If you’re an Excel power user, you know that using shortcut keys can help you work faster and more efficiently. But with so many shortcut keys to remember, it can be tough to keep them all straight. That’s why we’ve created this cheat sheet of the most important and commonly used Excel shortcut keys.
We’ve organized the shortcut keys by category to make it easy for you to find the ones you need. Just click on a category below to jump to that section.
General Shortcuts
- Ctrl + N: Create a new workbook
- Ctrl + O: Open an existing workbook
- Ctrl + S: Save the active workbook
- Ctrl + F: Open the Find dialog box
- Ctrl + H: Open the Replace dialog box
- Ctrl + P: Open the Print dialog box
- Ctrl + Z: Undo the last action
- Ctrl + Y: Redo the last action
- Ctrl + A: Select the entire worksheet
- Ctrl + B: Bold the selected text
- Ctrl + I: Italicize the selected text
- Ctrl + U: Underline the selected text
Editing Shortcuts
- F2: Edit the active cell
- F5: Go to a specific cell
- Ctrl + D: Fill down
- Ctrl + R: Fill right
- Ctrl + F3: Name a range
- Ctrl + Shift + F3: Create a named range using the Create Names dialog box
- Shift + F3: Open the Paste Name dialog box
Navigation Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Arrow key: Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet
- Ctrl + Page Up: Move one sheet to the left in a workbook
- Ctrl + Page Down: Move one sheet to the right in a workbook
- Alt + Page Up: Move one screen to the left in a worksheet
- Alt + Page Down: Move one screen to the right in a worksheet
- Ctrl + Home: Move to the beginning of a worksheet
- Ctrl + End: Move to the last cell on a worksheet, in the bottom-most used row of the right-most used column
Data Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Shift + ‘: Copy the value from the cell above the active cell
- Ctrl + ‘: Copy the value from the cell to the left of the active cell
- Ctrl + Shift + #: Format a number as date
- Ctrl + Shift + %: Format a number as percentage
- Ctrl + Shift + ^: Format a number as exponential
- Ctrl + Shift + @: Format a number as time
- Ctrl + Shift + *: Apply or remove outline borders
- Ctrl + Shift + ~: Apply or remove cell formatting
- Ctrl + Shift + _: Delete the row
- Ctrl + Shift + +: Insert a new row
- Ctrl + Shift + ‘: Copy the value from the cell above the active cell
- Ctrl + ‘: Copy the value from the cell to the left of the active cell
- Ctrl + Shift + #: Format a number as date
- Ctrl + Shift + %: Format a number as percentage
- Ctrl + Shift + ^: Format a number as exponential
- Ctrl + Shift + @: Format a number as time
- Ctrl + Shift + *: Apply or remove outline borders
- Ctrl + Shift + ~: Apply or remove cell formatting
- Ctrl + Shift + _: Delete the row
- Ctrl + Shift + +: Insert a new row
Formula Shortcuts
- F9: Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks
- Shift + F9: Calculate the active worksheet
- Ctrl + Shift + F9: Recalculate all worksheets even if they haven’t changed
- Alt + F11: Open the Visual Basic Editor
- Ctrl + `: Display the Formula Builder after you type a valid function name in a formula
View Shortcuts
- Alt + W, F: Switch to the Page Layout view
- Alt + W, V: Switch to the Normal view
- Alt + W, I: Switch to the Page Break Preview view
Print Shortcuts
- Ctrl + P: Open the Print dialog box
- Alt + W, P: Open the Page Setup dialog box
- Alt + W, U: Open the Print Preview dialog box
Macros Shortcuts
- Alt + F8: Open the Macro dialog box to run, edit, or delete a macro
- F5: Run a macro
- F8: Toggle the breakpoint on the current line
- Ctrl + Shift + F8: Turn on extend mode when a breakpoint is reached
- Ctrl + F8: Turn on/off the watch window
Object Shortcuts
- F4: Display the properties of the selected object
- Ctrl + F4: Close the selected workbook window
- Shift + F4: Repeat the last find action
- Ctrl + Shift + F4: Find the next instance of the value that you searched for
- Alt + F4: Quit Microsoft Excel
PivotTable and PivotChart Shortcuts
- Alt + D, P: Insert a PivotTable
- Alt + D, F: Insert a PivotChart
- Alt + D, U: Refresh the selected PivotTable or PivotChart
- Alt + D, R: Insert a Slicer
Shortcut Keys for Inserting Symbols and Special Characters
- Ctrl + Shift + &: Insert the ampersand (&) character
- Ctrl + Shift + ^: Insert the caret (^) character
- Ctrl + Shift + %: Insert the percent (%) character
- Ctrl + Shift + (: Insert the left parenthesis character
- Ctrl + Shift + ): Insert the right parenthesis character
- Ctrl + Shift + –: Insert the hyphen-minus (-) character
- Ctrl + Shift + _: Insert the low line (_) character
- Ctrl + Shift + +: Insert the plus sign (+) character
- Ctrl + Shift + =: Insert the equal sign (=) character
- Ctrl + Shift + ~
Excel is a powerful tool that can help you manage and analyze data with ease. However, it can be overwhelming to navigate through all the features and functions that Excel has to offer. That’s where shortcut keys come in handy. Shortcut keys can save you time and effort by allowing you to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. In this article, we’ll provide you with the ultimate guide to Excel shortcut keys.
Why Use Shortcut Keys?
Shortcut keys are a set of keyboard combinations that allow you to perform tasks without using your mouse. They can help you work faster and more efficiently by reducing the number of clicks and movements required to perform a task. Using shortcut keys can also help you avoid repetitive strain injuries that can result from using a mouse for extended periods.
Basic Shortcut Keys
Here are some basic shortcut keys that every Excel user should know:
Ctrl + C
This shortcut key allows you to copy the selected cells or text.
Ctrl + V
This shortcut key allows you to paste the copied cells or text.
Ctrl + X
This shortcut key allows you to cut the selected cells or text.
Ctrl + Z
This shortcut key allows you to undo the last action.
Ctrl + Y
This shortcut key allows you to redo the last action.
Navigation Shortcut Keys
Navigation shortcut keys allow you to move around your worksheet quickly and efficiently. Here are some navigation shortcut keys:
Ctrl + Home
This shortcut key takes you to the first cell of your worksheet.
Ctrl + End
This shortcut key takes you to the last cell of your worksheet.
Ctrl + Arrow Keys
This shortcut key allows you to move to the last cell in a row or column with data.
Formatting Shortcut Keys
Formatting shortcut keys allow you to format your data quickly and efficiently. Here are some formatting shortcut keys:
Ctrl + B
This shortcut key makes the selected text bold.
Ctrl + I
This shortcut key makes the selected text italic.
Ctrl + U
This shortcut key underlines the selected text.
Ctrl + 1
This shortcut key opens the Format Cells dialog box.
Conclusion
Shortcut keys can save you time and effort when working with Excel. By using shortcut keys, you can work faster and more efficiently, and avoid repetitive strain injuries. The shortcut keys listed in this article are just a few of the many shortcut keys available in Excel. Take some time to explore the different shortcut keys and find the ones that work best for you.