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No matter the job role you’re employed in, you may be using Microsoft Excel Shortcuts for some or many tasks you perform daily. Having more than 750 million Excel users, Proficiency in MS Excel is a standard norm across industries for storing, analysing data, financial analysis, visualisation and developing reports.
MS Excel is a popular Data Analytics tool with many data management features. Data Analysts with Excel skills need to curate, filter, store and process data using Excel to get insights for their business. Excel is an all-in-one tool that can create professional documents like salary slip format in Excel. Excel Skills are vital for many Data Analysis jobs. Microsoft Excel Shortcuts can make these tasks faster and easier.
Excel provides several built-in Excel Formulas and Functions to assist you in working efficiently. But this can also be daunting sometimes, as you need to know many formulas and functions. Therefore, in this blog, we have brought you a list of Microsoft Excel Shortcuts to help you access everything on MS Excel at the tip of your fingers.
Table of Contents
1) Why do we need MS Excel Shortcuts?
2) How should you read the Excel Shortcuts Cheat Sheet?
3) Index – List of MS Excel Shortcuts
a) General Keyboard Shortcuts
b) Keyword Shortcuts for workbook
c) Keyboard Shortcuts for worksheet
d) Keyboard Shortcuts for dialog boxes
e) Keyboard Shortcuts for cell formatting
f) Keyboard Shortcuts for row and column
g) Keyboard Shortcuts for pivot
h) Keyboard Shortcuts for ribbon
i) Keyboard Shortcuts for active cell
j) Keyboard Shortcuts for selection
4) Conclusion
Why do we need MS Excel Shortcuts?
Microsoft Excel is a powerful and versatile spreadsheet application with many features and functions to help you work with data effectively. Microsoft created it in 1985, and it has been constantly updated and enhanced to meet the changing demands of professionals across various domains. This application enables you to easily store, process, analyse and visualise data and perform complex mathematical calculations.
Excel also allows you to transform large and dull data sets into more engaging and informative graphical representations such as graphs and charts. Excel has several shortcuts that support these functions and make your work easier and faster. These shortcuts can boost your productivity and save you time and effort at work. Excel Shortcuts are very useful and convenient tools that help you complete your tasks quickly and accurately.
How should you read the Excel Shortcuts Cheat Sheet?
If there is a ‘+’ sign added between the shortcut keys, it means that both the keys must be pressed together for that shortcut to perform a specified task. For example: Shift + Space
Also, if the keys needs to be pressed one after the other, they will be shown as
Alt + P > R > S Note - Kindly keep these points in mind when referring to the Microsoft Excel Shortcuts.
Index – List of MS Excel Shortcuts
We have segregated the list of Microsoft Excel shortcuts into 11 different categories for your convenience. The categories are:
1) General shortcut keys
2) Workbook shortcut keys
3) Worksheet shortcut keys
4) Dialog boxes shortcut keys
5) Cell Formatting shortcut keys
6) Row and column shortcut keys
7) Pivot shortcut keys
8) Ribbon shortcut keys
9) Active cell shortcut keys
10) Selection shortcut keys
11) Drag and drop shortcut keys
General Keyboard Shortcuts
When using the Shortcut function keys, ensure that your function key lock is open or unlocked, to perform certain actions using F-keys.
Note: You can go through the symbols and their meanings in the table below before jumping into the keyboard Shortcuts.
Symbols in Mac Keyboard |
Meaning |
⌘ |
Command |
⇧ |
Shift |
⌃ |
Control |
⌥ |
Option |
⇪ |
Caps Lock |
Fn |
Function |
⌫ |
Backspace |
⌦ |
Delete |
⏎ |
Return |
← → ↑ ↓ |
Arrow Keys |
Below is a list of general shortcut keys used in Windows and MacOS to perform MS Excel operations:
Description |
Windows shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To open help |
Press F1 |
Shift + ⌘ + H |
To redo the last action |
Press Ctrl + Y |
⌘ + Y or Control + Y or ⌘ + Shift + Z |
To undo the last action |
Press Ctrl + Z |
⌘ + Z or Control + Z |
To copy text or values |
Press Ctrl + C |
⌘ + C or Control + C |
To repeat the last action |
Press Ctrl + Y |
⌘ + Y |
To cut selection |
Press Ctrl + X |
⌘ + X or Control + X or Shift + ⌦ |
To Paste content from the clipboard |
Press Ctrl + V |
⌘ + V or Control + V |
To Display the Paste Special dialog box |
Press Ctrl + Alt + V |
⌘ + Control + V or Control + Option + V or ⌘ + Option + V |
To find the previous match |
Press Ctrl + Shift + F4 |
Shift + ⌘ + G |
To find the next match |
Press Shift + F4 |
⌘ + G |
To toggle Autofilter (On/Off) |
Press Ctrl + Shift + L |
⌘ + ⇧ + F or ⌘ + Shift + F or Control + Shift + L |
To activate filter |
Press Alt + down arrow (↓) |
⌥ + ↓ |
To create an embedded chart |
Press Alt + F1 |
⌥ + F1 |
To create the chart in a new Excel sheet |
Select Data and Press F11 |
Select Data and Press F11 |
To display Find and Replace option, with Find tab selected |
Press Ctrl + F |
⌘ + F |
To Display Find and Replace option with Replace tab selected |
Press Ctrl + H |
^ + H |
To see right-click the menu |
Press Shift + F10 |
Control-click or Two-Finger Tap on Trackpad |
To create a table |
Select the data and Press Ctrl + T or Press Ctrl + L |
Select the data and ⌘ + T |
To select an entire row |
Click on the cell in a row and then, Press Shift + Space or Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key |
⌘ + Spacebar |
To select an entire column |
Press Ctrl + Space |
Click on Column Letter or ⌘ + Spacebar |
To select the entire table where the active cell is present |
Press Ctrl + A |
⌘ + A |
To duplicate an object, formula or text |
Press Ctrl +D |
⌘ + D |
To open thesaurus |
Press Shift + F7 |
Fn + ⇧ + F7 |
To open the VBA editor |
Press Alt + F11 |
⌥ + F11 or Fn + ⌥ + F11 |
To run a spellcheck |
Press F7 |
- |
To clear the slicer filter |
Press Alt + C |
⌥ + C |
To see the control menu |
Press Alt + Space |
⌘ + Spacebar |
To open the macro dialog box |
Press Alt + F8 |
Fn + ⌥ + F8 |
To snap to the grid while dragging |
Press Alt |
⌘ |
To open modify cell style dialog box |
Press Alt + ' |
⌘ + ⇧ + L |
To hide or show objects |
Press Ctrl + 6 |
^ + 6 |
Keyword Shortcuts for Workbook
Workbook shortcut keys are the shortcuts used in workbook files to organise data in one or more worksheets.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To create a new workbook |
Press Ctrl +N |
⌘ + N |
To open an existing workbook |
Press Ctrl + O |
⌘ + O |
To save a workbook or sheet |
Press Ctrl + S |
⌘ + S |
For Save as option |
Press F12 |
⌘ + ⇧ + S |
To close the current workbook |
Press Ctrl + w |
⌘ + W |
To minimise the current workbook |
Press Ctrl + F9 |
⌘ + M |
To maximize the current workbook |
Press Ctrl + F10 |
Fn + ^ + F10 |
To go to the data tab |
Press Alt + A |
⌘ + A |
To go to the view tab |
Press Alt + W |
⌘ + W |
To go to the next workbook |
Press Ctrl + Tab |
^ + Tab |
To go to the previous workbook |
Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
^ + ⇧ + Tab |
To protect the workbook |
Press Alt + R > PW |
- |
To go to the formula tab |
Press Alt + M |
⌘ + M |
To Print a File |
Press Ctrl + P |
⌘ + P |
To close Excel |
Press Alt + F4 |
⌘ + O |
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Keyboard Shortcuts for Worksheet
You can use the worksheet shortcut keys to enter, calculate, and manage data in the cells of the sheet. A workbook can contain multiple worksheets. A worksheet consists of cells with rows and columns.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To open a new worksheet |
Press Shift + F11 |
Fn + ⇧ +F1 |
To move to the previous worksheet |
Press Ctrl + PgUp |
Fn + ⌃ + ↑ |
To move to the next worksheet |
Press Ctrl + PgDn |
Fn + ⌃ + ↓ |
To delete current worksheet |
Alt + H > D > S |
- |
To rename the current worksheet |
Press Alt + H > O > R |
- |
To zoom in on the sheet |
Press Alt + W, Q, then use Arrow keys |
⌥ + ⌘ + Plus button (+) |
To zoom out the sheet |
Press Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Down |
⌥ + ⌘ + Plus button (-) |
To move between the worksheet, Ribbon, task pane and zoom controls in a worksheet that is split |
Press F6 or Shift + F6 |
Fn + F6 or Fn + ⇧ + F6 |
To select adjacent worksheets |
Press Ctrl + Click on worksheet tab |
⇧ + Click on worksheet tab |
To select non-adjacent worksheets |
Press Ctrl + Click |
⌘ + Click on worksheet tab |
To select print area |
Press Alt + P > R > S |
- |
To clear the print area |
Press Alt + P > R > C |
- |
To open print preview |
Press Ctrl + F2 or Ctrl + P |
⌘ + P then click Show Details |
To toggle the scroll lock |
Press Alt + W, E |
Fn + ⇧ + F14 |
To toggle full screen |
Press Ctrl + Shift + F1 |
^ + ⌘ + F |
To protect the worksheet |
Press Alt + R > P > S |
- |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Dialog Boxes
You can use the dialog box shortcut keys to add information and make changes to the data of your current worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To move to next control |
Press Tab |
Tab |
To move to previous control |
Press Shift + Tab |
⇧ + T |
To check/uncheck the box |
Press Space |
Space |
To move to the next tab |
Press Ctrl + Tab |
^ + Tab |
To move to the previous tab |
Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
^ + ⇧ + Tab |
To accept and apply suggestion |
Press Enter |
⏎ |
To cancel and close the dialog box |
Press Esc |
Esc |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Cell Formatting
You can use the cell formatting shortcut keys to adjust or modify the formatting of one or more cells in the current worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To edit an active cell |
Press F2 |
^ + U |
To format cells |
Press Ctrl + 1 |
⌘ + 1 |
To insert/edit a comment |
Press Shift + F2 |
Fn + ⇧ + F2 |
To copy cells |
Press Ctrl + C |
⌘ + C |
To paste cells |
Press Ctrl + V |
⌘ + V |
To display Format Cells with the Font tab selected |
Press Ctrl + Shift + F |
⌘ + T |
To select all the cells below the active cell |
Press Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow (↓) |
⌘ + ⇧ + ↓ |
To select all the cells above the active cell |
Press Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow (↑) |
⌘ + ⇧ + ↑ |
To select the end of the cell |
Press Shift + End |
^ + Right Arrow |
To delete to end of line |
Press Ctrl + Delete |
^ + Delete |
To move the curser one word right |
Press Ctrl + → |
⌥ + → |
To select one word right |
Press Ctrl + Shift + → |
⌥ + ⇧ + → |
To move the curser one word left |
Press Ctrl + ← |
⌥ + ← |
To select one word left |
Press Ctrl + Shift + ← |
⌥ + ⇧ + ← |
To select one character right |
Press Shift + → |
⇧ + → |
To select one character left |
Shift + ← |
⇧ + ← |
To cancel editing |
Press Esc |
Esc |
To delete a comment |
Press Shift + F2, then Delete |
⇧ + F2, then Delete |
To apply/remove bold |
Press Ctrl + B |
⌘ + B |
To apply/remove italics |
Press Ctrl + I |
⌘ + I |
To apply or remove strikethrough |
Paste Ctrl + 5 |
⌘ + ⇧ + X |
To apply or remove an underscore |
Press Ctrl + U |
⌘ + U |
To select the beginning of a cell |
Press Shift + Home |
^ + ← |
To align left |
Press Alt + H > AL |
⌘ + ⇧ + L |
To align right |
Press Alt + H > AR |
⌘ + ⇧ + R |
To align centre |
Press Alt + H > AC |
⌘ + E |
To italicise and make the font bold |
Press Ctrl + I and Ctrl + B |
⌘ + I and ⌘ + B |
To fill colour |
Press Alt + H + H |
⌘ + ⇧ + F |
To add a border |
Press Alt + H + B |
⌘ + ^ + 0 |
To remove the outline border |
Press Ctrl + Shift + _ |
⌘ + ⌥ + _ |
To add an outline to the active cell |
Press Ctrl + Shift + & |
⌘ + ⌥ + 0 |
To align top |
Press Alt + H > AT |
⌘ + ⇧ + T |
To align middle |
Press Alt + H > AM |
⌘ + ⇧ + M |
To align bottom |
Press Alt + H > AB |
⌘ + ⇧ + B |
To indent |
Press Alt + H > 6 |
⌘ + ⌥ + Tab |
To remove indent |
Press Alt + H > 5 |
⌘ + ⌥ + ⇧ + Tab |
To increase font size |
Press Alt + H > FG |
⌘ + ⇧ + > |
To decrease font size |
Press Alt + H > FK |
⌘ + ⇧ + < |
To wrap text in the active cell |
Press Alt + H > W |
⌘ + ⌥ + W |
To start a new line in the active cell |
Press Alt + Enter |
⌃ + ⌥ + Return |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Row and Column
You can use the row and column shortcut keys to arrange, control, or modify the data from one or more rows and columns in the current worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To display Insert Dialog box |
Press Ctrl + + or Ctrl + Shift + =/+ |
⌘ + ⇧ + + or |
To display the delete dialog box |
Press Ctrl + - |
⌘ + - |
To delete data in the active cell |
Press Delete or Backspace |
Delete or Backspace |
To delete a column |
Press Ctrl + - then C |
⌘ + - , then C |
To delete a row |
Press Ctrl + - then R |
⌘ + - , then R |
To hide select columns |
Press Ctrl + 0 |
⌘ + 0 |
To hide selected rows |
Press Ctrl + 9 |
⌘ + 9 |
To unhide selected columns |
Press Ctrl + Shift + 0 |
⌘ + ⇧ + 0 |
To unhide selected rows |
Press Ctrl + Shift + 9 |
⌘ + ⇧ + 9 |
To group rows or columns |
Press Alt + Shift + → |
⌥ + ⌘ + ⇧ + K |
To ungroup rows or columns |
Press Alt + Shift + ← |
⌥ + ⌘ + ⇧ + J |
To open the group dialog box when no rows or columns are selected |
Press Alt + Shift + → |
⌘ + ⇧ + K |
To open Ungroup Dialog Box |
Press Alt + Shift + ← |
⌘ + ⇧ + J |
To hide or display outline symbols |
Press Ctrl + 8 |
^ + 8 |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Pivot
You can use the pivot shortcut keys to control, calculate, analyse, and summarise the data from the pivot table applied to the grouped values in the current worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To create a pivot table |
Press Alt + N > V |
^ + ⌘ + P |
To select the entire pivot table |
Press Ctrl + A |
⌘ + A |
To group pivot table items |
Press Alt + Shift + → |
⌘ + ⇧ + K |
To ungroup pivot table items |
Press Alt + Shift + ← |
⌘ + ⇧ + J |
To hide/filter out the pivot table items |
Press Alt + Down Arrow (↓), then select items to hide |
⌃ + ⌥ + ↓, then select items to hide |
To unhide/clear the filter on the pivot table item |
Press Alt + H > S C |
⌃ + ⌥ + ↓, then select 'Clear Filter From ...' |
To insert a pivot chart |
Press Alt + N >RC |
⌥ + F1 |
To create a pivot chart on the same sheet |
Press Alt + F1 |
⌥ + F1 |
To create a pivot table on a new sheet |
Press F11 |
⌥ + ⌘ + P, then Return |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Ribbon
You can use the ribbon shortcut keys to quickly control and command a set of toolbars to complete a particular task in the current worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To expand or delete ribbon |
Press Ctrl + F1 |
⌘ + ⌥ + R |
To activate access keys |
Press Alt |
Tab |
To get help on selected control |
Press F1 |
⌘ + / |
To move through ribbon tabs or groups |
Press → ← ↑ ↓ |
→ ← ↑ ↓ |
To activate or open selected control |
Press Space or Enter |
Space |
To confirm control change |
Press Enter |
Return (⏎) |
Keyboard Shortcuts for Active Cell
You can use the active cell shortcut keys to control, manage, and modify the active cell to complete a particular action in the current Excel worksheet.
Description |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
To Select an active cell (when multiple cells have already been selected) |
Shift + Backspace |
⌘ + Delete |
To display the active cell on the sheet |
Ctrl + Backspace |
⌘⌫ + Delete |
To move the active cell left and wrap it to the previous row |
Shift + Tab |
⌘ + Tab |
To move the active cell right and wrap it to the next row |
Tab |
Tab |
To move the active cell up and wrap to the previous column |
Shift + Enter |
⌘ + Return |
To move the active cell down and wrap to the next column |
Enter |
Return |
To move the active cell clockwise to corners of selection |
Ctrl + . |
^ + . |
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Conclusion
This blog has covered all the essential Microsoft Excel Shortcuts keys to help you master MS Excel. Excel is a powerful tool for creating reports and analyses, but it can be even more effective if you use shortcut keys. Shortcut keys are combinations of keys that perform various functions in Excel, such as formatting, editing, navigating, and calculating. By using shortcut keys, you can save time, avoid errors, and work more productively.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mastering Excel Shortcuts can significantly improve your proficiency and expertise in the application. Shortcuts can help you perform tasks faster, easier, and more efficiently. They can also enhance your workflow, productivity, and creativity in Excel.
Microsoft Excel Shortcut keys can help you improve your accuracy and reduce errors in spreadsheet tasks. Shortcuts can help you avoid using the mouse, which can cause mistakes and typos. They can also help you access features and functions that can check, correct, and prevent errors in your data.
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