Frequently used shortcuts

This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Excel.

To do this Press
Close a workbook. Ctrl+W
Open a workbook. Ctrl+O
Go to the Home tab. Alt+H
Save a workbook. Ctrl+S
Copy selection. Ctrl+C
Paste selection. Ctrl+V
Undo recent action. Ctrl+Z
Remove cell contents. Delete
Choose a fill color. Alt+H, H
Cut selection. Ctrl+X
Go to the Insert tab. Alt+N
Apply bold formatting. Ctrl+B
Center align cell contents. Alt+H, A, C
Go to the Page Layout tab. Alt+P
Go to the Data tab. Alt+A
Go to the View tab. Alt+W
Shift+F10 or
Open the context menu.
Windows Menu key
Add borders. Alt+H, B
Delete column. Alt+H, D, C
Go to the Formula tab. Alt+M
Hide the selected rows. Ctrl+9
Hide the selected columns. Ctrl+0
Move to the Tell me or Search field on the ribbon and type a search term for assistance or
Alt+Q, then enter the search term.
Help content.
Open the File menu. Alt+F
Open the Home tab and format text and numbers and use the Find tool. Alt+H
Open the Insert tab and insert PivotTables, charts, add-ins, Sparklines, pictures, shapes,
Alt+N
headers, or text boxes.
Open the Page Layout tab and work with themes, page setup, scale, and alignment. Alt+P
Open the Formulas tab and insert, trace, and customize functions and calculations. Alt+M
Open the Data tab and connect to, sort, filter, analyze, and work with data. Alt+A
Open the Review tab and check spelling, add notes and threaded comments, and protect
Alt+R
sheets and workbooks.
Open the View tab and preview page breaks and layouts, show and hide gridlines and
Alt+W
headings, set zoom magnification, manage windows and panes, and view macros.
Select the active tab on the ribbon and activate the access keys. Alt or F10. To move to a different tab, use access keys or the arrow keys.
Move the focus to commands on the ribbon. Tab key or Shift+Tab
Move down, up, left, or right, respectively, among the items on the ribbon. Arrow keys
Show the tooltip for the ribbon element currently in focus. Ctrl+Shift+F10
Activate a selected button. Spacebar or Enter
Open the list for a selected command. Down arrow key
Open the menu for a selected button. Alt+Down arrow key
When a menu or submenu is open, move to the next command. Down arrow key
Expand or collapse the ribbon. Ctrl+F1
Shift+F10

Open a context menu.

Or, on a Windows keyboard, the Windows Menu key (usually between the Alt Gr and right
Ctrl keys)
Move to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected. Left arrow key
Move from one group of controls to another. Ctrl+Left or Right arrow key
Move to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog box. Shift+Tab
Move one cell up in a worksheet. Up arrow key
Move one cell down in a worksheet. Down arrow key
Move one cell left in a worksheet. Left arrow key
Move one cell right in a worksheet. Right arrow key
Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet. Ctrl+Arrow key
Enter the End mode, move to the next nonblank cell in the same column or row as the
active cell, and turn off End mode. If the cells are blank, move to the last cell in the row or End, Arrow key
column.
Move to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost used column. Ctrl+End
Extend the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner). Ctrl+Shift+End
Move to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when Scroll lock is turned on. Home+Scroll lock
Move to the beginning of a worksheet. Ctrl+Home
Move one screen down in a worksheet. Page down
Move to the next sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Page down
Move one screen to the right in a worksheet. Alt+Page down
Move one screen up in a worksheet. Page up
Move one screen to the left in a worksheet. Alt+Page up
Move to the previous sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Page up
Move one cell to the right in a worksheet. Or, in a protected worksheet, move between
Tab key
unlocked cells.
Open the list of validation choices on a cell that has data validation option applied to it. Alt+Down arrow key
Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images. Ctrl+Alt+5, then the Tab key repeatedly
Exit the floating shape navigation and return to the normal navigation. Esc
Scroll horizontally. Ctrl+Shift, then scroll your mouse wheel up to go left, down to go right
Zoom in. Ctrl+Alt+Equal sign ( = )
Zoom out. Ctrl+Alt+Minus sign (-)
Open the Format Cells dialog box. Ctrl+1
Format fonts in the Format Cells dialog box. Ctrl+Shift+F or Ctrl+Shift+P
Edit the active cell and put the insertion point at the end of its contents. Or, if editing is
turned off for the cell, move the insertion point into the formula bar. If editing a formula, F2
toggle Point mode off or on so you can use the arrow keys to create a reference.
Insert a note. Shift+F2

Open and edit a cell note. Shift+F2

Insert a threaded comment. Ctrl+Shift+F2

Open and reply to a threaded comment. Ctrl+Shift+F2

Open the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells. Ctrl+Shift+Plus sign (+)
Open the Delete dialog box to delete selected cells. Ctrl+Minus sign (-)
Enter the current time. Ctrl+Shift+Colon (:)
Enter the current date. Ctrl+Semicolon (;)
Switch between displaying cell values or formulas in the worksheet. Ctrl+Grave accent (`)
Copy a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the formula bar. Ctrl+Apostrophe (')
Move the selected cells. Ctrl+X
Copy the selected cells. Ctrl+C
Paste content at the insertion point, replacing any selection. Ctrl+V
Open the Paste Special dialog box. Ctrl+Alt+V
Italicize text or remove italic formatting. Ctrl+I or Ctrl+3
Bold text or remove bold formatting. Ctrl+B or Ctrl+2
Underline text or remove underline. Ctrl+U or Ctrl+4
Apply or remove strikethrough formatting. Ctrl+5
Switch between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects. Ctrl+6
Apply an outline border to the selected cells. Ctrl+Shift+Ampersand sign (&)
Remove the outline border from the selected cells. Ctrl+Shift+Underscore (_)
Display or hide the outline symbols. Ctrl+8
Use the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a
Ctrl+D
selected range into the cells below.
Apply the General number format. Ctrl+Shift+Tilde sign (~)
Apply the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses). Ctrl+Shift+Dollar sign ($)
Apply the Percentage format with no decimal places. Ctrl+Shift+Percent sign (%)
Apply the Scientific number format with two decimal places. Ctrl+Shift+Caret sign (^)
Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year. Ctrl+Shift+Number sign (#)
Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. Ctrl+Shift+At sign (@)
Apply the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-)
Ctrl+Shift+Exclamation point (!)
for negative values.
Open the Insert hyperlink dialog box. Ctrl+K
Check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range. F7
Display the Quick Analysis options for selected cells that contain data. Ctrl+Q
Display the Create Table dialog box. Ctrl+L or Ctrl+T
Open the Workbook Statistics dialog box. Ctrl+Shift+G
Paste all cell contents and formatting. A
Paste only the formulas as entered in the formula bar. F
Paste only the values (not the formulas). V
Paste only the copied formatting. T
Paste only comments and notes attached to the cell. C
Paste only the data validation settings from copied cells. N
Paste all cell contents and formatting from copied cells. H
Paste all cell contents without borders. X
Paste only column widths from copied cells. W
Paste only formulas and number formats from copied cells. R
Paste only the values (not formulas) and number formats from copied cells. U
Select the entire worksheet. Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar
Select the current and next sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Shift+Page down
Select the current and previous sheet in a workbook. Ctrl+Shift+Page up
Extend the selection of cells by one cell. Shift+Arrow key
Extend the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow key
active cell, or if the next cell is blank, to the next nonblank cell.
Turn extend mode on and use the arrow keys to extend a selection. Press again to turn off. F8
Add a non-adjacent cell or range to a selection of cells by using the arrow keys. Shift+F8
Start a new line in the same cell. Alt+Enter
Fill the selected cell range with the current entry. Ctrl+Enter
Complete a cell entry and select the cell above. Shift+Enter
Select an entire column in a worksheet. Ctrl+Spacebar
Select an entire row in a worksheet. Shift+Spacebar
Select all objects on a worksheet when an object is selected. Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar
Extend the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet. Ctrl+Shift+Home
Select the current region if the worksheet contains data. Press a second time to select the
Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar
current region and its summary rows. Press a third time to select the entire worksheet.
Select the current region around the active cell. Ctrl+Shift+Asterisk sign (*)
Select the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible. Home
Repeat the last command or action, if possible. Ctrl+Y
Undo the last action. Ctrl+Z
Expand grouped rows or columns. While hovering over the collapsed items, press and hold the Shift key and scroll down.
Collapse grouped rows or columns. While hovering over the expanded items, press and hold the Shift key and scroll up.
Edit the active cell and put the insertion point at the end of its contents. Or, if editing is
turned off for the cell, move the insertion point into the formula bar. If editing a formula, F2
toggle Point mode off or on so you can use the arrow keys to create a reference.
Expand or collapse the formula bar. Ctrl+Shift+U
Cancel an entry in the cell or formula bar. Esc
Complete an entry in the formula bar and select the cell below. Enter
Move the cursor to the end of the text when in the formula bar. Ctrl+End
Select all text in the formula bar from the cursor position to the end. Ctrl+Shift+End
Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks. F9
Calculate the active worksheet. Shift+F9
Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether they have changed
Ctrl+Alt+F9
since the last calculation.
Check dependent formulas, and then calculate all cells in all open workbooks, including
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F9
cells not marked as needing to be calculated.
Display the menu or message for an Error Checking button. Alt+Shift+F10
Display the Function Arguments dialog box when the insertion point is to the right of a
Ctrl+A
function name in a formula.
Insert argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a
Ctrl+Shift+A
function name in a formula.
Insert the AutoSum formula Alt+Equal sign ( = )
Invoke Flash Fill to automatically recognize patterns in adjacent columns and fill the current column Ctrl+E
Cycle through all combinations of absolute and relative references in a formula if a cell
F4
reference or range is selected.
Insert a function. Shift+F3
Copy the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the formula bar. Ctrl+Shift+Straight quotation mark (")
Create an embedded chart of the data in the current range. Alt+F1
Create a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet. F11
Define a name to use in references. Alt+M, M, D
Paste a name from the Paste Name dialog box (if names have been defined in the
F3
workbook).
Move to the first field in the next record of a data form. Enter
Create, run, edit, or delete a macro. Alt+F8
Open the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Editor. Alt+F11
Stop a refresh operation. Esc
Refresh data in the current worksheet. Ctrl+F5
Refresh all data in the workbook. Ctrl+Alt+F5
Open the context menu for the selected cell, column, or row. Shift+F10
Select the entire table. Ctrl+A
Copy selected data. Ctrl+C
Delete the table. Ctrl+D
Move the table. Ctrl+M
Rename the table. Ctrl+R
Save the file. Ctrl+S
Redo the last action. Ctrl+Y
Undo the last action. Ctrl+Z
Select the current column. Ctrl+Spacebar
Select the current row. Shift+Spacebar
Select all cells from the current location to the last cell of the column. Shift+Page down
Select all cells from the current location to the first cell of the column. Shift+Page up
Select all cells from the current location to the last cell of the row. Shift+End
Select all cells from the current location to the first cell of the row. Shift+Home
Move to the previous table. Ctrl+Page up
Move to the next table. Ctrl+Page down
Move to the first cell in the upper-left corner of selected table. Ctrl+Home
Move to the last cell in the lower-right corner of selected table. Ctrl+End
Move to the first cell of the selected row. Ctrl+Left arrow key
Move to the last cell of the selected row. Ctrl+Right arrow key
Move to the first cell of the selected column. Ctrl+Up arrow key
Move to the last cell of selected column. Ctrl+Down arrow key
Close a dialog box or cancel a process, such as a paste operation. Ctrl+Esc
Open the AutoFilter Menu dialog box. Alt+Down arrow key
Open the Go To dialog box. F5
Recalculate all formulas in the Power Pivot window. For more information, see Recalculate Formulas in Power Pivot.
F9

Key Description
F1 alone: displays the Excel Help task pane.

Ctrl+F1: displays or hides the ribbon.

Alt+F1: creates an embedded chart of the data in the current range.

F1

Alt+Shift+F1: inserts a new worksheet.

Ctrl+Shift+F1: toggles full screen mode

F2 alone: edit the active cell and put the insertion point at the end of its contents. Or, if
editing is turned off for the cell, move the insertion point into the formula bar. If editing a
formula, toggle Point mode off or on so you can use the arrow keys to create a reference.

F2
Shift+F2: adds or edits a cell note.

Ctrl+F2: displays the print preview area on the Print tab in the Backstage view.

F3 alone: displays the Paste Name dialog box. Available only if names have been defined
in the workbook.
F3
Shift+F3: displays the Insert Function dialog box.

F4 alone: repeats the last command or action, if possible.

When a cell reference or range is selected in a formula, F4 cycles through all the various
combinations of absolute and relative references.
F4
Ctrl+F4: closes the selected workbook window.

Alt+F4: closes Excel.

 F5 alone: displays the Go To dialog box.

F5
Ctrl+F5: restores the window size of the selected workbook window.

F6 alone: switches between the worksheet, ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls. In a
worksheet that has been split, F6 includes the split panes when switching between panes
and the ribbon area.

Shift+F6: switches between the worksheet, Zoom controls, task pane, and ribbon.
F6

Ctrl+F6: switches between two Excel windows.

Ctrl+Shift+F6: switches between all Excel windows.

F7 alone: Opens the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet or
selected range.

F7
Ctrl+F7: performs the Move command on the workbook window when it is not maximized.
Use the arrow keys to move the window, and when finished press Enter, or Esc to cancel.

F8 alone: turns extend mode on or off. In extend mode, Extended Selection appears in
the status line, and the arrow keys extend the selection.

Shift+F8: enables you to add a non-adjacent cell or range to a selection of cells by using the
arrow keys.
F8

Ctrl+F8: performs the Size command when a workbook is not maximized.

Alt+F8: displays the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a macro.

F9 alone: calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks.

Shift+F9: calculates the active worksheet.

Ctrl+Alt+F9: calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether they
have changed since the last calculation.
F9

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F9: rechecks dependent formulas, and then calculates all cells in all open
workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be calculated.

Ctrl+F9: minimizes a workbook window to an icon.

F10 alone: turns key tips on or off. (Pressing Alt does the same thing.)

Shift+F10: displays the context menu for a selected item.

F10
F10
Alt+Shift+F10: displays the menu or message for an Error Checking button.

Ctrl+F10: maximizes or restores the selected workbook window.

F11 alone: creates a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet.

Shift+F11: inserts a new worksheet.

F11
Alt+F11: opens the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Editor, in which you can
create a macro by using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

F12 F12 alone: displays the Save As dialog box.

Displays the Key Tips (new shortcuts) on the ribbon.

For example,

Alt, W, P switches the worksheet to Page Layout view.

Alt

Alt, W, L switches the worksheet to Normal view.

Alt, W, I switches the worksheet to Page Break Preview view.

Move one cell up, down, left, or right in a worksheet.

Ctrl+Arrow key moves to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet.

Shift+Arrow key extends the selection of cells by one cell.

Ctrl+Shift+Arrow key extends the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same
column or row as the active cell, or if the next cell is blank, extends the selection to the
next nonblank cell.

Left or Right arrow key selects the tab to the left or right when the ribbon is selected. When
Arrow keys a submenu is open or selected, these arrow keys switch between the main menu and the
submenu. When a ribbon tab is selected, these keys navigate the tab buttons.

Down or Up arrow key selects the next or previous command when a menu or submenu is
open. When a ribbon tab is selected, these keys navigate up or down the tab group.

In a dialog box, arrow keys move between options in an open drop-down list, or between
options in a group of options.

Down or Alt+Down arrow key opens a selected drop-down list.

Deletes one character to the left in the formula bar.

Backspace
 Clears the content of the active cell.
Backspace

In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the left of the insertion point.

Removes the cell contents (data and formulas) from selected cells without affecting cell
formats, threaded comments, or notes.
Delete
In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the right of the insertion point.

End turns End mode on or off. In End mode, you can press an arrow key to move to the
next nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell. End mode turns off
automatically after pressing the arrow key. Make sure to press End again before pressing
the next arrow key. End mode is shown in the status bar when it is on.

If the cells are blank, pressing End followed by an arrow key moves to the last cell in the
row or column.

End End also selects the last command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible.

Ctrl+End moves to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost
used column. If the cursor is in the formula bar, Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the end of
the text.

Ctrl+Shift+End extends the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-
right corner). If the cursor is in the formula bar, Ctrl+Shift+End selects all text in the
formula bar from the cursor position to the end—this does not affect the height of the
formula bar.
Completes a cell entry from the cell or the formula bar and selects the cell below (by
default).

In a data form, it moves to the first field in the next record.

Opens a selected menu (press F10 to activate the menu bar) or performs the action for a
selected command.

In a dialog box, it performs the action for the default command button in the dialog box (the
Enter
button with the bold outline, often the OK button).

Alt+Enter starts a new line in the same cell.

Ctrl+Enter fills the selected cell range with the current entry.

Shift+Enter completes a cell entry and selects the cell above.

Cancels an entry in the cell or formula bar.

Esc
Closes an open menu or submenu, dialog box, or message window.
 Moves to the beginning of a row in a worksheet.

Moves to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when Scroll lock is turned on.

Selects the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible.
Home

Ctrl+Home moves to the beginning of a worksheet.

Ctrl+Shift+Home extends the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet.

Moves one screen down in a worksheet.

Alt+Page down moves one screen to the right in a worksheet.

Page down
Ctrl+Page down moves to the next sheet in a workbook.

Ctrl+Shift+Page down selects the current and next sheet in a workbook.

Moves one screen up in a worksheet.

Alt+Page up moves one screen to the left in a worksheet.

Page up
Ctrl+Page up moves to the previous sheet in a workbook.

Ctrl+Shift+Page up selects the current and previous sheet in a workbook.

Hold the Shift key while you drag a selected row, column, or selected cells to move the
Shift
selected cells and drop to insert them in a new location.
In a dialog box, performs the action for the selected button, or selects or clears a checkbox.

Ctrl+Spacebar selects an entire column in a worksheet.

Shift+Spacebar selects an entire row in a worksheet.

Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar selects the entire worksheet.

Spacebar
If the worksheet contains data, Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar selects the current region. Pressing
Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar a second time selects the current region and its summary rows.
Pressing Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar a third time selects the entire worksheet.

When an object is selected, Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar selects all objects on a worksheet.

Alt+Spacebar displays the Control menu for the Excel window.

Moves one cell to the right in a worksheet.

 Moves between unlocked cells in a protected worksheet.

Moves to the next option or option group in a dialog box.

Shift+Tab moves to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog box.
Tab key

Ctrl+Tab switches to the next tab in a dialog box, or (if no dialog box is open) switches
between two Excel windows.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab switches to the previous tab in a dialog box, or (if no dialog box is open)
switches between all Excel windows.