Excel keyboard shortcuts
Excel rewards the keyboard more than any other program on this site: the difference between a competent user and a fast one is almost entirely in this list. Windows and Mac are shown together, because they diverge more here than anywhere else, and the Mac column is the one usually left out.
Checked against Microsoft — Keyboard shortcuts in Excel. Version: Microsoft 365 and Excel 2021, desktop.
Showing the Windows keyboard. Showing the Mac keyboard.
116 shortcuts
The top 20 are the Excel shortcuts this page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear here. The drill asks the marked ones first too, shuffled. Or tick your own and print those.
The 20 to learn first: the shortcuts the Excel page marks as the ones to learn first, in the order they appear on it.
Your own sheet: the Excel shortcuts you ticked.
The ones that pay for themselves
If you read nothing else here, read this. Each one replaces a trip to the ribbon you make a hundred times a day.
Practise theseJump to the edge of the data in that direction # The fastest way to the bottom of a long column. Hold Shift as well to select on the way.WinControl plusarrow keyMacCommand plusarrow key
Select everything from here to the edge of the data #WinControl plusShift plusarrow keyMacShift plusCommand plusarrow key
Fill the formula down the selection # Copies the top cell's format as well as its contents.WinControl plusDMacCommand plusD
Fill the formula across the selection #WinControl plusRMacCommand plusR
Paste special # Then V for values, F for formulas, T for formats. The most used dialogue in Excel. On a Mac, Ctrl+Opt+V and Cmd+Opt+V open it too.WinControl plusAlt plusVMacControl plusCommand plusV
Enter the same value in every selected cell at once # Type the value, then press this rather than Enter.WinControl plusEnterMacControl plusReturn
Lock the reference under the cursor # In the formula bar. Press again to cycle $A$1, A$1, $A1, A1. F4 works on a Mac too.WinF4MacCommand plusT
Insert today's date #WinControl plusSemicolonMacControl plusSemicolon
Insert the time now #WinControl plusShift plusSemicolonMacCommand plusSemicolon
Moving around a sheet
Practise theseGo to cell A1 #WinControl plusHomeMacFunction key plusControl plusLeft arrow
Go to the last used cell # The lowest used row of the rightmost used column.WinControl plusEndMacFunction key plusControl plusRight arrow
Go to a cell or a name #WinControl plusGorF5MacControl plusG
Move to the start of the row #WinHomeMacFunction key plusLeft arrow
Move one screen down #WinPage DownMacFunction key plusDown arrow
Move one screen up #WinPage UpMacFunction key plusUp arrow
Move one screen right #WinAlt plusPage DownMacFunction key plusOption plusDown arrow
Move one screen left #WinAlt plusPage UpMacFunction key plusOption plusUp arrow
Next sheet # Opt+Right does it on a Mac without Fn.WinControl plusPage DownMacFunction key plusControl plusDown arrow
Previous sheet # Opt+Left does it on a Mac without Fn.WinControl plusPage UpMacFunction key plusControl plusUp arrow
Move between unlocked cells on a protected sheet #WinTabMacTab
Switch to the next open workbook # Inside a dialogue, Ctrl+Tab moves to the next tab instead.WinControl plusTabMacCommand plusBacktick
Turn End mode on # Then an arrow key moves to the edge of the data. It switches off after one arrow key, so press End again before the next.WinEndMacNo shortcut
Scroll without moving the selection #WinScroll Lockthenarrow keysMacNo shortcut
Selecting
Practise theseSelect the whole column # On a Mac, Ctrl+Space also switches input source if you type in more than one language. Turn that off under System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts.WinControl plusSpace barMacControl plusSpace bar
Select the whole row #WinShift plusSpace barMacShift plusSpace bar
Select the block of data around the cursor # Press a second time to add its summary rows, and a third time for the whole sheet.WinControl plusAMacCommand plusA
Select to the start of the sheet #WinControl plusShift plusHomeMacFunction key plusControl plusShift plusLeft arrow
Select to the last used cell #WinControl plusShift plusEndMacFunction key plusControl plusShift plusRight arrow
Extend the selection one screen down #WinShift plusPage DownMacFunction key plusShift plusDown arrow
Extend the selection one screen up #WinShift plusPage UpMacFunction key plusShift plusUp arrow
Add a separate range to the selection #WinShift plusF8MacFunction key plusShift plusF8
Select the cells a formula refers to #WinControl plusLeft bracketMacControl plusLeft bracket
Select the cells that refer to this one #WinControl plusRight bracketMacControl plusRight bracket
Select the whole current array #WinControl plusSlashMacControl plusSlash
Select the cells in the row that differ from the first #WinControl plusBackslashMacControl plusBackslash
Editing cells
Practise theseEdit the cell in place # F2 works on a Mac too. On Windows, if editing in the cell is turned off, F2 goes to the formula bar instead.WinF2MacControl plusU
Cancel the edit #WinEscapeMacEscape
Confirm and move down # Down is only the default. On a Mac, change it under Excel, Preferences, Edit.WinEnterMacReturn
Confirm and move up #WinShift plusEnterMacShift plusReturn
Confirm and move right #WinTabMacTab
Confirm and move left #WinShift plusTabMacShift plusTab
Start a new line inside the same cell # Opt+Enter works on a Mac too.WinAlt plusEnterMacControl plusOption plusReturn
Clear the contents of the selection # Formats, comments and notes stay.WinDeleteMacDelete
Repeat the last action #WinF4orControl plusYMacCommand plusY
Undo #WinControl plusZMacCommand plusZ
Copy the formula from the cell above #WinControl plusApostropheMacControl plusApostrophe
Copy the value from the cell above #WinControl plusShift plusApostropheMacControl plusShift plusApostrophe
Insert cells, rows or columns #WinControl plusPlusMacControl plusShift plusPlus
Delete cells, rows or columns #WinControl plusMinusMacCommand plusMinus
Group the selected rows or columns #WinAlt plusShift plusRight arrowMacShift plusCommand plusK
Ungroup them #WinAlt plusShift plusLeft arrowMacShift plusCommand plusJ
Hide the selected rows #WinControl plus9MacControl plus9
Unhide them #WinControl plusShift plus9MacControl plusShift plus9
Hide the selected columns #WinControl plus0MacControl plus0
Formulas
Practise theseStart a formula #WinEqualsMacEquals
AutoSum the range above or beside #WinAlt plusEqualsMacShift plusCommand plusT
Show every formula on the sheet instead of its result #WinControl plusBacktickMacControl plusBacktick
Recalculate the workbook # Every open workbook, not only this one. Cmd+= does it on a Mac without Fn.WinF9MacFunction key plusF9
Recalculate this sheet only #WinShift plusF9MacFunction key plusShift plusF9
Work out just the selected part of a formula # While editing, with part of the formula selected. Esc to put it back.WinF9MacFunction key plusF9
Insert a function # On a Mac this opens the Formula Builder.WinShift plusF3MacFunction key plusShift plusF3
Insert the argument names and brackets after a function name # With the cursor just after the function's name in a formula.WinControl plusShift plusAMacNo shortcut
Expand or collapse the formula bar #WinControl plusShift plusUMacControl plusShift plusU
Define a name #WinAlt plusthenMthenMthenDMacFunction key plusCommand plusF3
Paste a name into a formula # Only once the workbook has names defined.WinF3MacNo shortcut
Enter an array formula # Not needed in versions with dynamic arrays.WinControl plusShift plusEnterMacControl plusShift plusReturn
Formatting
Practise theseOpen the Format Cells dialogue #WinControl plus1MacCommand plus1
Bold #WinControl plusBMacCommand plusB
Italic #WinControl plusIMacCommand plusI
Underline # On a Mac, Ctrl+U edits the cell instead.WinControl plusUMacCommand plusU
Strikethrough #WinControl plus5MacShift plusCommand plusX
Apply the general format #WinControl plusShift plusBacktickMacControl plusShift plusBacktick
Apply the currency format # Two decimal places, negatives in brackets.WinControl plusShift plus4MacControl plusShift plus4
Apply the percentage format # No decimal places.WinControl plusShift plus5MacControl plusShift plus5
Apply the number format, two decimals and a thousands separator #WinControl plusShift plus1MacControl plusShift plus1
Apply the date format #WinControl plusShift plus3MacControl plusShift plus3
Apply the time format #WinControl plusShift plus2MacControl plusShift plus2
Apply the scientific format #WinControl plusShift plus6MacControl plusShift plus6
Put an outline border around the selection #WinControl plusShift plus7MacOption plusCommand plus0
Remove every border #WinControl plusShift plusMinusMacOption plusCommand plusMinus
Open the font size box #WinAlt plusHthenFthenSMacNo shortcut
Tables, filters and data
Practise theseTurn the range into a table # Ctrl+T and Ctrl+L both open the Create Table dialogue. On a Mac, Ctrl+L defines a name instead.WinControl plusTorControl plusLMacControl plusT
Turn the filter row on or off #WinControl plusShift plusLMacShift plusCommand plusF
Insert a chart on a new sheet # On a Mac, F11 can clash with Show Desktop. Change that under System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts.WinF11MacFunction key plusF11
Insert a chart on this sheet #WinAlt plusF1MacFunction key plusOption plusF1
Flash Fill the column # Excel for Windows. Guesses the pattern from what you typed.WinControl plusEMacNo shortcut
Insert a hyperlink #WinControl plusKMacCommand plusK
Add a comment or note # Shift+F2 adds a note. A threaded comment is Ctrl+Shift+F2, or Cmd+Shift+F2 on a Mac.WinShift plusF2MacFunction key plusShift plusF2
Open the Ideas or Analyse Data pane #WinAlt plusHthenZthenIMacNo shortcut
Files, sheets and windows
Practise theseNew workbook #WinControl plusNMacCommand plusN
Open #WinControl plusOMacCommand plusO
Save #WinControl plusSMacCommand plusS
Save as # F12 works on a Mac too.WinF12MacShift plusCommand plusS
Print #WinControl plusPMacCommand plusP
Close the workbook #WinControl plusWMacCommand plusW
Insert a new sheet # Alt+Shift+F1 also works on Windows. On a Mac, F11 can clash with Show Desktop.WinShift plusF11MacFunction key plusShift plusF11
Freeze the panes #WinAlt plusWthenFthenFMacNo shortcut
Split the window #WinAlt plusWthenSMacNo shortcut
Zoom # Ctrl+Alt+= zooms in and Ctrl+Alt+- zooms out.WinAlt plusWthenQMacNo shortcut
Find # On a Mac, Cmd+F goes to the search box. Ctrl+F or Shift+F5 opens the Find dialogue.WinControl plusFMacCommand plusF
Replace #WinControl plusHMacControl plusH
Check spelling #WinF7MacFunction key plusF7
Open the Visual Basic editor #WinAlt plusF11MacFunction key plusOption plusF11
Open the macro list #WinAlt plusF8MacFunction key plusOption plusF8
Driving the ribbon from the keyboard
Press Alt in Excel for Windows and a letter appears over every tab. From there, every command in the program has a key sequence, whether or not anyone wrote it down.
Practise theseShow the key tips over the ribbon # F10 does the same.WinAlt plusMacNo shortcut
Go to the Home tab #WinAlt plusthenHMacNo shortcut
Go to the Insert tab #WinAlt plusthenNMacNo shortcut
Go to the Formulas tab #WinAlt plusthenMMacNo shortcut
Go to the Data tab #WinAlt plusthenAMacNo shortcut
Go to the Review tab #WinAlt plusthenRMacNo shortcut
Go to the View tab #WinAlt plusthenWMacNo shortcut
Open the Tell Me search box # Called Search in some versions. Windows only: on a Mac, Cmd+/ opens Help.WinAlt plusQMacNo shortcut
Collapse or expand the ribbon #WinControl plusF1MacOption plusCommand plusR
Next
Sheets
Sheets deliberately borrows most of Excel's keys, so almost everything you already know still works.
Word
Most of Word's shortcuts are decades old, but Microsoft has moved a few, and this page follows its current list, except where a row's note says otherwise.
Windows
These are the system shortcuts: they work on the desktop and inside almost any app, because Windows handles them before the app ever sees the key press.
macOS
These work in the Finder and, with few exceptions, in every app that follows Apple's conventions.
Excel keyboard shortcuts — comboshelf.com. Checked 25 September 2026 against Microsoft — Keyboard shortcuts in Excel.