If you ever need to perform data analysis or create charts and graphs based on specific metrics, then chances are you’ll use Microsoft Excel. Excel is an industry-leading spreadsheet software program, and it is widely used in nearly every setting because of the versatility that it offers.
However, Microsoft Excel quickly becomes a tedious tool for those who don’t use keyboard shortcuts to save them from moving the mouse around so much. Luckily, this cheat sheet will solve that problem for you so you can take advantage of shortcuts and save time the next time you sit down to analyze data in Microsoft Excel.
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Windows | macOS | Function |
---|---|---|
Basic Navigation | ||
Ctrl + O | Command + F12 | Open a workbook. |
Ctrl + W | Command + W | Close a workbook. |
Ctrl + S | Command + S | Save a workbook. |
Ctrl + N | Command + N | Open new blank workbook. |
Ctrl + Q | Command + Q | Quit Excel. |
Navigating The Ribbon (Windows Only) | ||
Alt + H | Go to the Home tab. | |
Alt + N | Go to the Insert tab. | |
Alt + P | Go to the Page Layout tab. | |
Alt + A | Go to the Data tab. | |
Alt + M | Go to the Formula tab. | |
Alt + W | Go to the View tab. | |
Alt (or F10) | Select active tab and activate access keys. | |
Tab (or Shift + Tab) | Move focus to commands. | |
Arrow keys | Move though items on ribbon. | |
Ctrl + Shift + F10 | Display tooltip for current ribbon item. | |
Enter (or Space) | Activate the selected ribbon button. | |
Down arrow | Open list for selected command. | |
Alt + Down arrow | Open menu for selected button. | |
Ctrl + F1 | Expand or collapse ribbon. | |
Shift + F10 | Open context menu. | |
Left arrow | Shift to submenu from main menu. | |
Ctrl + Left (or Right) arrow | Move between groups of controls. | |
Navigating Inside Cells | ||
Ctrl + Home | Ctrl + Home Ctrl + Fn + Left arrow | Move to beginning of worksheet. |
Shift + Tab | Move to the previous cell. | |
Up arrow | Up arrow | Move up one cell. |
Down arrow | Down arrow | Move down one cell. |
Left arrow | Left arrow | Move left one cell. |
Right arrow | Right arrow | Move right one cell. |
Ctrl + Arrow keys | Command + Arrow keys | Move to edge of data region. |
Ctrl + End | Ctrl + End Ctrl + Fn + Right arrow | Move to the last cell on the worksheet. |
Ctrl + Shift + End | Extend selected cells to last used cell. | |
Ctrl + Page down | Opt + Right arrow | Move to the next sheet in a worksheet. |
Ctrl + Page up | Opt + Left arrow | Move to the previous sheet in a worksheet. |
Page down | Page down Fn + Down arrow | Move one screen down in the worksheet. |
Alt + Page down | Opt + Page down Fn + Opt + Down arrow | Move one screen to the right in worksheet. |
Alt + Page up | Opt + Page up | Move one screen to the left in worksheet. |
Tab | Tab | Move between unlocked cells |
Ctrl + Alt + Equal sign | Zoom in. | |
Ctrl + Alt + Minus sign | Zoom out. | |
Formatting Cells Shortcuts | ||
Ctrl + 1 | Command + 1 | Open Format Cells dialog box. |
Ctrl + Shift + F | Format fonts in Format Cells dialog box. | |
Shift + F2 | Shift + F2 | Insert or open a note. |
Ctrl + Shift + F2 | Command + Shift + F2 | Insert or reply to a threaded comment. |
Ctrl + Shift + Plus sign | Insert blank cells. | |
Ctrl + Minus sign | Delete blank cells. | |
Ctrl + ; | Ctrl + ; | Enter current date. |
Ctrl + : | Command + ; | Enter current time. |
Ctrl + ‘ | Copy a formula from above cell to paste into selected cell. | |
Ctrl + L | Command + L | Align cell(s) left. |
Ctrl + E | Command + E | Align cell(s) center. |
Ctrl + X | Command + X | Cut selected cell(s). |
Ctrl + C | Command + C | Copy selected cell(s). |
Ctrl + V | Command + V | Paste selected cell(s). |
Ctrl + I | Command + I | Add or remove italics. |
Ctrl + B | Command + B | Add or remove bold. |
Ctrl + U | Command + U | Add or remove underline. |
Ctrl + 5 | Command + Shift + X | Add or remove strikethrough. |
Ctrl + Shift + & | Command + Opt + 0 | Add outline border to selected cell(s). |
Ctrl + Shift + _ | Command + Opt + Hyphen | Remove outline border to selected cell(s). |
Ctrl + D | Use the Fill Down command. | |
Ctrl + Shift + ~ | Ctrl + Shift + ~ | Apply General Number formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + $ | Ctrl + Shift + $ | Apply Currency formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + % | Ctrl + Shift + % | Apply Percentage formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Apply Scientific Number formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + # | Ctrl + Shift + # | Apply Date formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + @ | Ctrl + Shift + @ | Apply Time formatting. |
Ctrl + Shift + ! | Ctrl + Shift + ! | Apply Number formatting. |
Ctrl + K | Command + K | Open Insert Hyperlink dialog box. |
Ctrl + Y | Command + Y | Repeat the last command or action (if possible). |
Ctrl + Z | Command + Z | Undo last action. |
Data, Functions, & Formulas | ||
Ctrl + Shift + U | Ctrl + Shift + U | Expand or collapse formula bar. |
Esc | Esc | Cancel entry in the cell or formula bar. |
Enter | Complete entry in the formula bar and select cell below. | |
Ctrl + End | Move cursor to end of text in formula bar. | |
Ctrl + Shift + End | Select all text in formula bar from cursor position to end of bar. | |
Shift + F9 | Shift + F9 | Calculate active worksheet. |
F9 | F9 | Calculate all worksheets. |
Alt + Shift + F10 | Display message for Error Checking button. | |
Alt + = | Shift + Command + T | Insert the AutoSum formula. |
Ctrl + E | Ctrl + E | Invoke Flash Fill. |
Shift + F3 | Insert a function. | |
Alt + F11 | Create an embedded chart of the data in the current range. | |
F11 | F11 | Create a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet. |
Alt + F8 | Command + F11 | Create, run, edit, or delete a macro. |
Making Selections | ||
Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar | Select entire workbook. | |
Ctrl + Shift + Page down | Select current and next sheet. | |
Ctrl + Shift + Page up | Select current and previous sheet. | |
Shift + Arrow key | Shift + Arrow key | Extend selected cells by a single cell. |
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key | Shift + Command + Arrow key | Extend selection to end of nonblank cells in row or column. |
F8 | Turn on or off extend mode. | |
Alt + Enter | Start new line in same cell. | |
Ctrl + Enter | Fill the selected cell range with the current entry. | |
Ctrl + Spacebar | Ctrl + Spacebar | Select entire column in worksheet. |
Shift + Spacebar | Shift + Spacebar | Select entire row in a worksheet. |
Ctrl + Shift + Home | Ctrl + Shift + Fn + Left arrow key | Extend selection of cells to beginning of worksheet. |
Image credit: Unsplash
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