Excel Shortcut Keys

Department of Management Studies,

JNN College of Engineering,
Shimoga –577204

JNNCE-MBA
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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

MS Excel Shortcut Keys

General MS Excel Shortcut Keys List

Let’s understand the general shortcuts you can use in Excel, like undo, redo, help, copy, cut,
paste, etc. We will also discuss the shortcut key for filters in Excel and some more frequently
used keyboard shortcuts.

Excel Shortcuts Description

Ctrl + Z To undo

Ctrl + Y To redo

Ctrl + C To copy

Ctrl+ X To cut

Ctrl + V To paste

F4 To repeat the last step

Ctrl + Alt + V Displaying the paste special dialogue box

Ctrl + F To find and replace

Ctrl + H To find and replace with the replace tab selected

Ctrl + Shift + F4 For finding the previous match

Alt + F1 Insert the embedded chart

F11 Insert a chart in a new sheet

Ctrl + Shift + L To toggle autofilter

Alt + Down arrow key To activate filter

Ctrl + T OR Ctrl + L For creating a table

Ctrl + A Select the full table

Ctrl + Space To select the table column

Shift + Space To select the table row

Alt + C To clear the slicer filter

F7 To run the spellcheck

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel Shortcuts Description

Shift + F7 To open the thesaurus

Alt + F8 To open the macro dialogue box

Alt + F11 To open the VBA editor

Ctrl + D To duplicate formula, object, text

Alt For snap to the grid

Ctrl + 6 To show or hide objects

Alt +’ To open the modify cell style dialogue box

Alt+ Space To display the control menu

Shift + F10 To show the right-click menu

Shortcut Keys for Rows and Columns

Let’s learn the shortcut keys to insert rows in Excel. Hiding, unhiding, grouping, and sorting the
rows are some of the operations you can do. We will also talk about the shortcut keys to delete
rows in Excel.

Excel Shortcuts For Rows and Columns Description

Ctrl + Shift +”=/+” or Ctrl+”+” To display the Insert dialog box

Shift+Spacebar For selecting the entire Row

Alt+I+R To add a new row

Ctrl + “+” To insert the selected columns

Ctrl + “-“ The dialog box for deleting

Ctrl + “-” Select rows to delete

Ctrl + “-“ For deleting the selected columns

Delete To delete the contents of the cells

Ctrl + 0 To hide the columns

Ctrl + 9 To hide the rows

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel Shortcuts For Rows and Columns Description

Ctrl + Shift + 9 To unhide the rows

Alt + Shift + Right arrow button For grouping columns or rows

Alt + Shift + Left arrow button For ungrouping columns or rows

Ctrl + 8 To show or hide the outline symbols

Shortcut Keys for Worksheet

Here are insert, rename, delete, move, and print preview shortcut keys in Excel.

Excel Shortcuts For

Worksheet Description

Alt + E, M Move a current worksheet

Alt+H, O, R Rename the current worksheet

Ctrl + Click Select the non-adjacent worksheets

Alt + P, R, C To clear the print area

Ctrl + Mouse Wheel Up To zoom in

Ctrl + F2 To open the print preview window|

ScrLk To toggle the scroll lock

Shift + F11 To insert a new worksheet

To move between the worksheet, task pane ribbon, and zoom

F6 OR Shift + F6 controls in a split worksheet

Ctrl + Shift +
PgUp/PgDn Select the adjacent worksheets

Ctrl + Mouse Wheel

Down To zoom out

Ctrl + P To print

Alt + R, P, S To protect the sheet

Alt + E, L Delete the current worksheet

Ctrl + PgDn To go to the next worksheet

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel Shortcuts For

Worksheet Description

Ctrl + Shift + F1 Toggle fullscreen

Alt + P, R ,S To set the print area

Ctrl + PgUp Go to the previous worksheet

Shortcut Keys for Workbook

Here are the most commonly used shortcut keys for opening a new workbook and saving a
workbook in Excel. It includes creating, opening, saving, and exit shortcuts in Excel.

Excel Shortcuts For Workbook Description

Ctrl + Shift + Tab Go to the previous workbook

Ctrl + Tab Go to the next workbook

F12 Save as

Alt + R, P, W Protect the workbook

Ctrl + N To create a new workbook

Ctrl + S To save the workbook

Alt + F4 To close the excel

Ctrl + F4 To close the current workbook

Ctrl + F9 Minimize the current workbook window

Ctrl + F10 Maximize the current workbook window

Ctrl + O To open a workbook

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Keys for Cell Edit Mode

Cell edit mode is a mode in which you can edit data in cells. You can enter data in Excel cells with
the help of shortcut keys. You can also copy, cut, and paste data in Excel cells with the use of
shortcut keys. Some of the shortcut keys for cell edit mode are as follows.

Excel Shortcuts For Cell Edit Mode Description

Ctrl + Delete Delete the end of the line

Esc To cancel editing

Shift + F10, M To delete comment

Backspace Delete the character to the left of the cursor

Delete Delete the character to the right of the cursor

Shift + End Select the end of the cell

Shift + Right arrow key To select the right character

F2 To edit the active cell

Ctrl + Right arrow key To move one word toward the right

Shift + Left arrow key To select the left character

Ctrl + Shift + Lest arrow key To select the left word

Alt+ Enter To begin a new line in the same cell

Shift + Home Select the beginning of the cell

Ctrl + Left arrow key To move one word left

Shift + F2 To edit or insert the comment

Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow key Select the right word

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Keys for Drag and Drop

Mouse dragging and dropping is a very useful feature in Excel. It helps in easy data manipulation
where you can move data between sheets and workbooks. Some of the shortcut keys for drag and
drop are as follows.

Excel Shortcuts For Drag and Drop Description

Ctrl + Shift + Drag To drag and insert copy

Drag To drag and cut

Shift + Drag To drag and insert

Alt + Drag To drag to the worksheet

Ctrl + Drag To drag and copy

Ctrl + Drag To drag to the duplicate worksheet

Shortcut Keys for Entering Data

You can use the following shortcut keys to enter data in Excel cells. We will discuss various
shortcut keys like the shortcut key for the date in Excel, shortcut keys to move data, etc. in the table
given below.

Excel Shortcuts For Entering Data Description

Tab To enter data and move it to the right

Ctrl + D To duplicate the data from the cell above

Enter To enter the same data in multiple cells

Ctrl + R To fill the selected cell with active cells to the right

Ctrl + K To insert a hyperlink

Ctrl + Shift + “ To copy the value from the cell above

Ctrl + E To flash fill

Ctrl + ‘ To copy the formula from the cell above

Shift + Enter To enter the data and move up

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel Shortcuts For Entering Data Description

Alt + Down arrow key To display the autocomplete list

Ctrl + ; To insert the current date

Ctrl + Enter To enter the data and stay in the same cell

Shift + Tab To enter the data and move left

Enter To enter the data and move down

Ctrl + Shift + : To insert the current time

Excel Formulas Shortcut Keys

Formulas help with quick calculation and manipulation of data. Some of the MS Excel shortcut
keys for formulas are mentioned below.

Excel Formulas Shortcut Keys Description

Ctrl + F3 To open the name manager

F4 To switch between the absolute & relative references

To switch between displaying formulas and their

Ctrl + ` results from the keyboard

Alt + = To auto sum

Tab To accept the function with autocomplete

= OR + To begin entering the formula

F3 To paste the name into the formula

F9 To calculate the worksheets

Ctrl + Shift + U To expand or collapse the formula bar

Ctrl + Shift + A To insert the function arguments

Ctrl + A To open the Insert function dialogue box

Shift + F9 To calculate the active worksheet

F9 To evaluate the part of a formula

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

Excel Formulas Shortcut Keys Description

To force Excel to recalculate absolutely all formulas

in all open workbooks, even those that have not been
Shift + F3 changed

Ctrl + Shift + Enter To enter the array formula

To forces Excel to recalculate absolutely all formulas

in all open workbooks, even those that have not been
Ctrl + Alt + F9 changed

Ctrl + Shift + F3 To create the name from values in rows/columns

Pivot Table Shortcut Keys

Pivot tables are useful for analyzing large data sets. They help in aggregating and summarizing
data. In this section, we will discuss some advanced Excel shortcut keys for pivot tables.

Pivot Table Shortcut Key Description

Ctrl + A To select the entire pivot table

Alt + N, S, Z, C To insert the pivot chart

Alt + Shift + Left arrow key To ungroup the pivot table items

Alt + Shift + Right arrow key To group the pivot table items

Alt + N, V To create the pivot table

Alt + H, S, C To unhide the pivot table item

Ctrl + – To hide the pivot table item

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

FAQs
1. What is Ctrl Q?

Ctrl Q is the shortcut key for “Close Workbook” in Microsoft Excel.

2. What is the function of F1 to F12 keys in Excel?

Function keys in Excel enable you to perform tasks using only your keyboard.

F1: Activates Excel’s built-in help feature.

F2: Takes the cursor to the end of whatever content is in the currently selected cell.
F3: Opens the Paste Name dialogue box.
F4: Allows the user to toggle through all 4 types of cell references.
F5: Brings up the Go To dialogue box.
F6: Moves you to the next pane in a split worksheet.
F7: Opens the Spelling dialog box, which can also be accessed by selecting the ‘Spelling’ option
on the Review tab.
F8: Switches on/off Extend mode.
F9: Calculates the data for all open workbooks.
F10: Shows the key tips (the same as pressing ALT).
F11: Generates a chart sheet of a selected range of data.
F12: Opens up the “Save As” dialog box.

3. Why do we need Excel shortcuts?

Excel shortcuts can help save time by allowing users to quickly access and use commonly used
functions.

4. What are the basic shortcut keys?

The basic shortcut keys for Microsoft Excel are CTRL+C to copy, CTRL+V to paste, and
CTRL+S to save.

5. How do you reset shortcut keys in Excel?

To reset shortcut keys in Excel, follow the given steps.

* Open up Microsoft Excel on your PC.
* Go to the program menu at the top of the window and click “Tools”, then select “Customize”
from the drop-down list.

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MS-Excel Shortcut Keys

* When the new window pops up, press the tab labeled “Commands”.
* Click on ‘Rearrange Commands’ to view a selection of command menus currently used by you.
Choose which one needs resetting by clicking it once.
* At last, hit the Reset button for changing its shortcut keys back into default values.

6. How do I fix keyboard shortcuts in Excel?

If the shortcuts for your keyboards media keys in Excel don’t seem to be responding, you can use
the Fn key to fix it. As an example, if pressing Shift + F11 to enable Insert New Worksheet is not
working properly, it likely means that your media keys are set up as primary. To fix this issue and
get back on track with using shortcuts accurately, press Shift + Fn + F11, and everything should
start functioning how it’s supposed to again.

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