Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts
Excel rewards staying in the grid. These Windows shortcuts move through a sheet, extend selections, edit cells in place, format values, and turn a range into something you can sort or filter.
Excel pays you back for staying in the grid. Start with navigation and selection, then add cell editing, formatting, data actions, and ribbon keys when the worksheet turns into a real model.
Cell editing
Enter, cancel, repeat, and edit formulas or values without leaving the grid.
| Action | Windows |
|---|---|
| Edit the active cell | F2 |
| Start a new line inside the cell | AltEnter |
| Fill down from the cell above | CtrlD |
| Fill right from the cell to the left | CtrlR |
| Insert today's date | Ctrl; |
| Insert the current time | CtrlShift; |
| Repeat the last actionWhile editing a formula, F4 instead cycles a reference through absolute and relative forms. | F4 |
| Cancel the current cell entry | Esc |
| Remove the contents of selected cells | Delete |
| Insert a function | ShiftF3 |
Formatting
Apply number formats, borders, alignment, and other common presentation changes to the selection.
| Action | Windows |
|---|---|
| Open the Format Cells dialog | Ctrl1 |
| Apply the General number format | CtrlShift~ |
| Apply the Currency format | CtrlShift$ |
| Apply the Percentage format | CtrlShift% |
| Toggle showing formulas instead of results | Ctrl` |
| Apply bold formatting | CtrlB |
| Apply underline formatting | CtrlU |
| Apply italic formatting | CtrlI |
| Apply the date format | CtrlShift# |
| Apply the time format | CtrlShift@ |
| Apply an outline border | CtrlShift& |
Tables and data
Sort, filter, refresh, and work with structured ranges once the sheet becomes a dataset.
| Action | Windows |
|---|---|
| Create a table from the current range | CtrlT |
| Turn filter buttons on or off | CtrlShiftL |
| Insert a hyperlink | CtrlK |
| Insert a new worksheet | ShiftF11 |
| Hide the selected rowsCtrl+Shift+9 unhides them. | Ctrl9 |
| Hide the selected columns | Ctrl0 |
| Insert rows, columns, or cells | Ctrl+ |
| Delete selected rows, columns, or cells | Ctrl- |
| Refresh external data | AltF5 |
| Open the context menu | ShiftF10 |
Ribbon and functions
Jump to Excel's main tabs and reach formula, data, and layout commands through Key Tips.
| Action | Windows |
|---|---|
| Go to the Home tab | AltH |
| Go to the Insert tab | AltN |
| Go to the Page Layout tab | AltP |
| Go to the Data tab | AltA |
| Go to the View tab | AltW |
| Go to the Formulas tab | AltM |
| Insert an AutoSum formula | Alt= |
| Expand or collapse the formula bar | CtrlShiftU |
Make the useful keys stick
Excel gets less tiring when the worksheet stops pulling you back to the ribbon. Learn the movement and editing keys first, then add the data and formatting commands that match the kind of sheet you actually maintain.
You do not need this whole page in your head. Pick two shortcuts that remove a repeated hand movement, use them until they feel ordinary, and come back for the next pair.