
MS Excel Shortcut Keys-Shortcut keys, also known as keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys, are combinations of keys that provide quick access to various functions or commands within a software application or operating system. They are designed to increase productivity and efficiency by allowing users to perform tasks without the need to navigate through menus or use the mouse.
Microsoft Excel has numerous shortcut keys that can help you perform tasks more efficiently. Here are some commonly used Excel shortcut keys :
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Ctrl + A | Select the entire worksheet. |
Ctrl + B | Applies or remove bold formatting. |
Ctrl + C | Copies the selected cell. |
Ctrl + D | Fill Down command. |
Ctrl + E | Flash Fill. |
Ctrl + F | Find tab. |
Ctrl + G | Go to dialog box. |
Ctrl + H | Replace tab. |
Ctrl + I | Italic formatting. |
Ctrl + K | insert hyperlink |
Ctrl + L | Create table dialog box. |
Ctrl + N | Create a new blank workbook. |
Ctrl + O | Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file. |
Ctrl + P | Print tab. |
Ctrl + Q | Quick Analysis option. |
Ctrl + R | Fill to the right. |
Ctrl + S | Save the active file. |
Ctrl + T | Create Table dialog box. |
Ctrl + U | Underline formatting. |
Ctrl + V | Paste at the selected cell. |
Ctrl + W | Closest the selected workbook window. |
Ctrl + X | Cuts the selected cell. |
Ctrl + Y | Repeat the last command or action. |
Ctrl + Z | Undo the last command. |
Ctrl + 1 | Displays the Format Cells dialog box. |
Ctrl + 2 | Applies or removes bold formatting. |
Ctrl + 3 | Applies aur removes Italic formatting. |
Ctrl + 4 | Applies or removes underlining. |
Ctrl + 5 | Applies aur removes strikethrough. |
Ctrl + 6 | Alternates between hiding and displaying objects. |
Ctrl + 8 | Displays or hides the outline symbols. |
Ctrl + 9 | Hides the selected rows. |
Ctrl + 0 | Hides the selected columns. |
Alt + W + P | Which is the worksheet to page layout view |
Alt + W + L | which is the worksheet to normal view |
Alt + W + I | Switches the worksheet to page break preview view |
Backspace | Delete one character to the left in the Formula Bar. Also clear the content of the active cell. In cell editing mode it delete the character to the left of the insertion point. |
Ctrl + Backspace | Repositions the worksheet so that the active cells is in view. |
Delete | Removes the cell contents (data and Formulas) from selected cells without affecting cell formats or comments. In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the right of the insertion point. |
Ctrl + Delete | Delete text to the end of the line. |
Esc | Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar. Closes an open menu or submenu dialog box or message window. It also closes full screen mode when this mode has been applied and returns to normal screen mode to display the Ribbon and status bar again. |
Home | Moves to the beginning of a row in the worksheet. Moves to the cell in the upper left corner of the window when Scroll Lock is turned on. |
Shift + Home | Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry. |
Ctrl + Shift + Home | Extends the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet. |
Ctrl + Shift + PgDn | Select the current and next sheet in a workbook. |
Ctrl + Shift + PgUp | Select the current and previous sheet in a workbook. |
Ctrl + Spacebar | Select an entire column in a worksheet. |
Shift + Spacebar | Select an entire row in a worksheet. |
Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar | Select the entire worksheet. |
Ctrl + Tab | Switches to the next tab in dialog box. |
Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switches to the previous tab in a dialog box. |
= | Start of formula. |
F2 | Edit the active cell. |
F3 | Paste a name into a formula. |
F4 | Repeat the last action. |
Enter | Complete a cell entry and move down in the selection. |
Shift + Enter | Complete a cell entry and move up in the selection. |
Ctrl + Enter | Fill the selected cell range which the current entry. |
Alt + Enter | Start a new line in the same cell. |
Ctrl + F2 | Displays the formula palette after you type of valid function name in a formula. |
Ctrl + F3 | Define a name. |
Ctrl + F5 | Restore the active workbook window. |
Ctrl + F6 | Switch to the next workbook window. |
Ctrl + F7 | Carry out the move command. |
Ctrl + F8 | Carry out the size command. |
Ctrl + F9 | Minimize the workbook window to an icon. |
Ctrl + F10 | Maximize or restore the workbook window. |
Shift +F2 | Edit a cell comment. |
Shift + F9 | Calculate the active worksheet. |
Keyboard shortcuts for navigating the worksheet
Keyboard Shortcut | Function |
→ or Tab | Right one cell. |
← or Shift + Tab | Left one cell. |
↑ | Up one cell. |
↓ | Down one cell. |
Ctrl + → | Last cell in the row. |
Ctrl + ← | First cell in the row. |
Ctrl + ↑ | First cell in the column. |
Ctrl + ↓ | Last cell in the column. |
Ctrl + Home | First cell in the worksheet. |
Ctrl + End | Move the cursor to the last cell of used space on the worksheet. |
PgDn | Down one screen. |
PgUp | Up one screen. |
Alt + PgDn | Right one screen. |
Alt + PgUp | Left one screen. |
Ctrl + PgDn | Next sheet. |
Ctrl + PgUp | Previous sheet. |
Enter | Move down one cell at a time. |
Shortcut keys for Data Entry
Keys | Description |
Ctrl + ‘ | Copies the formula from the cell above. |
Ctrl + “ | Copies the value from the cell above. |
Ctrl + ; | Inserts the current system date. |
Ctrl + : | Insert the current system time. |
Shift + Ctrl + @ | Formats in h:mm AM/PM. |
Shift + Ctrl + # | Formats in d-mmm-yy. |