Knowing the right keyboard shortcuts can help you navigate through Excel quickly, perform tasks easily, save valuable time, and boost your productivity. Given the number of shortcut keys, it is not possible to learn them all. However, using them frequently can speed up the way you work with worksheets and workbooks. Here are 175 basic and advanced Excel shortcuts with their respective functions to help you navigate and format cells, and work with data, functions, and the formula bar.
List of MS Excel Shortcut Keys
Most Excel shortcut keys consist of one letter combined with the Alt, Ctrl, or Shift keys that perform a specific command or action in a program. These keyboard shortcuts provide an alternative way to carry out tasks that would typically require multiple clicks or going through different menus.
You can also use Word shortcut keys to work with document files more efficiently.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Shortcut Function |
|---|---|
| = | Start a formula. |
| Alt + 0128 | Insert the Euro symbol (€). |
| Alt + 0162 | Insert the cent symbol (¢). |
| Alt + 0163 | Insert the Pound sign symbol (£). |
| Alt + ; | Select any hidden or filtered cells, allowing you to focus solely on the currently displayed data. |
| Alt + = | Calculate the sum of a selected range of numbers or all of the above cells. |
| Alt + Ctrl + F9 | Trigger a full recalculation of all formulas and dependencies within the current worksheet. |
| Alt + Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move to the non-adjacent cells to the left in a selection. |
| Alt + Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move to the non-adjacent cells to the right in a selection. |
| Alt + Down Arrow | If a cell contains a drop-down arrow, this shortcut displays the drop-down list. You can press Esc to cancel the cell entry and restore the original contents. |
| Alt + Enter | Move to the next line while typing text in a cell. |
| Alt + F1 | Create a chart using the selected range. |
| Alt + F2 | Display the ‘Save As’ dialog box. You can also use Alt + Shift + F2 for the purpose. |
| Alt + F4 | Save all the workbooks and close Excel. Alt + Shift + F4 does the same thing. |
| Alt + F8 | Display the ‘Macros’ dialog box. |
| Alt + F11 | Toggle between the Excel workbook and the Visual Basic Editor windows. |
| Alt + Page Down | Takes to one screen of columns to the right. |
| Alt + Page Up | Takes to one screen of columns to the left. |
| Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert a new Excel sheet into the current workbook. |
| Alt + Shift + F10 | Display the menu for the ‘Error Checking’ button. |
| Alt + Shift + F11 | Activates the ‘Microsoft Script editor’ for the active workbook. |
| Alt + Spacebar | Opens the system menu showing options like restore, minimize, maximize, move, size, etc. |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between Excel and the previous application open on your computer. You can also use Alt + Shift + Tab for the purpose. |
| Ctrl + ‘ | Insert the contents from the cell above into the current cell. |
| Ctrl + (# or ~) | Applies the “dd-mm-yy” date format to the selection. |
| Ctrl + * | Ctrl + ‘*’ (on the number keyboard), selects the current region. |
| Ctrl + + | Insert a new row above the selected cell. |
| Ctrl + – | Delete the selected cells, rows, or columns. |
| Ctrl + ; | Insert the current date into the active cell. |
| Ctrl + 0 | Hide the columns in the current selection. |
| Ctrl + 1 | Change the format of the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + 2 | Bold all cells in the selected section. |
| Ctrl + 3 | Toggle italicized text on or off on the current selection. |
| Ctrl + 4 | Underline all cells in the selected section. |
| Ctrl + 5 | Toggle the strikethrough of text on the current selection |
| Ctrl + 6 | Show or hide objects. |
| Ctrl + 7 | Show or hide the toolbar. |
| Ctrl + 8 | Quickly toggle between showing and hiding outline symbols on grouped data. |
| Ctrl + 9 | Hide selected rows within a spreadsheet. |
| Ctrl + A | Select the entire worksheet. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold the contents of the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy all cells in the highlighted section. |
| Ctrl + D | Insert the contents of the selected cell into the cell beneath. To fill more than one cell, select the source cell and press Ctrl + Shift + Down to select multiple cells. Then press Ctrl + D to fill them with the contents of the original cell. |
| Ctrl + F | Displays the ‘Find’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + G | Displays the ‘Go To’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + H | Displays the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + K | Displays the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + L | Displays the ‘Create Table’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + N | Creates a new workbook. |
| Ctrl + O | Displays the ‘Open’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + P | Displays the ‘Print’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + R | Insert the contents of the selected cell into the cell to the right. To fill more than one cell, select the source cell and press Ctrl + Shift + Right to select multiple cells. Then press Ctrl + R to fill them with the contents of the original cell. |
| Ctrl + S | Save the open worksheet. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste from the clipboard into the selected cell. |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current workbook. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected content to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + Y | Repeat the last action. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
| Ctrl + Delete | Delete text to the end of the line. |
| Ctrl + – | Displays the ‘Delete’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Moves to the last row in the current column. |
| Ctrl + End | Move to the last cell in a worksheet. |
| Ctrl + Enter | Inserts the current entry into the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + F1 | Toggles the task pane on or off. |
| Ctrl + F2 | Displays the print preview area. |
| Ctrl + F3 | Displays the ‘Name Manager’. |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the current window. |
| Ctrl + F5 | Restores the size of the current workbook. |
| Ctrl + F6 | Move to the next open workbook or window. |
| Ctrl + F7 | Move the window. |
| Ctrl + F8 | Resize the window. |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize the current window. |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize the currently selected window. |
| Ctrl + F11 | Inserts a macro sheet. |
| Ctrl + F12 | Displays ‘Open’ dialog box |
| Ctrl + Alt + F9 | Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9 | Check formulas and calculate all cells in all open workbooks. |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to cell A1 cell of the active sheet. |
| Ctrl + Insert | Copy the contents of the selected cell to the clipboard. |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Go to the previous worksheet in the workbook. |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Go to the next worksheet in the workbook. |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Takes to the first column in the current sheet. |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Takes to the last column in the current sheet. |
| Ctrl + Shift + “ | Copies the value from the cell above into the active cell or the Formula Bar. |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Apply date formatting. |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Apply currency formatting. |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Convert a number to a percentage, select the cell with the number, and press Ctrl + Shift + %. |
| Ctrl + Shift + & | Place a border around selected cells. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (; or 🙂 | Applies the “hh:mm” time format to the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ( | Displays the hidden rows within the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ) | Displays the hidden columns within the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (- or _ ) | Removes borders from the selected cells. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (1 or !) | Apply the comma-separated format to the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (4 or $) | Apply the currency format to the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (5 or %) | Apply the percentage number format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (6 or ^) | Apply the Scientific format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (7 or &) | Applies a black border to the selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + * | Select the current region around the active cell. |
| Ctrl + Shift + 0 | Displays the hidden columns in the current selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + 2 | Inserts the value from the cell above into the active cell. |
| Ctrl + Shift + 8 | Select an entire range. |
| Ctrl + Shift + 9 | Shows the hidden rows in the current selection. |
| Ctrl + Shift + : | Insert the current time into the active cell. |
| Ctrl + Shift + = | Displays the ‘Cells’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Applies time formatting. |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Insert argument names into a formula. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys | Extend the selection to the adjacent cells in a specific direction. |
| Ctrl + Shift + End | Extend the selection to the last used cell on the current sheet. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Performs calculations with array formulas. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Opens the fonts menu. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F3 | Displays the ‘Create Names’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F6 | Switch between all open Excel windows. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F12 | Displays the ‘Print’ dialog box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Home | Extend the selection to the beginning of the worksheet. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | To insert a filter in Excel, click on a column heading and press Ctrl + Shift + L. To remove the filter, press this shortcut again. |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Selects all the cells with comments. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Displays the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box with text formatting options. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Page Up/Down | Switch between the current and the next worksheets. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar | Select the entire worksheet. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch between the open workbooks or windows. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Applies scientific or exponential formatting. |
| Ctrl + Shift + _ | Removes the border from the highlighted cells. |
| Ctrl + Spacebar | Select the current column entirely. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch between open Excel files. |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Go to the first cell in the current column. |
| End + Arrow Keys | Go to the next non-empty cell in a specific direction. |
| End + Enter | Go to the last cell in the current row. |
| End + Home | Go to the last used cell on the current worksheet. |
| End + Shift + Arrow Keys | Selects all cells next to the active cell in a specific direction. |
| End + Shift + Home | Selects all used cells on the worksheet. |
| F1 | Opens the ‘Help’ menu. |
| F2 | Edit the highlighted cell. |
| F3 | Paste a name from the ‘Paste Name’ dialog box if names have been predefined. |
| F4 | Repeats the last action. |
| F5 | Open the ‘Go To’ dialog box for navigating to specific cells. |
| F6 | Switch to the next pane in a workbook. |
| F7 | Open the ‘Spell check’ dialog box. |
| F8 | Turns extend mode on or off. |
| F9 | Calculates all worksheets in the open workbooks. |
| F10 | Activates the Menu bar. |
| F11 | Creates a chart of the data using the highlighted range in a separate Chart sheet. |
| F12 | Displays the ‘Save As’ dialog box. |
| Home | Go to the first column in the current row. |
| Page Down | Scroll one screen down. |
| Page Up | Scroll one screen up. |
| Scroll Lock + Arrow Keys | Scroll one row up or down or one column left or right. |
| Scroll Lock + End | Takes to the last cell in the current worksheet. |
| Scroll Lock + Home | Takes to the first cell in the current worksheet. |
| Scroll Lock + Page Down | Go down one screen. |
| Scroll Lock + Page Up | Go up one screen. |
| Shift + Arrow keys | Selects the cells in the given direction. |
| Shift + Backspace | Remove the selection from all cells except the active cell. |
| Shift + Delete | Cuts the selected text to the clipboard. |
| Shift + Down Arrow | Extends the selection area to one cell downward. |
| Shift + Up Arrow | Extends the selection area to one cell upward. |
| Shift + End | Highlights all text to the right of the cursor. |
| Shift + Enter | Enters the value in the active cell and moves to the upper cell. |
| Shift + F2 | Edit a cell comment. |
| Shift + F3 | Triggers the ‘Function’ dialog box |
| Shift + F4 | Find Next. |
| Shift + F5 | Displays the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog box. |
| Shift + F6 | Switch to the previous pane in a workbook. |
| Shift + F8 | Add to selection. |
| Shift + F9 | Perform calculations for the current sheet. |
| Shift + F10 | Displays the menu for the selected item. |
| Shift + F11 | Insert a new worksheet before the active sheet. |
| Shift + F12 | Shows the ‘Save As’ dialog box. |
| Shift + Home | Select all text to the left. |
| Shift + Insert | Pastes from the clipboard. |
| Shift + Page Down | Select one screen down. |
| Shift + Page Up | Select one screen up. |
| Shift + Left Arrow | Extends selection by one character to the left. |
| Shift + Right Arrow | Extends selection by one character to the right. |
| Shift + Spacebar | Select the entire row. |
| Shift + Tab | Move one cell to the left. |
| Tab | Move one cell to the right. |
You can download the list of Excel shortcut keys as a PDF file for future reference.
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