The Complete List of Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel

Do you spend a lot of time in Excel?

If you want to work more efficiently, then learning keyboard shortcuts is the way to go. Keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time and make your workday easier.

You’ll be able to learn all the keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Excel with this complete guide. You’ll be able to navigate through your files faster and get more done in less time.

Check out our full guide today and start using keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Excel!

Be sure to check out the complete list of VBA keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Excel as well for more useful keyboard shortcuts!

Keyboard Shortcuts to Copy and Paste

These shortcuts are mostly for copying and pasting objects in the worksheet such as cells, ranges, tables, and pivot tables. We can use paste special on other objects like charts and shapes, but the options available in this menu are different.

Ctrl + C

Copy the active cell or selected range to the clipboard.


Ctrl + D

Copy and paste the cell directly above into the active cell (fill down).


Ctrl + R

Copy and paste the cell directly to the left into the active cell (fill right).


Ctrl + V

Paste the last item from your clipboard.


Ctrl + X

Cut the active cell or selected range.


Ctrl + Alt + V

Paste special.


Ctrl + Alt + V + B

Skip blanks when pasting from your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + C

Only paste comments.


Ctrl + Alt + V + D

Add values to the paste range from the range in your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + E

Transpose when pasting from your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + F

Only paste formulas.


Ctrl + Alt + V + H

Paste all using the source theme.


Ctrl + Alt + V + I

Divide the paste range by values from the range in your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + M

Multiply paste range by values from the range in your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + N

Only paste data validation.


Ctrl + Alt + V + R

Only paste formula and number formatting.


Ctrl + Alt + V + S

Subtract values to the paste range from the range in your clipboard.


Ctrl + Alt + V + T

Only paste formats.


Ctrl + Alt + V + U

Only paste values and number formatting.


Ctrl + Alt + V + V

Only paste values.


Ctrl + Alt + V + W

Only paste column widths.


Ctrl + Alt + V + X

Paste all except any borders.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Editing Data and Formulas

These shortcuts are for entering and editing data and formula while in a worksheet or during editing when your cursor is active in the formula bar.

+

Add numbers in a formula.


-

Subtract numbers in a formula.


*

Multiply numbers in a formula.


/

Divide numbers in a formula.


^

Raise a number to the power of another number (2^3 = 8).


+

Start typing a formula.


=

Start typing a formula.


BackSpace

Deletes one character to the left of the cursor.


Delete

Deletes one character to the right of the cursor.


Down

Moves the cursor one line down if the cell contents contain multiple lines.


End

Moves the cursor to the end of the line.


Enter

Accepts any formula edits made and moves the active cell down by default. The default can be changed to up, left, right or no movement.


Esc

Discard any formula edits made.


F2

Edit the contents of the active cell.


F3

Opens the Paste Name dialog box while editing a formula.


F4

Cycles between absolute and relative cell references.


Home

Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.


Left

Moves the cursor one character left.


Right

Moves the cursor one character right.


Tab

Complete the formula or data entry and move the active cell one cell to the right.


Up

Moves the cursor one line up if the cell contents contains multiple lines.


Alt + Enter

Enters a line break while editing a cell.


Ctrl + '

Enters the value from the cell directly above while in edit mode.


Ctrl + A

Opens the Function Arguments window after typing the function name.


Ctrl + Back Space

Move view back to the active cell when editing a formula and keep the formula intact.


Ctrl + Delete

Deletes all characters to the right of the cursor.


Ctrl + Enter

Complete the formula or data entry and remain on the current cell.


Ctrl + Left

Moves the cursor to the left by one word while in edit mode.


Ctrl + Right

Moves the cursor to the right by one word while in edit mode.


Shift + F3

Opens the Insert Function dialog box while in the worksheet or in the formula bar and not inside a function.


Shift + F3

Opens the Function Arguments dialog box while editing a function.


Shift + Tab

Complete the formula or data entry and move the active cell one cell to the left.


Ctrl + ;

Enters the current date at the cursor position while in edit mode.


Ctrl + Shift + :

Enters the current time at the cursor position while in edit mode.


Ctrl + Shift + A

Inserts argument name placeholders for a function (after typing out a valid function name).


Ctrl + Shift + U

Expand or collapse the formula bar.


Ctrl + Shift + Enter

Enter a formula as an array formula.


Ctrl + Shift + Left

Selects one word to the left of the cursor.


Ctrl + Shift + Right

Selects one word to the right of the cursor.


Keyboard Shortcuts for the Excel Window

These shortcuts are for interacting with the Excel window to close, move and resize it.

Alt + F4

Closes the active window or workbook.


Ctrl + F4

Closes the active workbook.


Ctrl + F5

Minimizes a workbook window.


Ctrl + F6

Switch to the next open Excel workbook.


Ctrl + F7

Move the active workbook with the arrow keys when the window is not maximized.


Ctrl + F8

Resize the active workbook window with the arrow keys when the window is not maximized.


Ctrl + F9

Minimizes the active workbook window.


Ctrl + F10

Restore or maximize the active workbook window.


Ctrl + Shift + F6

Switch to the previous open Excel workbook.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Find and Replace

These shortcuts are for using Excel’s Find and Replace more efficiently.

*

Use * in searches as a wildcard for any number of characters.


?

Use ? in searches as a wildcard for exactly one character.


~

~? will search for ?


Esc

Close the Find and Replace dialog box.


Alt + F

Find the next item when the Find and Replace dialog box is active.


Alt + I

Find the previous item when the Find and Replace dialog box is active.


Alt + Tab

Toggle focus between the Find and Replace dialog box and the worksheet.


Ctrl + F

Open the Find and Replace dialog box to the Find tab.


Ctrl + H

Open the Find and Replace dialog box to the Replace tab.


Shift + F4

Repeats the last Find Next action performed.


Ctrl + Shift + F4

Repeats the last Find Previous action performed.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Formatting Cells

Proper formatting can make all the difference when it comes to how readable a workbook is. These shortcuts will make adding common format types quick and effortless!

Alt + B

Toggle on and off the bottom border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + D

Toggle on and off the downward diagonal border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + H

Toggle on and off the horizontal interior border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + L

Toggle on and off the left border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + R

Toggle on and off the right border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + T

Toggle on and off the top border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + U

Toggle on and off the upwards diagonal border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Alt + V

Toggle on and off the vertical interior border while in the Format Cells dialog box on the borders tab.


Ctrl + 1

Open the Format Cells dialog box.


Ctrl + 2

Apply or remove the bold format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + 3

Apply or remove the italic format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + 4

Apply or remove the underline format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + 5

Apply or remove the strikethrough format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + B

Apply or remove the bold format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + I

Apply or remove the italic format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + U

Apply or remove the underline format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + !

Apply the thousands comma with two decimal places number format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + #

Apply the date format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + $

Apply the currency format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + %

Apply the percent format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + &

Apply outside borders to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + @

Apply the time format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + _

Remove all borders from a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + ~

Apply the general format to a cell or range of cells.


Ctrl + Shift + F

Open the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab active.


Ctrl + Shift + P

Open the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab active.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Formula Auditing

These shortcuts are essential to know if you’re trying to track down an error in your formula or trying to understand a formula that’s been written by someone else.

Ctrl + [

Select cells that are directly precedent to the active cell.


Ctrl + ]

Select cells that are directly dependent on the active cell.


Ctrl + Shift + [

Select cells that are directly or indirectly precedent to the active cell.


Ctrl + Shift + ]

Select cells that are directly or indirectly dependent on the active cell.


Keyboard Shortcuts with the Function Keys

Here is a collection of various shortcuts involving the function keys found at the very top of your keyboard.

F1

Open the Excel help menu.


F4

Repeats the last action performed.


F7

Spell check.


F10

Display the shortcut key tips for the ribbon (same as pressing Alt).


F11

Create a chart sheet based on the currently selected range or table.


F12

Open the Save As menu.


Alt + F2

Opens the Save As command.


Alt + F5

Refreshes the active pivot table or query.


Alt + F8

Opens the Macro dialog box.


Alt + F10

Show or hide the selection task pane.


Alt + F11

Open the VBA code editor.


Ctrl + F1

Toggle the ribbon on or off.


Ctrl + F3

Opens the Name Manager dialog box.


Ctrl + F11

Insert a macro sheet in the active workbook.


Ctrl + F12

Open a previously saved workbook.


Shift + F5

Opens the Find and Replace dialog box.


Shift + F10

Display the right click menu for a selected object.


Shift + F11

Insert a new sheet in the current workbook.


Shift + F12

Save the active workbook.


Alt + Shift + F1

Insert a new sheet in the current workbook.


Alt + Shift + F2

Save the current workbook.


Ctrl + Shift + F1

Toggle auto-hide on or off for the ribbon.


Ctrl + Shift + F3

Opens the create names from selection window to create named ranges.


Ctrl + Shift + F5

Refreshes all pivot tables or queries.


Ctrl + Shift + F12

Opens the print menu.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Hyperlinks and Comments

Here are a variety of shortcuts for working with hyperlinks and comments.

Ctrl + K

Insert a hyperlink in the active cell.


Esc + Esc

Escape from editing a comment. Changes made to comments while editing are retained.


Shift + F2

Insert or Edit a comment in the active cell.


Ctrl + Shift + O

Select all comments in the active worksheet.


Shift + F10 + M

Delete all selected comments.


Shift + F10 + R

Remove all selected hyperlinks.


Shift + F10 + OO + Enter

Open the hyperlink in the active cell.


Shift + F2 + Esc + Down

Move a comment down.


Shift + F2 + Esc + Left

Move a comment left.


Shift + F2 + Esc + Right

Move a comment right.


Shift + F2 + Esc + Up

Move a comment up.


Keyboard and Mouse Shortcut Combinations

These shortcuts involve a combination of using the keyboard with the mouse.

Alt + Drag

Cut and paste an object to another worksheet by dragging it to the sheet tabs in the lower left of the window.


Ctrl + Drag

Copy an object (sheets, cells, ranges, tables, charts, pivot tables, etc.) by holding Ctrl and dragging the object.


Shift + Drag

Cut and insert an object. This will shift cells down or to the right.


Ctrl + Left Click

Add a non-adjacent cell to a selected range.


Shift + Left Click

Add an adjacent cell to a selected range.


Shift + Left Click

Close all open Excel workbooks by holding Shift key and then clicking on the X in the top righthand corner of the window.


Left Click + Drag

Drag the lower right corner of a cell or range using the left mouse button to copy and paste or use auto-fill.


Right Click + Drag

Drag the lower right corner of a cell or range using the right mouse button to access advanced auto-fill features.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Manual Recalculation

These shortcuts are for forcing Excel to (re)calculate formulas and can be very useful if your workbook is set to manual calculation mode.

F9

(Re)Calculates all sheets in the active workbook.


Shift + F9

(Re)Calculates the active sheet in the active workbook.


Ctrl + Alt + F9

Global (re)calculation.


Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9

Rebuilds all formula dependencies and (re)calculates all sheets in the active workbook.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Moving Through a Worksheet

Relying on the mouse to move around your workbooks can be slow. Speed things up with these shortcuts.

Down

Moves the active cell in the worksheet one cell to the down.


Enter

Moves the active cell down by default. The default can be changed to up, left, right, or no movement.


F6

Move focus to the next pane in a workbook.


Home

Moves the active cell in the worksheet to the left most visible cell in the worksheet within the same row.


Left

Moves the active cell in the worksheet one cell to the left.


Page Down

Moves the active cell cursor and the screen one full page down.


Page Up

Moves the active cell cursor and screen one full page up.


Right

Moves the active cell in the worksheet one cell to the right.


Up

Moves the active cell in the worksheet one cell to the up.


Alt + Page Down

To move one full screen to the right in the worksheet.


Alt + Page Up

To move one full screen to the left in the worksheet.


Ctrl + Back Space

Scrolls to the active cell if it’s not in the visible window.


Ctrl + Down

Move to the lower most part of the current data region.


Ctrl + End

Move to the lower right most used cell in the worksheet.


Ctrl + Home

Move to the upper left most cell in the worksheet.


Ctrl + Left

Move to the left most part of the current data region.


Ctrl + Page Down

Move to the next worksheet in the workbook.


Ctrl + Page Up

Move to the previous worksheet in the workbook.


Ctrl + Right

Move to the right most part of the current data region.


Ctrl + Tab

Switch between open Excel workbooks.


Ctrl + Up

Move to the upper most part of the current data region.


End + Home

Move to the lower right most used cell in the worksheet.


Shift + F6

Move focus to the previous pane in a workbook.


Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Switch between open Excel workbooks in reverse order.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Moving Within a Selected Range

Use these shortcuts to move the active cell within your selected range.

Enter

Moves the active cell down by default. The default can be changed to up, left, right, or no movement.


Tab

Moves the active cell to the right in the range.


Ctrl + Period

Moves the active cell to the next corner of the range in a clockwise fashion. This does not move to corners in non continuous ranges.


Shift + Enter

Moves the active cell up to the previous cell in the range.


Shift + Tab

Moves the active cell to the left in the range.


Other Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

A collection of other useful shortcuts.

Alt + '

Opens the style dialog box.


Alt + =

Inserts AutoSum.


Alt + Back Space

Undo the last command.


Ctrl + 6

Toggle between show and hide objects in the workbook.


Ctrl + '

Duplicate the formula from the cell directly above.


Ctrl + E

Flash Fill.


Ctrl + N

Create a new blank workbook.


Ctrl + O

Open the menu to open a saved workbook.


Ctrl + P

Open the Print (Print Preview) menu for the current worksheet.


Ctrl + S

Save the current workbook or open the Save As menu is the file has not previously been saved.


Ctrl + W

Close the current workbook.


Ctrl + Z

Undo the last command or action.


Ctrl + ;

Enters the current date into the active cell.


Ctrl + Shift + :

Enters the current time into the active cell.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Working with Pivot Tables

These shortcuts are for pivot tables. You can also use some of the shortcuts found in the Table and Filters section with the filters found in your pivot tables.

F1

Create a pivot chart in a new sheet based on the selected data.


Alt + F1

Create a pivot chart in the same sheet based on the selected data.


Alt + Shift + Right

Group selected items in the pivot table.


Alt + Shift + Left

Ungroup selected items in the pivot table.


Ctrl + -

Hide the selected item in the pivot table (remove from filter).


Ctrl + Shift + +

Opens the Insert Calculated Field dialog box (using + from top row).


Keyboard Shortcuts for Selecting Cells in the Worksheet

Shortcuts for selecting cells or ranges in your worksheet.

F5

Opens the Go To window to select a range or range name.


F8

Enters the extend selection mode. Press F8 again to exit the mode.


Ctrl + /

Select the array containing the active cell.


Ctrl + \

Select the cells in a row that don’t match the formula or value in the active cell.


Ctrl + A

Selects the entire worksheet.


Ctrl + G

Opens the Go To window to select a range or range name.


Ctrl + Space Bar

Selects the entire column or columns of the selected range.


Shift + Back Space

Collapse the selected range to just the active cell in the range.


Shift + Down

Expands the selected range down.


Shift + F8

Enters the add selection mode. Press Shift + F8 again to exit the mode.


Shift + Home

Selects a range from the active cell to the start of the row.


Shift + Left

Expands the selected range left.


Shift + Page Down

Expands the selected range down one screen.


Shift + Page Up

Expands the selected range up one screen.


Shift + Right

Expands the selected range right.


Shift + Space Bar

Selects the entire row or rows of the selected range.


Shift + Up

Expands the selected range up.


Ctrl + Shift + *

Selects all data around the active cell.


Ctrl + Shift + End

Expands the selected range to the bottom right most used cell in the worksheet.


Ctrl + Shift + Home

Expands the selected range to the top left most cell in the worksheet.


Ctrl + Shift + Space Bar

Selects the entire worksheet.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Special Symbols and Characters

Excel has a ton of special characters that can be accessed from Insert > Symbols in the ribbon. If you use some of these frequently, it’s worth remembering the shortcut for them.

Hold Alt, type the number sequence, and then release Alt. This is not even close to the complete list. Try any four number combination and see what it results in.

Alt + 0149

Insert a • symbol.


Alt + 0153

Insert a â„¢ symbol.


Alt + 0167

Insert a § symbol.


Alt + 0169

Insert a © symbol.


Alt + 0181

Insert a µ symbol.


Alt + 0188

Insert a ¼ symbol.


Alt + 0189

Insert a ½ symbol.


Alt + 0190

Insert a ¾ symbol.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Tables and Filters

A selection of shortcuts for working with tables and filters.

Down

Select the next item in the AutoFilter menu.


End

Select the last item in the AutoFilter list.


Home

Select the first item in the AutoFilter list.


Left

Return to the main menu when in a submenu.


Right

Open the submenu while on items with a submenu.


Space Bar

Check or uncheck items in the AutoFilter list.


Tab

Select the next item in the AutoFilter menu.


Up

Select the previous item in the AutoFilter menu.


Alt + Down

Display AutoFilter list when on column headings with filters.


Alt + Up

Close the AutoFilter list if it’s open.


Ctrl + T

Insert a table.


Shift + Tab

Select the previous item in the AutoFilter menu.


Alt + A + C

Clear all Filters from the table or filtered data range.


Alt + Down + C

Clear Filters from the column.


Alt + Down + E

Open the AutoFilter menu to the search box.


Alt + Down + F

Open the Test Filter submenu for the selected column.


Alt + Down + I

Open the filter by color submenu for the selected column.


Alt + Down + O

Sort Z to A in the selected column.


Alt + Down + S

Sort A to Z in the selected column.


Alt + Down + T

Open the sort by color submenu for the selected column.


Alt + Shift + Down

Display AutoFilter list when in any cell of a table with filters.


Ctrl + Alt + L

Refreshes the active filter so that changes made to the data are included in filter results.


Ctrl + Shift + L

Toggle filters on or off in a table or range.


Ctrl + Shift + T

Toggle the total row on or off in a table.


Keyboard Shortcuts for Working with Rows and Columns

Shortcuts to hide, unhide, delete and insert rows or columns in your worksheet.

Ctrl + 0

Hides the column(s) of the active cell or selected range.


Ctrl + 8

Toggle between show and hide outlines in the workbook (Data tab > Outline group).


Ctrl + 9

Hides the row(s) of the active cell or selected range.


Ctrl + -

Delete row(s) based on the selected range.


Ctrl + +

Insert row(s) based on the selected range. Only works with + in number keypad.


Ctrl + Shift + (

Unhides rows in the selected range.


Ctrl + Shift + )

Unhides columns in the selected range.


Ctrl + Shift + +

Open the Insert dialog box when a range that isn’t a full row or column is selected. Otherwise, it inserts the row or column selected. Only works with the + in the top row numbers.


Alt + Shift + Left

Ungroup rows or columns.


Alt + Shift + Right

Group rows or columns.


About the Author

John MacDougall

John MacDougall

John is a Microsoft MVP and qualified actuary with over 15 years of experience. He has worked in a variety of industries, including insurance, ad tech, and most recently Power Platform consulting. He is a keen problem solver and has a passion for using technology to make businesses more efficient.

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John MacDougall

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Comments

3 Comments

  1. A

    I’m using a Scandinavian keyboard and when I press Ctrl + > or Ctrl + <, the cell contents are deleted. Was expecting to find the meaning of the shortcut in this complete list 😀

    • A

      Oh, it copies the cell from the top or from the left respectively

      • John MacDougall

        I think this is equivalent to Ctrl + D and Ctrl + R on English regions.

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