo move to the last cell of the current worksheet containing the data
Ctrl + HomeTo move to the first cell of the current worksheet
EndTo turn On/ Off End mode

Active Cell Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform tasks when there is an active cell in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Shift + BackspaceTo select the active cell (when several cells are already selected)
Ctrl + BackspaceTo display the active cell on a worksheet
Ctrl + .To move the active cell clockwise to the corners of the selection
EnterTo move active cell down in the selection/ wrap to the next column
Shift + EnterTo move active cell up in the selection/ wrap to the previous column
TabTo move the active cell right in a selection/ wrap to the next row
Shift + TabTo move the active cell left in a selection/ wrap to the previous row

Selection Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform selection tasks in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Shift + SpaceTo select the entire row
Ctrl + SpaceTo select the entire column
Ctrl + ATo select the current region when the worksheet includes data. Pressing again helps to select the current region and the summary rows. Pressing again helps to select the entire worksheet.
Shift + ClickTo expand the selection
Ctrl + ClickTo add non-adjacent cells to the selection
Ctrl + Alt + →To move to the right side between non-adjacent selections
Ctrl + Alt + ←To move to the left side between the adjacent selections
Shift +F8To toggle 'Add to Selection' mode
EscTo exit 'Add to Selection' mode

Extend Selection Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform extending selection tasks in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Shift + →To extend the selection to the right side
Shift + ←To extend the selection to the left side
Shift + ↑To extend the selection to the upside direction
Shift + ↓To extend the selection down
Ctrl +Shift + →To extend the selection to the last cell to the right side that includes data, or to the next cell containing the data, or to the last column
Ctrl + Shift + ←To extend the selection to the last cell to the left side that includes data, or to the next cell containing the data, or to the first column
Ctrl + Shift + ↑To extend the selection to the last cell to the upside direction that includes data, or to the next cell containing the data, or to the first row
Ctrl + Shift + ↓To extend the selection to the last cell to the bottom side that includes data, or to the next cell containing the data, or to the last row
Shift + PgUpTo extend the selection, one screen upside
Shift + PgDnTo extend the selection one screen downside
Alt +Shift + PgDnTo extend the selection one screen right side
Alt + Shift + PgUpTo extend the selection, one screen left side
Shift + HomeTo extend the selection to the beginning of the row/s
Ctrl + Shift + HomeTo extend the selection to the first cell in a worksheet
Ctrl + Shift + EndTo extend the selection to the last cell in a worksheet
F8To toggle the 'Extend Selection' mode
EscTo cancel the 'Extend Selection' mode

Select Special Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform special selection tasks in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + G OR F5To show 'Go To' dialog window
Ctrl + Shift + OTo select cells with comments
Ctrl + Shift + *To select the region around the active cell
Ctrl + ATo select the current region
Ctrl + [To select the direct precedents
Ctrl + Shift + {To select all precedents
Ctrl + ]To select the direct dependents
Ctrl + Shift + }To select all dependents
Alt + ;To select the visible cells only

Cell Edit Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform tasks related to editing the cell in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
F2To edit the current cell
Shift + F2To insert/ edit comment
Shift + F10, MTo remove/ delete comment
EscTo cancel the editing mode
Shift + →To select the one character on the right side, pressing →multiple times can select more characters right
Shift + ←To select the one character on the left side, pressing ←multiple times can select more character left
Ctrl + →To move the pointer one word right, pressing → multiple times can move further to the right
Ctrl + ←To move the pointer one word left, pressing ←multiple times can move further to the left
Ctrl + Shift + →To select the one word on the right side, pressing → multiple times can select more words to the right
Ctrl + Shift + ←To select the one word on the left side, pressing ←multiple times can select more words to the left
Shift + HomeTo select all the characters from the current pointer position to the beginning of the current cell
Shift + EndTo select all the characters from the current pointer position to the end of the current cell
Ctrl + DeleteTo delete all the characters from the current pointer position to the end of the line in the current cell
DeleteTo delete the character to the right side of the pointer position
BackspaceTo delete the character to the left side of the pointer position
Alt + EnterTo start a new line in the current cell

Entering Data Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to entering the data in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
EnterTo enter the data and move to the next/ down cell
Enter (after copying, selecting cell/s, then pressing)To enter the copied data in all the selected cells
Shift + EnterTo enter the data and go to the above cell
TabTo enter the data and go to the right cell
Shift + TabTo enter the data and go to the left cell
Ctrl + EnterTo enter the data and remain in the current cell
Ctrl + ;To add the current date
Ctrl + Shift + :To add the current time
Ctrl + DTo fill the data into down cell/s from the cell above
Ctrl + RTo fill the data into right cell/s from the cell on left
Ctrl + 'To duplicate the formula from the above cell (the formula is the exact copy)
Ctrl + Shift + "To duplicate the value from the above cell
Ctrl + ETo flash fill
Ctrl + KTo insert a hyperlink
Alt + ↓To show an AutoComplete list

Formatting Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to the regular formatting in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + 1To format cells
Ctrl + Shift + FTo show 'Format Cells' with the Font tab selected
Ctrl + 5To apply/ remove strikethrough from the selection
Alt + H, A, LTo align the content left side
Alt + H, A, CTo align center
Alt + H, A, RTo align the content right side
Alt + H, 6To insert Indent
Alt + H, 5To remove Indent
Alt + H, WTo wrap text
Alt + H, A, TTo align top
Alt + H, A, BTo align bottom
Alt + H, A, MTo align middle
Alt + H, F, GTo increase the font size one step
Alt + H, F, KTo decrease the font size one step

Number Formatting Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to the number formatting in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + Shift + ~To apply general format
Ctrl + Shift + !To apply number format (with decimals)
Ctrl + Shift + @To apply time format
Ctrl + Shift + #To apply a date format
Ctrl + Shift + $To apply currency format
Ctrl + Shift + %To apply percentage format
Ctrl + Shift + ^To apply scientific format

Borders Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to the border in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Alt + H, BTo launch a list of border styles from the ribbon
Ctrl + Shift + &To insert a border around the selected cells
Alt + H, B, RTo add/ remove the right side border
Alt + H, B, LTo add/ remove the left side border
Alt + H, B, PTo add/ remove the top side border
Alt + H, B, OTo add/ remove the bottom side border
Alt + H, B, ATo add all side borders to all the selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + - (minus sign button on the keyboard)To delete the borders from the selection

Formulas Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that can be used to perform tasks related to formula/ formulae in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
= OR +To start entering the formula
F4To toggle between absolute and relative references (in a cell edit mode)
Shift + F3To launch the 'Insert Function' dialog window
Alt + =To perform Autosum
Ctrl + `To toggle showing formulas On/ Off
Ctrl + Shift + ATo insert function arguments
Ctrl + Shift + EnterTo enter an array formula
F9To calculate worksheets
Shift + F9To calculate the active worksheets
Ctrl + Alt + F9To force calculate all the worksheets
F9To evaluate part of a formula (in a cell edit mode)
Ctrl + Shift + UTo expand / Collapse the formula bar
Ctrl + ATo show function arguments dialog window
Ctrl + F3To open the name manager mode
Ctrl + Shift + F3To create a name from the values in row(s) or column(s)
F3To paste a name into the formula
TabTo accept the function with auto-complete

Rows and Columns Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that help to perform tasks related to rows and columns in Excel:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Ctrl + + (plus sign button on keyboard)To launch an Insert Dialog Box for rows and columns
Ctrl + - (minus sign button on keyboard)To launch Delete Dialog Box for rows and columns
DeleteTo completely delete the contents of the selection
Ctrl + 0To hide the entire column where a cell is selected
Ctrl + 9To hide the entire row where a cell is selected
Ctrl + Shift + 0To unhide columns
Ctrl + Shift + 9To unhide rows
Alt + Shift + →To group rows/ columns (with rows or columns selected)
Alt + Shift + ←To ungroup rows/ columns (with rows or columns selected)
Ctrl + 8To hide/ show outline symbols

Pivot Tables Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that are used to perform pivot table-related tasks:

Shortcut Key/sAction
Alt + N, VTo create a Pivot table
Ctrl + A (when the cursor inside the pivot table)To select the entire Pivot table
Alt + Shift + →To group Pivot table items
Alt + Shift + ←To ungroup Pivot table items
Ctrl + - (minus sign button on keyboard)To hide or filter out the pivot table items
Alt + H, S, CTo unhide or clear filter on pivot table items
Alt + N, S, Z, CTo insert the pivot chart

Dialog Boxes Excel Shortcut Keys

This category includes Excel shortcut keys that only work when there is an open dialog box:

Shortcut Key/sAction
TabTo move to the next control
Shift + TabTo move to the previous control
Ctrl + TabTo move to the next tab
Ctrl + Shift + TabTo move to the previous tab
EnterTo accept and apply the changes
SpaceTo check and uncheck the boxes
EscTo cancel and close the dialog box

VBA (Visual Basic Editor) Excel Shortcut Keys

As Excel provides VBA editor support to use advanced features, we can use the following shortcut keys and increase overall productivity. However, these shortcuts must be used when the VBA editor is opened.

Shortcut Key/sAction
F2To view Object Browser
F4To open the properties window
F5To run Sub/ Form or Run Macro
F6To switch to split windows
F7To view code Window
F9To toggle Breakpoint
F10To activate the menu bar
Shift + F2To view the definition
Shift + F7To view the object
Shift + F10To display the right-click menu options
Alt + F4To close VBE
Alt + F6To switch between the previous two Windows
Alt + F11To return to the Application
Ctrl + Shift + F2To go to the last position
Ctrl + Shift + F8To step out
Ctrl + Shift + F9To clear all the Breakpoints
InsertTo toggle insert mode
HomeTo move to the beginning of the line
EndTo move to the end of the line
EnterTo insert a new line
Shift + InsertTo paste the content from the clipboard
Alt + SpacebarTo display the System menu
Alt + TabTo cycle between applications
Alt + BackspaceTo undo the changes
Ctrl + ETo export module
Ctrl + ITo turn On quick info
Ctrl + JTo list properties/ methods
Ctrl + LTo display the call stack
Ctrl + MTo import a file
Ctrl + NTo add a new line
Ctrl + RTo launch project explorer
Ctrl + TTo show available components
Ctrl + YTo cut the entire line
Ctrl + InsertTo copy contents
Ctrl + DeleteTo delete to the last of the word
Ctrl + HomeTo go to the top of the module
Ctrl + EndTo go to the end of the module
Ctrl + Left ArrowTo move one word to the left
Ctrl + Right ArrowTo move one word to the right
Ctrl + Up ArrowTo move to the previous procedure
Ctrl + Down ArrowTo move to the next procedure
Ctrl + SpacebarTo complete the word
Ctrl + TabTo cycle windows
Ctrl + BackspaceTo delete to the start of the word
Ctrl + Shift + ITo view parameter info
Ctrl + Shift + JTo list constants





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