Excel Shortcuts: Boost Productivity with Keyboard Commands

Posted on Mar 22, 2025 in Computers

Managing Rows and Columns

  1. Ctrl + +: Insert a new row or column.
  2. Ctrl + -: Delete the selected row or column.
  3. Ctrl + Space: Select the entire column.
  4. Shift + Space: Select the entire row.
  5. Ctrl + 9: Hide the selected row.
  6. Ctrl + 0: Hide the selected column.
  7. Ctrl + Shift + 9: Unhide hidden rows.
  8. Ctrl + Shift + 0: Unhide hidden columns.

Cell Formatting

  1. Ctrl + 1: Open the Format Cells dialog.
  2. Ctrl + B: Apply or remove bold formatting.
  3. Ctrl + I: Apply or remove italic formatting.
  4. Ctrl + U: Apply or remove underline.
  5. Ctrl + 5: Apply or remove strikethrough.
  6. Ctrl + Shift + L: Apply or remove bullet points.
  7. Alt + Enter: Start a new line within a cell.

Editing Cell Contents

  1. F2: Edit the active cell.
  2. Ctrl + K: Add or edit a hyperlink.
  3. Ctrl + Space: Select the entire column.
  4. Shift + Space: Select the entire row.
  5. Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Navigate within the text of a cell.
  6. Ctrl + D: Fill down from the cell above.
  7. Ctrl + R: Fill right from the cell to the left.

Managing Worksheets

  1. Ctrl + Tab: Move to the next worksheet.
  2. Ctrl + Page Up: Move to the previous worksheet.
  3. Alt + Shift + Page Up: Group selected worksheets.
  4. Alt + Shift + Page Down: Ungroup selected worksheets.
  5. Ctrl + 1: Format worksheet properties.

Formulas and Functions

  1. Ctrl + `: Display formulas in cells.
  2. Alt + =: Insert the SUM function.
  3. F4: Toggle between relative and absolute cell references.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + Enter: Enter an array formula.

Data Handling

  1. Ctrl + Shift + +: Insert rows, columns, or cells.
  2. Ctrl + Shift + -: Delete rows, columns, or cells.
  3. Alt + E, S, V: Paste special values.
  4. Alt + E, S, T: Transpose data.
  5. Alt + D, F, F: Apply text filters.
  6. Alt + D, S, F: Clear filters.
  7. Alt + A, A: Select the entire worksheet.
  8. Alt + H, O, I: Auto resize columns.

Workbook Views

  1. Alt + W, F: Switch to Full Screen view.
  2. Alt + W, V: Split the worksheet.
  3. Alt + W, S: Freeze panes.
  4. Alt + W, L: Close an open workbook.
  5. Ctrl + F6: Switch between open workbooks.

Advanced Features

  1. Alt + A, W, W: Create a new window.
  2. Ctrl + F2: Open the Print Preview.
  3. Alt + Enter: Start a new line within a cell.
  4. F9: Recalculate formulas.
  5. Ctrl + `: Display formulas in cells.

Custom Shortcuts

  1. Alt + 1: Apply the “Number Format” dialog.
  2. Alt + 2: Apply the “Percentage Format” dialog.
  3. Alt + 3: Apply the “Date Format” dialog.
  4. Alt + 4: Apply the “Time Format” dialog.
  5. Alt + 5: Apply the “Currency Format” dialog.

Advanced Functions

  1. Ctrl + Shift + A: Insert the AVERAGE function.
  2. Ctrl + Shift + M: Insert the MAX function.
  3. Ctrl + Shift + N: Insert the MIN function.
  4. Ctrl + Shift + S: Insert the SUM function.
  5. Ctrl + Shift + L: Insert the COUNT function.

Data Validation

  1. Alt + D, L: Set up data validation.
  2. Alt + D, L, L: Clear data validation.

Working with Tables

  1. Ctrl + T: Create a table.
  2. Ctrl + J: Insert a new row in a table.
  3. Ctrl + E: Select the search box in a table.
  4. Ctrl + Semicolon: Insert the current date.
  5. Ctrl + Shift + Colon: Insert the current time.

Conditional Formatting

  1. Alt + H, L: Highlight cells rules.
  2. Alt + H, L, S: Highlight cells with specific text.
  3. Alt + H, L, C: Highlight cells containing specific values.

Pivot Tables

  1. Alt + N, V: Create a PivotTable.
  2. Alt + N, V, T: Insert a PivotTable.
  3. Alt + J, T, F: Refresh a PivotTable.
  4. Alt + J, T, R: Group items in a PivotTable.

Charting

  1. Alt + F1: Create a chart.
  2. Alt + F2: Save the chart as a picture.
  3. Alt + F3: Create a name in the Name Manager.
  4. Alt + F5: Refresh data in a worksheet.
  5. Alt + F11: Insert a new worksheet.
  6. Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Navigate within a chart.
  7. Ctrl + 1: Format chart properties.