Excel is one of the most powerful tools out there, but to truly get the most out of it, you need more than just the basics. That’s where Excel shortcut keys come in—they save you time and make your work so much smoother. Instead of clicking around endlessly, you can handle tasks like formatting, editing, or navigating spreadsheets with just a few keystrokes. Whether you’re tackling massive datasets or putting together simple reports, these shortcuts make everything easier and faster. In this article, we’ll break down the most useful shortcut keys to help you work smarter and get more done.
What Are Shortcut Keys in Excel?
Shortcut keys in Excel are combinations of keys on your keyboard that perform specific tasks more quickly than using a mouse or navigating through menus. They are designed to save time, increase efficiency, and improve your workflow by allowing you to execute commands with just a few keystrokes. From basic actions like copying and pasting to more advanced tasks like creating pivot tables or filtering data, shortcut keys are invaluable for Excel users.
90 Excel Shortcut Keys For Faster Workflow
General Excel Shortcut Keys
- Ctrl + N: Create a new workbook
- Ctrl + O: Open an existing workbook
- Ctrl + S: Save the current workbook
- Ctrl + P: Print the workbook
- Ctrl + W: Close the current workbook
- Ctrl + F4: Close Excel
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Ctrl + F: Open the Find box
- Ctrl + H: Open the Replace box
Navigation Shortcut Keys
- Ctrl + Page Down: Move to the next worksheet
- Ctrl + Page Up: Move to the previous worksheet
- Ctrl + Home: Go to the beginning of the sheet
- Ctrl + End: Go to the last cell with data
- Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Jump to the edge of data
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open applications
- Ctrl + Tab: Switch between open workbooks
Data Entry and Editing Shortcuts
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Delete: Clear contents of selected cells
- F2: Edit the active cell
- Ctrl + D: Fill data down
- Ctrl + R: Fill data right
- Ctrl + ;: Insert the current date
- Ctrl + Shift + ;: Insert the current time
- Ctrl + Enter: Fill selected cells with the same data
- Alt + Enter: Insert a line break within a cell.
- Ctrl + Delete: Delete everything to the right of the cursor in a cell.
- Shift + F2: Add or edit a cell comment.
- Ctrl + Shift + “: ” Enter the current time.
- Ctrl + Shift + “_ ” Remove borders from the selected cells.
Formatting Shortcut Keys
- Ctrl + B: Bold
- Ctrl + I: Italic
- Ctrl + U: Underline
- Ctrl + Shift + $: Apply currency format
- Ctrl + Shift + %: Apply percentage format
- Ctrl + Shift + #:: Apply date format
- Ctrl + Shift + ^: Apply scientific format
- Alt + H + O + W: Set column width
- Ctrl + Space: Select the entire column
- Shift + Space: Select the entire row
- Alt + H + B: Add borders to the selected cells.
- Ctrl + 5: Apply or remove strikethrough.
- Alt + H + H: Open the Fill Color menu.
- Alt + H + F + S: Open the Font Size menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + &: Apply outline borders to selected cells.
Selecting Data
- Ctrl + A: Select the entire sheet
- Shift + Arrow Keys: Select cells in a direction
- Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys: Select to the edge of the data
- Ctrl + Shift + *: Select the current region of data
- Ctrl + Shift + Space: Select entire table
- Ctrl + /: Select the array containing the active cell
- Ctrl + Shift + Home: Select from the current cell to the beginning of the sheet.
- Ctrl + Shift + End: Select from the current cell to the last cell with data.
- Ctrl + Backspace: Scroll to make the active cell visible.
- Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys: Move the selected cell or range.
Working with Rows and Columns
- Ctrl + Shift + +: Insert rows or columns
- Ctrl + -: Delete rows or columns
- Ctrl + 9: Hide rows
- Ctrl + Shift + 9: Unhide rows
- Ctrl + 0: Hide columns
- Ctrl + Shift + 0: Unhide columns
- Alt + H + O + I: Auto-fit column width
- Alt + H + O + R: Rename a worksheet.
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S: Open the Styles menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + 7: Add a border around the selected cells.
Navigating and Viewing
- Alt + W + F: Freeze panes
- Alt + W + S: Split the window
- Ctrl + 1: Open the Format Cells dialog
- Ctrl + Shift + L: Toggle filters
- Ctrl + T: Convert data into a table
- F12: Open the Save As dialog box
Pivot Tables Shortcut Keys
- Alt + N + V: Open the Create PivotTable dialog box
- Alt + Shift + F10: Display the PivotTable Field List
- Alt + Down Arrow: Open the drop-down menu in a PivotTable
Sorting and Filtering Data Keys
- Alt + D + S: Open Sort dialog box
- Alt + A + T: Clear filters
- Alt + A + S + S: Apply ascending sort
- Alt + A + S + D: Apply descending sort
Miscellaneous
- Ctrl + K: Insert a hyperlink
- Ctrl + Shift + K: Edit a hyperlink
- Ctrl + F1: Show or hide the ribbon
- F7: Spell check
- Shift + F7: Open the thesaurus
- Alt + F8: Open the Macro dialog box
- Alt + F11: Open the Visual Basic Editor
- Ctrl + Q: Show quick analysis options for selected cells
- Ctrl + Alt + V: Open the Paste Special dialog box
- Ctrl + Shift + F: Open the Font tab in Format Cells dialog
Wrapping UP
Excel shortcut keys are a game-changer when it comes to working smarter, not harder. They make everyday tasks faster, whether you’re formatting, editing, or analyzing data. By adding these shortcuts to your routine, you’ll save time and reduce the effort needed for repetitive actions. Start with a few that you use the most and gradually build your list. It’s all about making Excel work for you, not the other way around. So, if you’re ready to improve your workflow and get more done in less time, start using these shortcut keys—you’ll wonder how you ever worked without them!
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
1Q. What are Excel shortcut keys, and why are they useful?
These are keyboard combinations that perform specific tasks quickly. They help save time by reducing mouse usage and speeding up repetitive actions.
2Q. Can I customize shortcuts in Excel?
Yes, Excel allows you to customize shortcuts through the ribbon options. You can assign or modify them to suit your workflow.
3Q. Do shortcuts work on both Windows and Mac?
Most shortcuts work on both platforms, but some differ. Mac users typically use the Command key instead of Ctrl.
4Q. How can I memorize shortcuts easily?
Focus on frequently used shortcuts and practice them regularly. Organizing them into categories can also make them easier to remember.
5Q. Are shortcuts different in older Excel versions?
Basic shortcuts are usually the same, but advanced features may vary. Check version-specific details if you’re using older Excel software.