Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used for data analysis, financial modeling, and much more. While Excel’s vast array of features can be accessed via menus, knowing keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow. This guide categorizes and explains essential MS Excel keyboard shortcuts, providing tips and tricks to help you remember them easily.
This table lists the most frequently used shortcuts in Excel.
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Close a workbook. | Ctrl+W |
| Open a workbook. | Ctrl+O |
| Go to the Home tab. | Alt+H |
| Save a workbook. | Ctrl+S |
| Copy selection. | Ctrl+C |
| Paste selection. | Ctrl+V |
| Undo recent action. | Ctrl+Z |
| Remove cell contents. | Delete |
| Choose a fill color. | Alt+H, H |
| Cut selection. | Ctrl+X |
| Go to the Insert tab. | Alt+N |
| Apply bold formatting. | Ctrl+B |
| Center align cell contents. | Alt+H, A, C |
| Go to the Page Layout tab. | Alt+P |
| Go to the Data tab. | Alt+A |
| Go to the View tab. | Alt+W |
| Open the context menu. | Shift+F10 orWindows Menu key |
| Add borders. | Alt+H, B |
| Delete column. | Alt+H, D, C |
| Go to the Formula tab. | Alt+M |
| Hide the selected rows. | Ctrl+9 |
| Hide the selected columns. | Ctrl+0 |
1. General Shortcuts
New Workbook: Ctrl + N
Open Workbook: Ctrl + O
Save Workbook: Ctrl + S
Close Workbook: Ctrl + W
Print: Ctrl + P
Undo: Ctrl + Z
Redo: Ctrl + Y
Cut: Ctrl + X
Copy: Ctrl + C
Paste: Ctrl + V
2. Navigation Shortcuts
Move to Next Cell: Tab
Move to Previous Cell: Shift + Tab
Move to Next Row: Enter
Move to Previous Row: Shift + Enter
Go to Specific Cell: Ctrl + G or F5
Move to Beginning of Row: Home
Move to End of Row: End
Move to Beginning of Worksheet: Ctrl + Home
Move to End of Worksheet: Ctrl + End
3. Formatting Shortcuts
Bold: Ctrl + B
Italic: Ctrl + I
Underline: Ctrl + U
Open Format Cells Dialog Box: Ctrl + 1
Add Border: Ctrl + Shift + &
Remove Border: Ctrl + Shift + _
Format as Currency: Ctrl + Shift + $
Format as Percentage: Ctrl + Shift + %
Format as Number: Ctrl + Shift + !
4. Selection Shortcuts
Select Entire Row: Shift + Space
Select Entire Column: Ctrl + Space
Select Entire Worksheet: Ctrl + A or Ctrl + Shift + Space
Select Data Region: Ctrl + Shift + *
Select from Current Cell to End of Data: Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key
5. Formula Shortcuts
Start a Formula: =
Insert Function: Shift + F3
Toggle Absolute and Relative References: F4
Calculate All Worksheets: F9
Calculate Active Worksheet: Shift + F9
Insert Autosum Formula: Alt + =
Show Formulas in Cells: Ctrl + (grave accent)
6. Editing Shortcuts
Edit Active Cell: F2
Clear Contents of Selected Cells: Delete
Delete Cell/Row/Column: Ctrl + –
Insert Cell/Row/Column: Ctrl + +
Find: Ctrl + F
Replace: Ctrl + H
Insert Comment: Shift + F2
Important Notes and Tips for Remembering Shortcuts
- Customization: You can customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel through the Options menu.
- Practice: Regular practice is key to mastering these shortcuts. Try incorporating one new shortcut into your daily routine until it becomes second nature.
Mastering MS Excel Keyboard Shortcuts: The Ultimate Guide
Introduction
Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool used for data analysis, financial modeling, and much more. While Excel’s vast array of features can be accessed via menus, knowing keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up your workflow. This guide categorizes and explains essential MS Excel keyboard shortcuts, providing tips and tricks to help you remember them easily.
Categories of Keyboard Shortcuts
1. General Shortcuts
- New Workbook:
Ctrl + N - Open Workbook:
Ctrl + O - Save Workbook:
Ctrl + S - Close Workbook:
Ctrl + W - Print:
Ctrl + P - Undo:
Ctrl + Z - Redo:
Ctrl + Y - Cut:
Ctrl + X - Copy:
Ctrl + C - Paste:
Ctrl + V
2. Navigation Shortcuts
- Move to Next Cell:
Tab - Move to Previous Cell:
Shift + Tab - Move to Next Row:
Enter - Move to Previous Row:
Shift + Enter - Go to Specific Cell:
Ctrl + GorF5 - Move to Beginning of Row:
Home - Move to End of Row:
End - Move to Beginning of Worksheet:
Ctrl + Home - Move to End of Worksheet:
Ctrl + End
3. Formatting Shortcuts
- Bold:
Ctrl + B - Italic:
Ctrl + I - Underline:
Ctrl + U - Open Format Cells Dialog Box:
Ctrl + 1 - Add Border:
Ctrl + Shift + & - Remove Border:
Ctrl + Shift + _ - Format as Currency:
Ctrl + Shift + $ - Format as Percentage:
Ctrl + Shift + % - Format as Number:
Ctrl + Shift + !
4. Selection Shortcuts
- Select Entire Row:
Shift + Space - Select Entire Column:
Ctrl + Space - Select Entire Worksheet:
Ctrl + AorCtrl + Shift + Space - Select Data Region:
Ctrl + Shift + * - Select from Current Cell to End of Data:
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key
5. Formula Shortcuts
- Start a Formula:
= - Insert Function:
Shift + F3 - Toggle Absolute and Relative References:
F4 - Calculate All Worksheets:
F9 - Calculate Active Worksheet:
Shift + F9 - Insert Autosum Formula:
Alt + = - Show Formulas in Cells:
Ctrl +(grave accent)
6. Editing Shortcuts
- Edit Active Cell:
F2 - Clear Contents of Selected Cells:
Delete - Delete Cell/Row/Column:
Ctrl + - - Insert Cell/Row/Column:
Ctrl + + - Find:
Ctrl + F - Replace:
Ctrl + H - Insert Comment:
Shift + F2
Important Notes and Tips for Remembering Shortcuts
Notes:
- Customization: You can customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel through the Options menu.
- Practice: Regular practice is key to mastering these shortcuts. Try incorporating one new shortcut into your daily routine until it becomes second nature.
MS Excel Tips and Tricks:
- Mnemonics: Create simple mnemonic devices to remember shortcuts. For instance, Ctrl + S for “Save” can be remembered as “S for Save”.
- Group Practice: Focus on one category of shortcuts at a time. For example, spend a week mastering navigation shortcuts before moving on to formatting shortcuts.
- Sticky Notes: Use sticky notes on your monitor with a few shortcuts you’re trying to learn.
- Flashcards: Create flashcards with the shortcut on one side and its function on the other to test yourself.
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