Excel keyboard shortcuts
35 shortcuts for Excel on Windows, grouped by task. 6 of them have a free drill: you read a short workplace situation, then press the real keys.
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Practise these first
Reading a shortcut does not make it stick. Each drill takes two to four minutes and needs a physical keyboard.
- Ctrl+Shift+Arrow keySelect to the bottom of the dataExtend a selection to the last filled row in one press.
- F2Edit the cell you are standing onOpen a cell for editing without reaching for the mouse or the formula bar.
- F4Add the dollar signs without typing themCycle a reference through its absolute and relative forms while editing.
- Ctrl+DFill a formula down a columnCopy the cell above into the cells you have selected, without dragging.
- Ctrl+;Type today's date without typing itStamp the current date into a cell as a fixed value.
- Ctrl+Alt+VPaste the numbers, not the formulasReach the paste-special dialog to drop formulas and keep results.
All 35 shortcuts
For Excel on Windows, checked against Microsoft’s shortcut list.
Moving and selecting
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Arrow key | Move to the edge of the data |
| Ctrl+Shift+Arrow key | Select to the edge of the data Practise |
| Ctrl+Spacebar | Select the whole column |
| Shift+Spacebar | Select the whole row |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| F5 | Open Go To |
| Ctrl+Page Down | Go to the next sheet |
| Ctrl+Page Up | Go to the previous sheet |
Editing and entering
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| F2 | Edit the active cell Practise |
| F4 | Switch a reference between relative and absolute, or repeat the last action Practise |
| Ctrl+D | Fill down Practise |
| Ctrl+; | Enter today's date Practise |
| Ctrl+Shift+: | Enter the current time |
| Alt+= | AutoSum |
| Alt+Enter | Start a new line in the same cell |
| Shift+F3 | Insert a function |
Copying and undoing
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+Alt+V | Open Paste Special, where V then pastes values only Practise |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Repeat the last action |
Formatting and tables
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+B | Bold |
| Ctrl+Shift+$ | Currency format |
| Ctrl+Shift+% | Percent format |
| Ctrl+T | Create a table |
| Ctrl+` | Show formulas instead of results |
Rows, columns and files
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+9 | Hide the selected rows |
| Ctrl+0 | Hide the selected columns |
| Ctrl+- | Open the Delete dialog |
| Ctrl+Shift++ | Open the Insert dialog |
| F9 | Recalculate all workbooks |
| Ctrl+O | Open a workbook |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+W | Close the workbook |
Common questions
Which Excel shortcuts should I learn first?
Start with the six on this page that have a drill: F2 to edit a cell, F4 to lock a reference, Ctrl+D to fill down, Ctrl+; for today's date, Ctrl+Shift+Arrow to select to the end of the data, and Ctrl+Alt+V for Paste Special. They come up in almost any workbook that holds formulas.
How do I practise Excel shortcuts?
Each drill gives you a short workplace situation, then asks you to press the keys rather than name them. It runs in your browser, is free, and needs no account. You need a physical keyboard, so use a laptop or desktop rather than a phone.
Do these shortcuts work on a Mac?
This list is for Excel on Windows. Excel for Mac uses different keys for some of them, so check Microsoft's list for the Mac versions.
Why does a shortcut not work on my laptop?
Many laptops use the top row of keys for volume and brightness by default, so F2 or F4 may need the Fn key held down as well. Another program can also claim a key combination before Excel sees it.