Why Excel Shortcuts Matter (2026)
Ctrl/Cmd+Arrow keys jump to data boundaries, F2 edits a cell, Alt+= runs AutoSum, and Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L toggles filters. Spreadsheet power users save hours weekly. Also see Google Sheets and Windows shortcuts.
Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
Master Microsoft Excel with 100+ keyboard shortcuts for formulas, navigation, formatting, and data analysis. Windows and Mac bindings side-by-side, from Microsoft's official Excel shortcut reference.
Basic Navigation
Move to next cell (right)
Tab
Move to previous cell (left)
ShiftTab
Move to cell below
Enter
Move to cell above
ShiftEnter
Move one cell up/down/left/right
Arrow Keys
Go to beginning of row
Home
Go to cell A1
CtrlHome
Go to last used cell
CtrlEnd
Move to edge of data region
CtrlArrow
Move one screen down
Page Down
Move one screen up
Page Up
Move one screen right
AltPage Down
Move one screen left
AltPage Up
Workbook & Worksheet
New workbook
CtrlN
Open workbook
CtrlO
Save workbook
CtrlS
Save As
F12
Close workbook
CtrlW
Print
CtrlP
Switch to next worksheet
CtrlPage Down
Switch to previous worksheet
CtrlPage Up
Insert new worksheet
ShiftF11
Delete worksheet
AltHDS
Cell Editing
Edit active cell
F2
Cancel cell entry
Esc
Delete character to left
Backspace
Delete character to right
Delete
Clear cell contents
Delete
Start new line in same cell
AltEnter
Insert current date
Ctrl;
Insert current time
CtrlShift;
Copy value from cell above
CtrlD
Copy value from cell to left
CtrlR
Fill down
CtrlD
Fill right
CtrlR
Formulas & Functions
Start a formula
=
AutoSum
Alt=
Insert function
ShiftF3
Toggle absolute/relative reference
F4
Calculate all worksheets
F9
Calculate active worksheet
ShiftF9
Show formulas
Ctrl`
Evaluate formula step by step
F9
Array formula
CtrlShiftEnter
Formatting
Format Cells dialog
Ctrl1
Bold
CtrlB
Italic
CtrlI
Underline
CtrlU
Strikethrough
Ctrl5
Apply currency format
CtrlShift$
Apply percentage format
CtrlShift%
Apply date format
CtrlShift#
Apply time format
CtrlShift@
Apply number format
CtrlShift!
Apply border (outline)
CtrlShift&
Remove borders
CtrlShift_
Selection
Select all
CtrlA
Extend selection by one cell
ShiftArrow
Extend selection to last cell
CtrlShiftEnd
Extend selection to beginning
CtrlShiftHome
Select entire column
CtrlSpace
Select entire row
ShiftSpace
Select visible cells only
Alt;
Copy, Cut, Paste
Copy
CtrlC
Cut
CtrlX
Paste
CtrlV
Paste Special
CtrlAltV
Undo
CtrlZ
Redo
CtrlY
Rows & Columns
Insert row
CtrlShift+
Delete row
Ctrl-
Hide row
Ctrl9
Unhide row
CtrlShift9
Hide column
Ctrl0
Unhide column
CtrlShift0
Group rows/columns
AltShift→
Ungroup rows/columns
AltShift←
Data & Filtering
Toggle AutoFilter
CtrlShiftL
Open filter menu
Alt↓
Sort A to Z
AltASA
Sort Z to A
AltASD
Create table
CtrlT
Refresh data
CtrlAltF5
Pivot Tables
Create PivotTable
AltNV
Group pivot items
AltShift→
Ungroup pivot items
AltShift←
Charts
Create chart on new sheet
F11
Insert chart in same sheet
AltF1
Find & Replace
Find
CtrlF
Replace
CtrlH
Find next
ShiftF4
Find previous
CtrlShiftF4
Dialog Boxes & Special
Go To dialog
F5
Name Manager
CtrlF3
Define Name
CtrlShiftF3
Spell Check
F7
Thesaurus
ShiftF7
Quick Analysis
CtrlQ
Basic Navigation
Move to next cell (right)
Tab
Move to previous cell (left)
⇧Tab
Move to cell below
Return
Move to cell above
⇧Return
Move one cell up/down/left/right
Arrow Keys
Go to beginning of row
Fn←
Go to cell A1
⌘Fn←
Go to last used cell
⌘Fn→
Move to edge of data region
⌘Arrow
Move one screen down
Fn↓
Move one screen up
Fn↑
Workbook & Worksheet
New workbook
⌘N
Open workbook
⌘O
Save workbook
⌘S
Save As
⌘⇧S
Close workbook
⌘W
Print
⌘P
Switch to next worksheet
⌥→
Switch to previous worksheet
⌥←
Insert new worksheet
⇧F11
Cell Editing
Edit active cell
F2
Cancel cell entry
Esc
Delete character to left
Delete
Clear cell contents
FnDelete
Start new line in same cell
⌥Return
Insert current date
⌘;
Insert current time
⌘⇧;
Fill down
⌘D
Fill right
⌘R
Formulas & Functions
Start a formula
=
AutoSum
⌘⇧T
Insert function
⇧F3
Toggle absolute/relative reference
⌘T
Calculate all worksheets
⌘=
Show formulas
⌘`
Array formula
⌘⇧Return
Formatting
Format Cells dialog
⌘1
Bold
⌘B
Italic
⌘I
Underline
⌘U
Strikethrough
⌘⇧X
Apply currency format
⌃⇧$
Apply percentage format
⌃⇧%
Selection
Select all
⌘A
Extend selection by one cell
⇧Arrow
Select entire column
⌃Space
Select entire row
⇧Space
Copy, Cut, Paste
Copy
⌘C
Cut
⌘X
Paste
⌘V
Paste Special
⌘⌃V
Undo
⌘Z
Redo
⌘Y
Rows & Columns
Insert row/column
⌘⇧+
Delete row/column
⌘-
Hide row
⌘9
Unhide row
⌘⇧9
Hide column
⌘0
Unhide column
⌘⇧0
Data & Filtering
Toggle AutoFilter
⌘⇧F
Create table
⌘T
Charts
Create chart on new sheet
F11
Insert chart in same sheet
FnF11
Find & Replace
Find
⌘F
Replace
⌘H
Find next
⌘G
Find previous
⌘⇧G
Dialog Boxes & Special
Go To dialog
F5
Spell Check
F7
Also see: Google Sheets • Windows • Gmail • Outlook
Microsoft Excel Shortcuts — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most useful Excel keyboard shortcuts?
Ctrl/Cmd+C/V (copy/paste), Ctrl/Cmd+Z (undo), F2 (edit cell), Ctrl/Cmd+Arrow (navigate), Alt+= (AutoSum), Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L (filter), and Ctrl/Cmd+1 (format cells) are the essentials.
How do I quickly navigate in Excel?
Use Ctrl/Cmd+Arrow keys to jump to the edge of data regions, Ctrl+Home (A1), Ctrl+End (last used cell), and Ctrl+Page Up/Down to switch worksheets.
How do I insert today's date in Excel with a shortcut?
Press Ctrl+; (semicolon) to insert today's date. Ctrl+Shift+: inserts the current time.
Are Excel shortcuts the same on Mac and Windows?
Most shortcuts map Ctrl to Cmd on Mac. Some differences exist—F-keys and Alt-based shortcuts differ. Check the platform tab for your OS.