Excel Shortcuts

What Is Keyboard Shortcut?

A keyboard shortcut is a key or a group of keys that must be pressed simultaneously to execute a specific command. Excel keyboard shortcuts are widely used because they help users improve their productivity by avoiding continually raising their hands to use the mouse, thus saving seconds that can turn into minutes and hours.

Function Keys In Excel

Key Function

F1 Shows Excel Help

F2 Enters edit mode for the active cell

F3 Displays the Paste Name dialog box if there is a defined name

F4 Repeats the last action. Also, writing a formula allows you to switch between relative, absolute, and mixed references.

F5 Displays the Go To dialog box

F6 Allows you to move between panels in a divided book

F7 Displays the Spelling dialog box

F8 Activates Expand Selection mode, which allows you to enlarge the selected range using the arrow keys

F9 Calculates the result of formulas for all sheets of open workbooks

F10 Activates the menu bar

F11 Creates a chart sheet with the selected cell range

F12 Displays the Save As dialog box

Single Key Shortcuts

Key Function

Alt Activates the menu bar

Page Down Scrolls down one screen within the sheet

Enter Completes a cell entry and selects the cell located below

Esc Cancels the entry of a cell. It also closes any displayed dialog

Space Enables or disables a check box within a dialog box

End Allows you to use the arrow keys to move to the last cell in the current range

Home Moves to the beginning of the row

Page Up Move one screen up within the sheet

Backspace Deletes the contents of a cell and enters Edit Mode

Delete Deletes the content of a cell

Tab Completes a cell entry and selects the cell to the right

Direction keys Selects the top, bottom, left, or right cell according to the direction key pressed

Basic Keyboard Shortcuts In Excel

Key Function

Ctrl+A Select all

Ctrl+B Applies bold formatting to selected text

Ctrl+C Copies the selected cells

Ctrl+D Copies the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range in the below cells

Ctrl+E Invokes Flash Fill to recognize patterns in adjacent columns and fill the current column

Ctrl+G Opens the Go To dialogue box so that you can work on a specific reference (cell)

Ctrl+I Italicize the selected cell/s

Ctrl+J Removes line breaks in a cell

Ctrl+K Hyperlinks in a cell

Ctrl+L Opens the Create Table dialog box

Ctrl+O Opens an existing workbook

Ctrl+N Opens a new workbook

Ctrl+P Displays the Print dialog box

Ctrl+R Fills the row cell(s) to the right with the contents of the selected cell/Aligns a cell with the contents of the left cell

Ctrl+S Saves the workbook

Ctrl+T Displays the Create Table dialog box

Ctrl+U Underlines the selected text

Ctrl+V Pastes the contents of the clipboard

Ctrl+X Cuts the selected cells

Ctrl+Y Redoes the last undone action

Ctrl+Z Undoes the last action

Ctrl+1 Opens the Format Cells dialog box

Ctrl+2 Applies bold formatting to selected text

Ctrl+3 Applies italic formatting to selected text

Ctrl+4 Underlines the selected text

Ctrl+5 Applies the strikethrough effect to the text

Ctrl+6 Hides or shows the objects on the sheet

Ctrl+8 Shows the outline symbols on the sheet

Ctrl+9 Hides the selected row

Ctrl+0 Hides the selected column

Keyboard Shortcuts With Ctrl And Function Keys

Key Function

Ctrl+F1 Displays/hides the ribbon

Ctrl+F2 Displays the print preview area on the Print tab

Ctrl+F3 Opens Name Manager dialog box

Ctrl+F4 Closes the active workbook

Ctrl+F5 Restores the window size of the selected workbook window

Ctrl+F6 Switches to the next workbook window if more than one workbook windows is open

Ctrl+F7 Allows you to move the workbook window when the window is not maximized

Ctrl+F8 Allows you to resize the workbook window when the window is not maximized

Ctrl+F9 Minimizes the current workbook window to an icon

Ctrl+F10 Maximizes the window of a minimized workbook

Ctrl+F11 Inserts a macros sheet into the current workbook

Ctrl+F12 Displays the Open dialog box