Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts

Microsoft Excel is the world's standard spreadsheet application, and it rewards keyboard mastery more than almost any other program. Analysts who never touch the mouse navigate, select, format, and fill data several times faster than menu users. This reference covers the default shortcuts for navigation, selection, editing, formatting, formulas, and data work on both Windows and Mac. This cheat sheet covers 94 default shortcuts for Windows and Mac.

General and Files

New workbook	`Ctrl`+`NCmd`+`N`
Open workbook	`Ctrl`+`OCmd`+`O`
Save	`Ctrl`+`SCmd`+`S`
Save As	`F12Cmd`+`Shift`+`S`
Print	`Ctrl`+`PCmd`+`P`
Close workbook	`Ctrl`+`WCmd`+`W`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`ZCmd`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`YCmd`+`Y`
Repeat last action	`F4Cmd`+`Y`
Find	`Ctrl`+`FCmd`+`F`
Replace	`Ctrl`+`HCtrl`+`H`
Spell check	`F7F7`
Open Help	`F1F1`
Activate ribbon key tips	`Alt`no default

Navigation

Move one cell	`Arrow keysArrow keys`
Move to edge of data region	`Ctrl`+`Arrow keysCmd`+`Arrow keys`
Go to beginning of sheet (A1)	`Ctrl`+`HomeFn`+`Ctrl`+`Left`
Go to last used cell	`Ctrl`+`EndFn`+`Ctrl`+`Right`
Go to beginning of row	`HomeFn`+`Left`
Move one screen down	`PageDownFn`+`Down`
Move one screen up	`PageUpFn`+`Up`
Next worksheet	`Ctrl`+`PageDownOption`+`Right`
Previous worksheet	`Ctrl`+`PageUpOption`+`Left`
Open Go To dialog	`Ctrl`+`GCtrl`+`G`
Move right between unlocked cells / next cell	`TabTab`
Switch to next open workbook	`Ctrl`+`TabCmd`+`~`

Selection

Select entire row	`Shift`+`SpaceShift`+`Space`
Select entire column	`Ctrl`+`SpaceCtrl`+`Space`
Select all / current region	`Ctrl`+`ACmd`+`A`
Select current region around active cell	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8Cmd`+`Shift`+`8`
Extend selection by one cell	`Shift`+`Arrow keysShift`+`Arrow keys`
Extend selection to edge of data region	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Arrow keysCmd`+`Shift`+`Arrow keys`
Extend selection to beginning of row	`Shift`+`HomeFn`+`Shift`+`Left`
Extend selection to last used cell	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`EndFn`+`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Right`
Add non-adjacent cell to selection	`Ctrl`+`ClickCmd`+`Click`
Toggle extend selection mode	`F8F8`

Editing and Data Entry

Edit active cell	`F2Ctrl`+`U`
Cancel entry	`EscEsc`
Confirm entry and stay in cell	`Ctrl`+`EnterCtrl`+`Enter`
New line within a cell	`Alt`+`EnterCtrl`+`Option`+`Enter`
Copy	`Ctrl`+`CCmd`+`C`
Cut	`Ctrl`+`XCmd`+`X`
Paste	`Ctrl`+`VCmd`+`V`
Paste Special	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`VCmd`+`Ctrl`+`V`
Fill down	`Ctrl`+`DCmd`+`D`
Fill right	`Ctrl`+`RCmd`+`R`
Copy formula from cell above	`Ctrl`+`'Ctrl`+`'`
Insert current date	`Ctrl`+`;Ctrl`+`;`
Insert current time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;Cmd`+`;`
Flash Fill	`Ctrl`+`E`no default
Delete cell contents	`DeleteDelete`
Insert or edit cell note	`Shift`+`F2Shift`+`F2`
Insert hyperlink	`Ctrl`+`KCmd`+`K`

Formatting

Open Format Cells dialog	`Ctrl`+`1Cmd`+`1`
Bold	`Ctrl`+`BCmd`+`B`
Italic	`Ctrl`+`ICmd`+`I`
Underline	`Ctrl`+`UCmd`+`U`
Strikethrough	`Ctrl`+`5Cmd`+`Shift`+`X`
Apply outline border	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7Cmd`+`Option`+`0`
Remove all borders	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`MinusCmd`+`Option`+`Minus`

Number Formats

Apply General format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`~Ctrl`+`Shift`+`~`
Apply Number format (two decimals)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`
Apply Time format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`
Apply Date format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3`
Apply Currency format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`
Apply Percentage format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`
Apply Scientific format	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`

Rows, Columns, and Cells

Insert cells, rows, or columns	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=Cmd`+`Shift`+`=`
Delete cells, rows, or columns	`Ctrl`+`MinusCmd`+`Minus`
Hide selected rows	`Ctrl`+`9Ctrl`+`9`
Unhide rows	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`
Hide selected columns	`Ctrl`+`0Ctrl`+`0`
Group selected rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`RightCmd`+`Shift`+`K`
Ungroup selected rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`LeftCmd`+`Shift`+`J`

Formulas

AutoSum	`Alt`+`=Cmd`+`Shift`+`T`
Toggle formula view	`Ctrl`+``Ctrl`+`
Toggle absolute/relative references (while editing)	`F4Cmd`+`T`
Insert function (Formula Builder)	`Shift`+`F3Shift`+`F3`
Calculate all workbooks	`F9F9`
Calculate active worksheet	`Shift`+`F9Shift`+`F9`
Expand or collapse formula bar	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`UCtrl`+`Shift`+`U`
Enter legacy array formula	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`EnterCtrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`
Open Name Manager	`Ctrl`+`F3`no default
Paste a defined name into a formula	`F3`no default

Data and Tables

Toggle AutoFilter	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`LCmd`+`Shift`+`F`
Open filter menu of active header cell	`Alt`+`DownOption`+`Down`
Create a table from selection	`Ctrl`+`TCtrl`+`T`
Insert chart on new chart sheet	`F11F11`
Insert embedded chart	`Alt`+`F1`no default
Refresh all external data	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`F5`no default

Worksheets and Windows

Insert new worksheet	`Shift`+`F11Shift`+`F11`
Open context menu for selection	`Shift`+`F10`no default
Move to next pane	`F6F6`
Minimize workbook window	`Ctrl`+`F9Cmd`+`M`

Put your top Microsoft Excel shortcuts on real keys

The five Microsoft Excel actions most worth binding to a physical macropad key:

Ctrl+Alt+VCmd+Ctrl+V Paste Special Paste-as-values is the most repeated cleanup move in spreadsheet work; one key kills the dialog dance.

Alt+=Cmd+Shift+T AutoSum Instantly totals rows and columns, the most common formula action of all.

Ctrl+1Cmd+1 Open Format Cells dialog The gateway to all formatting; heavy formatters open it dozens of times an hour.

Ctrl+Shift+LCmd+Shift+F Toggle AutoFilter Flipping filters on and off while exploring data is a constant analyst motion.

F4Cmd+Y Repeat last action Repeating the previous format or edit across cells is pure leverage from a single key.

I hand-build small-batch programmable macropads (QMK/VIA) in Barcelona. One press, any shortcut, any app.

See the macropads

Microsoft Excel shortcut FAQs

What does F4 do in Excel?

Outside a formula, F4 repeats your last action, like reapplying a format. While editing a formula, F4 cycles a reference through absolute and relative forms ($A$1, A$1, $A1, A1).

How do I select an entire row or column with the keyboard?

Press Shift+Space to select the row and Ctrl+Space to select the column of the active cell. Both work the same on Windows and Mac.

How do I add a new line inside a single Excel cell?

Press Alt+Enter on Windows or Ctrl+Option+Enter on Mac while editing the cell. Plain Enter confirms the entry and moves to the next cell.

What is the fastest way to jump to the end of my data?

Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and press an arrow key to jump to the edge of the current data region. Add Shift to select everything along the way.

How do I show all formulas in a worksheet at once?

Press Ctrl+` (the backtick key, under Esc) to toggle between showing formulas and showing values. It works on both Windows and Mac.