Excel shortcut keys are key combinations that run a command without the mouse, such as Ctrl + C to copy or Ctrl + Shift + L to switch filters on. This page lists 207 shortcuts for Excel on Windows and Mac, grouped by task, with a search box and a print-ready sheet.
Watch the keys, then search for the one you need.
The 24 Excel shortcut keys used most
If you learn nothing else, learn these. They cover most everyday work in any Excel version.
Workbook and file shortcut keys
Open, save, print and undo: the keys every Excel session starts and ends with.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new workbook | Ctrl+N | Cmd+N |
| Open a workbook | Ctrl+O | Cmd+O |
| Save the workbook | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S |
| Save As | F12 | Cmd+Shift+S |
| Ctrl+P | Cmd+P | |
| Close the workbook | Ctrl+W | Cmd+W |
| Close Excel | Alt+F4 | Cmd+Q |
| Undo the last action | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Redo | Ctrl+Y | Cmd+Y |
| Repeat the last action | F4 | Cmd+Y |
| Open the File menu | Alt+F | — |
| Check spelling | F7 | F7 |
| Open the Thesaurus | Shift+F7 | Shift+F7 |
| Switch to the next open workbook | Ctrl+Tab | — |
| Minimise the workbook window | Ctrl+F9 | Cmd+M |
| Maximise or restore the workbook window | Ctrl+F10 | — |
| Zoom in | Ctrl+Alt+= | — |
| Zoom out | Ctrl+Alt+- | — |
| Show or hide the ribbon | Ctrl+F1 | Cmd+Option+R |
| Jump to the Search box | Alt+Q | — |
Selection shortcut keys
Select rows, columns and whole data blocks in one move.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select the whole data region or sheet | Ctrl+A | Cmd+A |
| Select the entire row | Shift+Space | Shift+Space |
| Select the entire column | Ctrl+Space | Control+Space |
| Extend the selection by one cell | Shift+Arrow keys | Shift+Arrow keys |
| Extend the selection to the end of the data | Ctrl+Shift+Arrow keys | Cmd+Shift+Arrow keys |
| Extend the selection to the start of the row | Shift+Home | Shift+Home |
| Extend the selection to cell A1 | Ctrl+Shift+Home | Control+Shift+Home |
| Extend the selection to the last used cell | Ctrl+Shift+End | Control+Shift+End |
| Select the current region around the active cell | Ctrl+Shift+8 | Control+Shift+8 |
| Select visible cells only | Alt+; | Cmd+Shift+8 |
| Turn Extend Selection mode on or off | F8 | F8 |
| Add non-adjacent cells to the selection | Shift+F8 | Shift+F8 |
| Reduce the selection to the active cell | Shift+Backspace | Shift+Delete |
| Select all objects on the sheet | Ctrl+Shift+Space | — |
| Select all cells that contain comments | Ctrl+Shift+O | — |
| Select cells a formula refers to (precedents) | Ctrl+[ | Control+[ |
| Select formulas that use the active cell (dependents) | Ctrl+] | Control+] |
Data entry and editing shortcut keys
The fastest way to type, fill and correct data, including date and time shortcut keys.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Edit the active cell | F2 | Control+UorF2 |
| Start a new line inside a cell | Alt+Enter | Option+Return |
| Fill all selected cells with the same entry | Ctrl+Enter | Control+Return |
| Complete the entry and move down | Enter | Return |
| Complete the entry and move up | Shift+Enter | Shift+Return |
| Cancel the entry | Esc | Esc |
| Fill down from the cell above | Ctrl+D | Cmd+D |
| Fill right from the cell on the left | Ctrl+R | Cmd+R |
| Flash Fill | Ctrl+E | Control+E |
| Insert today’s date | Ctrl+; | Control+; |
| Insert the current time | Ctrl+Shift+; | Cmd+; |
| Copy the value from the cell above | Ctrl+Shift+" | Control+Shift+" |
| Copy the formula from the cell above | Ctrl+' | Control+' |
| Pick from a list of entries already in the column | Alt+↓ | Option+↓ |
| Clear the cell contents | Delete | Delete |
| Delete to the end of the line while editing | Ctrl+Delete | Control+Delete |
| Insert a hyperlink | Ctrl+K | Cmd+K |
| Insert a note | Shift+F2 | Shift+F2 |
| Insert a threaded comment | Ctrl+Shift+F2 | Cmd+Shift+F2 |
| Open Find and Replace | Ctrl+H | Control+H |
Copy and paste shortcut keys
Copy, cut and every useful kind of Paste Special.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C |
| Cut | Ctrl+X | Cmd+X |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V |
| Open Paste Special | Ctrl+Alt+V | Control+Cmd+V |
| Paste values only (Excel 365) | Ctrl+Shift+V | Cmd+Shift+V |
| Paste values only (all versions) | Ctrl+Alt+VthenVthenEnter | — |
| Paste formulas only | Ctrl+Alt+VthenFthenEnter | — |
| Paste formats only | Ctrl+Alt+VthenTthenEnter | — |
| Paste and transpose rows to columns | Ctrl+Alt+VthenEthenEnter | — |
| Paste column widths | Ctrl+Alt+VthenWthenEnter | — |
| Copy formatting with Format Painter | AltthenHthenFthenP | — |
| Open the Office Clipboard | AltthenHthenFthenO | — |
Formatting shortcut keys
Format a report without opening a single menu.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open Format Cells | Ctrl+1 | Cmd+1 |
| Bold | Ctrl+B | Cmd+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
| Underline | Ctrl+U | Cmd+U |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl+5 | Cmd+Shift+X |
| Centre align | AltthenHthenAthenC | Cmd+E |
| Align left | AltthenHthenAthenL | Cmd+L |
| Align right | AltthenHthenAthenR | — |
| Wrap text | AltthenHthenW | — |
| Merge and centre | AltthenHthenMthenC | — |
| Fill colour | AltthenHthenH | — |
| Font colour | AltthenHthenFthenC | — |
| Add an outline border | Ctrl+Shift+& | Cmd+Option+0 |
| Remove all borders | Ctrl+Shift+_ | Cmd+Option+- |
| Apply all borders | AltthenHthenBthenA | — |
| Increase font size | AltthenHthenFthenG | Cmd+Shift+> |
| Decrease font size | AltthenHthenFthenK | Cmd+Shift+< |
| AutoFit column width | AltthenHthenOthenI | — |
| AutoFit row height | AltthenHthenOthenA | — |
| Set column width | AltthenHthenOthenW | — |
| Clear all formatting | AltthenHthenEthenF | — |
Number format shortcut keys
Switch between number, date, currency and percentage formats instantly.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Number with two decimals and a thousands separator | Ctrl+Shift+1 | Control+Shift+1 |
| Time format | Ctrl+Shift+2 | Control+Shift+2 |
| Date format | Ctrl+Shift+3 | Control+Shift+3 |
| Currency format | Ctrl+Shift+4 | Control+Shift+4 |
| Percentage format | Ctrl+Shift+5 | Control+Shift+5 |
| Scientific format | Ctrl+Shift+6 | Control+Shift+6 |
| General format | Ctrl+Shift+~ | Control+Shift+~ |
| Increase decimal places | AltthenHthen0 | — |
| Decrease decimal places | AltthenHthen9 | — |
| Comma style | AltthenHthenK | — |
Row, column and sheet shortcut keys
Insert, delete, hide and group rows, columns and worksheets.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert cells, rows or columns | Ctrl+Shift++ | Control+Shift++ |
| Delete cells, rows or columns | Ctrl+- | Cmd+- |
| Hide the selected rows | Ctrl+9 | Control+9 |
| Unhide rows | Ctrl+Shift+9 | Control+Shift+9 |
| Hide the selected columns | Ctrl+0 | Control+0 |
| Unhide columns | Ctrl+Shift+0 | Control+Shift+0 |
| Group rows or columns | Alt+Shift+→ | Cmd+Shift+K |
| Ungroup rows or columns | Alt+Shift+← | Cmd+Shift+J |
| Show or hide outline symbols | Ctrl+8 | Control+8 |
| Insert a new worksheet | Shift+F11 | Shift+F11 |
| Rename the current sheet | AltthenHthenOthenR | — |
| Delete the current sheet | AltthenHthenDthenS | — |
| Move or copy the current sheet | AltthenHthenOthenM | — |
| Freeze panes | AltthenWthenFthenF | — |
| Freeze the top row | AltthenWthenFthenR | — |
Excel formula shortcut keys
Write, check and recalculate formulas faster.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start a formula | = | = |
| AutoSum | Alt+= | Cmd+Shift+T |
| Switch between absolute and relative references | F4 | Cmd+T |
| Show formulas instead of results | Ctrl+` | Control+` |
| Insert a function | Shift+F3 | Shift+F3 |
| Open Function Arguments for the function you typed | Ctrl+A | Control+A |
| Insert the argument names of a function | Ctrl+Shift+A | Control+Shift+A |
| Accept a suggested function name | Tab | Tab |
| Enter an array formula (Excel 2019 and earlier) | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Control+Shift+Return |
| Calculate all open workbooks | F9 | F9 |
| Calculate the active sheet | Shift+F9 | Shift+F9 |
| Force a full recalculation | Ctrl+Alt+F9 | — |
| Expand or collapse the formula bar | Ctrl+Shift+U | Control+Shift+U |
| Open Name Manager | Ctrl+F3 | — |
| Create names from the selection | Ctrl+Shift+F3 | Cmd+Shift+F3 |
| Paste a defined name into a formula | F3 | — |
Filter, sort and table shortcut keys
Turn a range into a table, then filter, sort and clean it.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Create a table | Ctrl+T | Cmd+T |
| Turn filters on or off | Ctrl+Shift+L | Cmd+Shift+F |
| Open the filter menu for the selected header | Alt+↓ | Option+↓ |
| Clear all filters | AltthenAthenC | — |
| Sort A to Z | AltthenAthenSthenA | — |
| Sort Z to A | AltthenAthenSthenD | — |
| Open the Sort dialog | AltthenAthenSthenS | Cmd+Shift+R |
| Remove duplicates | AltthenAthenM | — |
| Text to Columns | AltthenAthenE | — |
| Data validation | AltthenAthenVthenV | — |
| Add a total row to a table | Ctrl+Shift+T | — |
| Open Quick Analysis | Ctrl+Q | — |
| Refresh data in the current worksheet | Ctrl+F5 | — |
| Refresh all data in the workbook | Ctrl+Alt+F5 | — |
| Open Go To Special | F5thenAlt+S | — |
PivotTable and chart shortcut keys
Build and refresh PivotTables and charts from the keyboard.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert a PivotTable (Excel 365) | AltthenNthenVthenT | — |
| Open the classic PivotTable wizard | AltthenDthenP | Cmd+Option+P |
| Refresh the PivotTable | Alt+F5 | — |
| Select the whole PivotTable | Ctrl+A | Cmd+A |
| Group the selected PivotTable items | Alt+Shift+→ | Cmd+Shift+K |
| Ungroup PivotTable items | Alt+Shift+← | Cmd+Shift+J |
| Open the filter list for the selected field | Alt+↓ | Option+↓ |
| Create a chart on the same sheet | Alt+F1 | Option+F1 |
| Create a chart on a new sheet | F11 | F11 |
Ribbon shortcut keys
Press Alt and Excel shows a letter for every ribbon command. On Mac the ribbon has no key tips.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Show the ribbon key tips | AltorF10 | — |
| Open the Home tab | AltthenH | — |
| Open the Insert tab | AltthenN | — |
| Open the Page Layout tab | AltthenP | — |
| Open the Formulas tab | AltthenM | — |
| Open the Data tab | AltthenA | — |
| Open the Review tab | AltthenR | — |
| Open the View tab | AltthenW | — |
| Open the right-click menu | Shift+F10 | Shift+F10 |
Excel function keys F1 to F12
What each function key does on its own. On many laptops, hold Fn as well.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open Help | F1 | — |
| Edit the active cell | F2 | F2 |
| Paste a defined name | F3 | — |
| Repeat the last action, or switch reference type while editing | F4 | Cmd+YorCmd+T |
| Open Go To | F5 | F5 |
| Move to the next pane | F6 | F6 |
| Check spelling | F7 | F7 |
| Turn Extend Selection mode on or off | F8 | F8 |
| Calculate all open workbooks | F9 | F9 |
| Show the ribbon key tips | F10 | — |
| Create a chart on a new sheet | F11 | F11 |
| Save As | F12 | F12 |
Macro and VBA shortcut keys
Open the macro list and the Visual Basic Editor.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open the Macro dialog | Alt+F8 | Option+F8 |
| Open the Visual Basic Editor | Alt+F11 | Option+F11 |
Excel 365 Copilot and Python shortcut keys
The newest shortcuts in Excel for Microsoft 365. They need a plan that includes Copilot or Python in Excel.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Move between the sheet and the Copilot pane | F6 | — |
| Open the Copilot pane | Alt+C | — |
| Open the Copilot pane (earlier builds) | AltthenHthenFthenX | — |
| Start a Python formula in the cell | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P | — |
| Commit a Python formula | Ctrl+Enter | — |
| Switch Python output between Python object and Excel values | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M | — |
| Open the Python code editor pane | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F2 | — |
| Reset the Python runtime | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F9 | — |
| Open the data card of a cell | Ctrl+Shift+F5 | — |
| Switch editing between the cell and the formula bar | Ctrl+F2 | — |
No shortcut matches that search. Try a shorter word, such as filter, paste or sheet.
Shortcuts shown with then are pressed one key after another. Mac keys can change with your keyboard layout and macOS shortcut settings, and function keys may need the Fn key.
Best Excel shortcut keys by job role
Six shortcuts that save the most time in each kind of work. Windows keys are shown here; the Mac keys are in the tables above.
For data entry operators
For MIS and accounts teams
For data analysis
How to remember Excel shortcut keys
Excel shortcut keys: questions and answers
What are shortcut keys in Excel?
Shortcut keys are key combinations that run an Excel command without the mouse. Ctrl + C copies, Ctrl + V pastes and Ctrl + Z undoes the last action. Some shortcuts are pressed together and others, such as Alt, H, O, I, are pressed one after another.
Which Excel shortcut keys are most useful for data entry?
Ctrl + D fills down, Ctrl + R fills right, Ctrl + Enter puts the same entry in every selected cell, Ctrl + ; inserts the current date, Alt + Down Arrow opens a list of earlier entries and Ctrl + E runs Flash Fill.
Are Excel shortcut keys different on a Mac?
Yes. Most Ctrl shortcuts use Cmd on a Mac, a few use Control, and Alt is the Option key. The Alt ribbon key tips do not exist on Mac. Each table on this page shows the Windows and Mac keys side by side.
How do I save this Excel shortcut keys list as a PDF?
Select Print or save as PDF at the top of the page and choose Save as PDF as the printer. The page prints as a compact two-column sheet without menus or buttons.
Why is an Excel shortcut key not working?
The usual reasons are that a cell is still in edit mode, the function keys need the Fn key on your laptop, another program is using the same combination, or the shortcut belongs to a newer Excel version. Press Esc and try again first.
Which shortcut keys are new in Excel 365?
Ctrl + Shift + V pastes values only, Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P starts a Python formula and Ctrl + Alt + Shift + M switches the Python output type. Alt + C opens the Copilot pane in Excel for Microsoft 365.
Which Excel shortcut keys should I revise for computer exams?
Start with the basics: Ctrl + N, O, S, P, C, X, V, Z and Y, then F2 to edit, F4 to repeat, F7 for spelling, F12 for Save As, Ctrl + Home, Ctrl + End, Ctrl + 1 and Alt + =.
Compiled by Jitendra Rao, founder of Excel Keys, with 11+ years in MIS reporting and dashboard automation. Windows shortcuts are cross-checked with Microsoft’s Excel keyboard shortcuts reference. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will correct it.
Put the shortcuts to work: download our free Excel templates, or follow the guides on how to create a dashboard in Excel and building an MIS report in Excel.
