Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Excel helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen, and are an essential alternative to using a mouse.
To quickly find a shortcut in this article, you can use the Search. Press Ctrl+F, and then type your search words.
All Excel keyboard shortcuts are divided in to the following groups.
- Frequently used shortcuts
- Ribbon keyboard shortcuts
- Keyboard shortcuts for formatting cells
- Keyboard shortcuts in the Paste Special dialog box
- Keyboard shortcuts for making selections and performing actions
- Keyboard shortcuts for working with data, functions, and the formula bar
- Power Pivot keyboard shortcuts
- Function keys
Frequently used shortcuts
- Ctrl+W : Close a workbook
- Ctrl+O : Open a workbook
- Alt+H : Go to the Home tab
- Ctrl+S : Save a workbook
- Ctrl+C : Copy
- Ctrl+V : Paste
- Ctrl+Z : Undo
- Delete : Remove cell contents
- Alt+H, H : Choose a fill color
- Ctrl+X : Cut
- Alt+N : Go to Insert tab
- Ctrl+B : Bold
- Alt+H, A, C : Center align cell contents
- Alt+P : Go to Page Layout tab
- Alt+A : Go to Data tab
- Alt+W : Go to View tab
- Shift+F10 : Open context menu
- Alt+H, B : Add borders
- Alt+H, D, C : Delete column
- Alt+M : Go to Formula tab
- Ctrl+9 : Hide the selected rows
- Ctrl+0 : Hide the selected columns
Ribbon keyboard shortcuts
The ribbon groups related options on tabs. For example, on the Home tab, the Number group includes the Number Format option. Press the Alt key to display the ribbon shortcuts, called Key Tips, as letters in small images next to the tabs and options as shown in the image below.
You can combine the Key Tips letters with the Alt key to make shortcuts called Access Keys for the ribbon options. For example, press Alt+H to open the Home tab, and Alt+Q to move to the Tell me or Search field. Press Alt again to see KeyTips for the options for the selected tab.
In Office 2013 and Office 2010, most of the old Alt key menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut. For example, press Alt, and then press one of the old menu keys E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A notification pops up saying you’re using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft Office. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead and use it. If you don’t know the sequence, press Esc and use Key Tips instead.
Use the Access keys for Ribbon Tabs
To go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following access keys. Additional tabs may appear depending on your selection in the worksheet.
- Alt+Q, then enter the search term : Move to the Tell me or Search field on the Ribbon and type a search term for assistance or Help content.
- Alt+F : Open the File page and use Backstage view
- Alt+H : Open the Home tab and format text and numbers and use the Find tool.
- Alt+N : Open the Insert tab and insert PivotTables, charts, add-ins, Sparklines, pictures, shapes, headers, or text boxes.
- Alt+P : Open the Page Layout tab and work with themes, page setup, scale, and alignment.
- Alt+M : Open the Formulas tab and insert, trace, and customize functions and calculations.
- Alt+A : Open the Data tab and connect to, sort, filter, analyze, and work with data.
- Alt+R : Open the Review tab and check spelling, add notes and threaded comments, and protect sheets and workbooks.
- Alt+W : Open the View tab and preview page breaks and layouts, show and hide grid-lines and headings, set zoom magnification, manage windows and panes, and view macros.
Work in the Ribbon Tab with the keyboard
- Alt or F10 To move to a different tab, use access keys or the arrow keys : Select the active tab on the ribbon, and activate the access keys.
- Tab key or Shift+Tab : Move the focus to commands on the ribbon.
- Arrow keys : Move down, up, left, or right, respectively, among the items on the Ribbon.
- Space-bar or Enter : Activate a selected button.
- Down arrow key : Open the list for a selected command.
- Alt + Down arrow key : Open the menu for a selected button.
- Down arrow key : When a menu or submenu is open, move to the next command.
- Ctrl+F1 : Expand or collapse the ribbon.
- Shift+F10 : Open a context menu.
- Left arrow key : Move to the sub menu when a main menu is open or selected.
Keyboard shortcuts for Formatting cells
- Shift+Tab : Move to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog.
- Up arrow key : Move one cell up in a worksheet.
- Down arrow key : Move one cell down in a worksheet.
- Left arrow key : Move one cell left in a worksheet.
- Right arrow key : Move one cell right in a worksheet.
- Ctrl+Arrow key : Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet.
- End, 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 column.
- Ctrl+End : Move to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost used column.
- Ctrl+Shift+End : Extend the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner).
- Home+Scroll Lock : Move to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when Scroll Lock is turned on.
- Ctrl+Home : Move to the beginning of a worksheet.
- Page Down : Move one screen down in a worksheet.
- Ctrl+Page : Down Move to the next sheet in a workbook.
- Alt+Page Down : Move one screen to the right in a worksheet.
- Page Up : Move one screen up in a worksheet.
- Alt+Page Up : Move one screen to the left in a worksheet.
- Ctrl+Page Up : Move to the previous sheet in a workbook.
- Tab key : Move one cell to the right in a worksheet. Or, in a protected worksheet, move between unlocked cells.
- Alt+Down arrow key : Open the list of validation choices on a cell that has data validation option applied to it.
- Ctrl+Alt+5, then the Tab key repeatedly : Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images.
- Esc : Exit the floating shape navigation and return to the normal navigation.
Keyboard shortcuts in the Paste Special dialog box
- Ctrl+1: Open the Format Cells dialog.
- Ctrl+Shift+F or Ctrl+Shift+P : Format fonts in the Format Cells dialog.
- F2 : 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 arrow keys to create a reference.
- Shift+F2 : Insert a threaded comment
- Shift+F2 : Open and edit a cell note
- Ctrl+Shift+F2 : Insert a threaded comment
- Ctrl+Shift+F2 : Open and reply to a threaded comment
- Ctrl+Shift+Plus sign (+) : Open the Insert dialog to insert blank cells.
- Ctrl+Minus sign (-) : Open the Delete dialog to delete selected cells.
- Ctrl+Shift+colon (:) : Enter the current time.
- Ctrl+semi-colon (;) : Enter the current date.
- Ctrl+grave accent (`) : Switch between displaying cell values or formulas in the worksheet.
- Ctrl+apostrophe (‘) : Copy a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar.
- Ctrl+X : Move the selected cells.
- Ctrl+C : Copy the selected cells.
- Ctrl+V : Paste content at the insertion point, replacing any selection.
- Ctrl+Alt+V : Open the Paste Special dialog.
- Ctrl+I or Ctrl+3 : Italicize text or remove italic formatting.
- Ctrl+B or Ctrl+2 : Bold text or remove bold formatting.
- Ctrl+U or Ctrl+4 : Underline text or remove underline.
- Ctrl+5 : Apply or remove strikethrough formatting.
- Ctrl+6 : Switch between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects.
- Ctrl+Shift+ampersand (&) : Apply an outline border to the selected cells.
- Ctrl+Shift+underline (_) : Remove the outline border from the selected cells.
- Ctrl+8 : Display or hide the outline symbols.
- Ctrl+D : Use the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below.
- Ctrl+Shift+tilde sign (~) : Apply the General number format.
- Ctrl+Shift+dollar sign ($) : Apply the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses).
- Ctrl+Shift+percent sign (%) : Apply the Percentage format with no decimal places.
- Ctrl+Shift+caret sign (^) : Apply the Scientific number format with two decimal places.
- Ctrl+Shift+number sign (#) : Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year.
- Ctrl+Shift+at sign (@) : Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM.
- Ctrl+Shift+exclamation point (!) : Apply the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values.
- Ctrl+K : Open the Insert hyperlink dialog.
- F7 : Check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range.
- Ctrl+Q : Display the Quick Analysis options for selected cells that contain data.
- Ctrl+L or Ctrl+T : Display the Create Table dialog.
Keyboard shortcuts for making selections and performing actions
- Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar : Select the entire worksheet.
- Ctrl+Shift+Page Down : Select the current and next sheet in a workbook.
- Ctrl+Shift+Page Up : Select the current and previous sheet in a workbook.
- Shift+Arrow key : Extend the selection of cells by one cell.
- Ctrl+Shift+Arrow key : Extend 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, to the next nonblank cell.
- F8 : Turn extend mode on and use the arrow keys to extend a selection. Press again to turn off.
- Shift+F8 : Add a non-adjacent cell or range to a selection of cells by using the arrow keys.
- Alt+Enter : Start a new line in the same cell.
- Ctrl+Enter : Fill the selected cell range with the current entry.
- Shift+Enter : Complete a cell entry and select the cell above.
- Ctrl+Spacebar : Select an entire column in a worksheet.
- Shift+Spacebar : Select an entire row in a worksheet.
- Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar : Select all objects on a worksheet when an object is selected.
- Ctrl+Shift+Home : Extend the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet.
- Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+Spacebar : Select the current region if the worksheet contains data. Press a second time to select the current region and its summary rows. Press a third time to select the entire worksheet.
- Ctrl+Shift+Asterisk (*) : Select the current region around the active cell.
- Home : Select the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible.
- Ctrl+Y : Repeat the last command or action, if possible.
- Ctrl+Z : Undo the last action.
Keyboard shortcuts for working with Data, Functions and the Formula bar
- F2 : 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 arrow keys to create a reference.
- Ctrl+Shift+U :Expand or collapse the formula bar.
- Esc : Cancel an entry in the cell or Formula Bar.
- Enter : Complete an entry in the formula bar and select the cell below.
- Ctrl+End : Move the cursor to the end of the text when in the formula bar.
- Ctrl+Shift+End : Select all text in the formula bar from the cursor position to the end.
- F9 : Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks.
- Shift+F9 : Calculate the active worksheet.
- Ctrl+Alt+F9 : Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether they have changed since the last calculation.
- Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F9 : Check dependent formulas, and then calculate all cells in all open workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be calculated.
- Alt+Shift+F10 : Display the menu or message for an Error Checking button.
- Ctrl+A : Display the Function Arguments dialog when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
- Ctrl+Shift+A : Insert argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
- Ctrl+E : Invoke Flash Fill to automatically recognize patterns in adjacent columns and fill the current column.
- F4 : Cycle through all combinations of absolute and relative references in a formula if a cell reference or range is selected.
- Shift+F3 : Insert a function.
- Ctrl+Shift+Straight quotation mark (“): Copy the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the formula bar.
- Alt+F1: Create an embedded chart of the data in the current range.
- F11 : Create a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet.
- Alt+M, M, D : Define a name to use in references.
- F3 : Paste a name from the Paste Name dialog (if names have been defined in the workbook.
- Enter : Move to the first field in the next record of a data form.
- Alt+F8 : Create, run, edit, or delete a macro.
- Alt+F11: Open the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Editor.
Power Pivot keyboard shortcuts
Use the following shortcuts keyboard shortcuts with Power Pivot in Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, and Excel 2013.
- Right-click : Open the context menu for the selected cell, column, or row.
- Ctrl+A : Select the entire table.
- Ctrl+C : Copy selected data.
- Ctrl+D : Delete the table.
- Ctrl+M : Move the table.
- Ctrl+R : Rename the table.
- Ctrl+S : Save the file.
- Ctrl+Y : Redo the last action.
- Ctrl+Z : Undo the last action.
- Ctrl+Spacebar : Select the current column.
- Shift+Spacebar : Select the current row.
- Shift+Page Up : 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+End : Select all cells from the current location to the last cell of the row.
- Shift+Home : Select all cells from the current location to the first cell of the row.
- Ctrl+Page Up : Move to the previous table.
- Ctrl+Page Down : Move to the next table.
- Ctrl+Home : Move to the first cell in the upper left corner of selected table.
- Ctrl+End : Move to the last cell in the lower right corner of selected table (the last row of the Add Column).
- Ctrl+Left arrow : Move to the first cell of selected row.
- Ctrl+Right arrow : Move to the last cell of selected row.
- Ctrl+Up arrow : Move to the first cell of selected column.
- Ctrl+Down arrow : Move to the last cell of selected column.
- Ctrl+Esc : Close a dialog or cancel a process, such as a paste operation.
- Alt+Down arrow : Open the AutoFilter Menu dialog.
- F5 : Open the Go To dialog.
- F9 : Recalculate all formulas in the Power Pivot window. For more information, see Recalculate Formulas in Power Pivot.
Function keys
- F1 : 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.
- Alt+Shift+F1: inserts a new worksheet.
- F2 : 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 arrow keys to create a reference.
- Shift+F2: adds or edits a cell note.
- Ctrl+F2: displays the print preview area on the Print tab in the Backstage view.
- F3 : displays the Paste Name dialog. Available only if names have been defined in the workbook.
- Shift+F3: displays the Insert Function dialog.
- F4 : repeats the last command or action, if possible.
- Ctrl+F4: closes the selected workbook window.
- Alt+F4: closes Excel.
- F5 : displays the Go To dialog.
- Ctrl+F5: restores the window size of the selected workbook window.
- F6 : 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.
- Ctrl+F6: switches to the next workbook window when more than one workbook window is open.
- F7 : Opens the Spelling dialog to check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range.
- 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 : 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.
- Ctrl+F8: performs the Size command when a workbook is not maximized.
- Alt+F8: displays the Macro dialog to create, run, edit, or delete a macro.
- F9 : 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.
- 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 : Turns key tips on or off. (Pressing Alt does the same thing.)
- Shift+F10: displays the shortcut menu for a selected item.
- Alt+Shift+F10: displays the menu or message for an Error Checking button.
- Ctrl+F10: maximizes or restores the selected workbook window.
- F11 : Creates a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet.
- Shift+F11: inserts a new worksheet.
- 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 : displays the Save As dialog.