Excel shortcut and function keys

The following lists contain CTRL combination shortcut keys, function keys, and
some other common shortcut keys, along with descriptions of their functionality.

CTRL combination shortcut keys

Key Description

CTRL+SHIFT+( Unhides any hidden rows within the selection.

CTRL+SHIFT+) Unhides any hidden columns within the selection.

CTRL+SHIFT+& Applies the outline border to the selected cells.

CTRL+SHIFT_ Removes the outline border from the selected cells.

CTRL+SHIFT+~ Applies the General number format.

CTRL+SHIFT+$ Applies the Currency format with two decimal places

(negative numbers in parentheses).

CTRL+SHIFT+% Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places.

CTRL+SHIFT+^ Applies the Exponential number format with two decimal

places.

CTRL+SHIFT+# Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year.

CTRL+SHIFT+@ Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM
or PM.

CTRL+SHIFT+! Applies the Number format with two decimal places,

thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative
values.

CTRL+SHIFT+* Selects the current region around the active cell (the data
area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns).

In a PivotTable, it selects the entire PivotTable report.

CTRL+SHIFT+: Enters the current time.

CTRL+SHIFT+" Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into
 the cell or the Formula Bar.

CTRL+SHIFT+Plus Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells.

(+)

CTRL+Minus (-) Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells.

CTRL+; Enters the current date.

CTRL+` Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying

formulas in the worksheet.

CTRL+' Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into
the cell or the Formula Bar.

CTRL+1 Displays the Format Cells dialog box.

CTRL+2 Applies or removes bold formatting.

CTRL+3 Applies or removes italic formatting.

CTRL+4 Applies or removes underlining.

CTRL+5 Applies or removes strikethrough.

CTRL+6 Alternates between hiding objects, displaying objects, and

displaying placeholders for objects.

CTRL+8 Displays or hides the outline symbols.

CTRL+9 Hides the selected rows.

CTRL+0 Hides the selected columns.

CTRL+A Selects the entire worksheet.

If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the

current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the
current region and its summary rows. Pressing CTRL+A a
third time selects the entire worksheet.

When the insertion point is to the right of a function name

in a formula, displays the Function Arguments dialog
box.
 CTRL+SHIFT+A inserts the argument names and
parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a
function name in a formula.

CTRL+B Applies or removes bold formatting.

CTRL+C Copies the selected cells.

CTRL+C followed by another CTRL+C displays the

Clipboard.

CTRL+D Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and
format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the
cells below.

CTRL+F Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find
tab selected.

SHIFT+F5 also displays this tab, while SHIFT+F4 repeats

the last Find action.

CTRL+SHIFT+F opens the Format Cells dialog box with

the Font tab selected.

CTRL+G Displays the Go To dialog box.

F5 also displays this dialog box.

CTRL+H Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the
Replace tab selected.

CTRL+I Applies or removes italic formatting.

CTRL+K Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new

hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected
existing hyperlinks.

CTRL+N Creates a new, blank workbook.

CTRL+O Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file.

 CTRL+SHIFT+O selects all cells that contain comments.

CTRL+P Displays the Print dialog box.

CTRL+SHIFT+P opens the Format Cells dialog box with

the Font tab selected.

CTRL+R Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and
format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the
cells to the right.

CTRL+S Saves the active file with its current file name, location,
and file format.

CTRL+T Displays the Create Table dialog box.

CTRL+U Applies or removes underlining.

CTRL+SHIFT+U switches between expanding and

collapsing of the formula bar.

CTRL+V Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point

and replaces any selection. Available only after you have
cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents.

CTRL+W Closes the selected workbook window.

CTRL+X Cuts the selected cells.

CTRL+Y Repeats the last command or action, if possible.

CTRL+Z Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or

to delete the last entry that you typed.

CTRL+SHIFT+Z uses the Undo or Redo command to

reverse or restore the last automatic correction when
AutoCorrect Smart Tags are displayed.
Function keys

Key Description

F1 Displays the Microsoft Office Excel Help task pane.

CTRL+F1 displays or hides the ribbon.

ALT+F1 creates a chart of the data in the current range.

ALT+SHIFT+F1 inserts a new worksheet.

F2 Edits the active cell and positions the insertion point at the end of the cell
contents. It also moves the insertion point into the Formula Bar when
editing in a cell is turned off.

SHIFT+F2 adds or edits a cell comment.

CTRL+F2 displays the Print Preview window.

F3 Displays the Paste Name dialog box.

SHIFT+F3 displays the Insert Function dialog box.

F4 Repeats the last command or action, if possible.

CTRL+F4 closes the selected workbook window.

F5 Displays the Go To dialog box.

CTRL+F5 restores the window size of the selected workbook window.

F6 Switches between the worksheet, ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls.
In a worksheet that has been split (View menu, Manage This Window,
Freeze Panes, Split Window command), F6 includes the split panes
when switching between panes and the ribbon area.

SHIFT+F6 switches between the worksheet, Zoom controls, task pane,

and ribbon.

CTRL+F6 switches to the next workbook window when more than one
 workbook window is open.

F7 Displays the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet
or selected range.

CTRL+F7 performs the Move command on the workbook window when it

is not maximized. Use the arrow keys to move the window, and when
finished press ENTER, or ESC to cancel.

F8 Turns extend mode on or off. In extend mode, Extended Selection

appears in the status line, and the arrow keys extend the selection.

SHIFT+F8 enables you to add a nonadjacent cell or range to a selection

of cells by using the arrow keys.

CTRL+F8 performs the Size command (on the Control menu for the
workbook window) when a workbook is not maximized.

ALT+F8 displays the Macro dialog box to create, run, edit, or delete a
macro.

F9 Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks.

SHIFT+F9 calculates the active worksheet.

CTRL+ALT+F9 calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless

of whether they have changed since the last calculation.

CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+F9 rechecks dependent formulas, and then calculates

all cells in all open workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be
calculated.

CTRL+F9 minimizes a workbook window to an icon.

F10 Turns key tips on or off.

SHIFT+F10 displays the shortcut menu for a selected item.

ALT+SHIFT+F10 displays the menu or message for a smart tag. If more

than one smart tag is present, it switches to the next smart tag and
 displays its menu or message.

CTRL+F10 maximizes or restores the selected workbook window.

F11 Creates a chart of the data in the current range.

SHIFT+F11 inserts a new worksheet.

ALT+F11 opens the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, in which you can create
a macro by using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

F12 Displays the Save As dialog box.

Other useful shortcut keys

Key Description

ARROW Move one cell up, down, left, or right in a worksheet.

KEYS
CTRL+ARROW KEY moves to the edge of the current data region
in a worksheet.

SHIFT+ARROW KEY extends the selection of cells by one cell.

CTRL+SHIFT+ARROW KEY extends the selection of cells to the

last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, or
if the next cell is blank, extends the selection to the next nonblank
cell.

LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW selects the tab to the left or right
when the ribbon is selected. When a submenu is open or selected,
these arrow keys switch between the main menu and the
submenu. When a ribbon tab is selected, these keys navigate the
tab buttons.

DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW selects the next or previous

command when a menu or submenu is open. When a ribbon tab
is selected, these keys navigate up or down the tab group.

In a dialog box, arrow keys move between options in an open

 drop-down list, or between options in a group of options.

DOWN ARROW or ALT+DOWN ARROW opens a selected drop-

down list.

BACKSPACE Deletes one character to the left in the Formula Bar.

Also clears the content of the active cell.

In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the left of the

insertion point.

DELETE Removes the cell contents (data and formulas) from selected cells
without affecting cell formats or comments.

In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the right of the

insertion point.

END Moves to the cell in the lower-right corner of the window when
SCROLL LOCK is turned on.

Also selects the last command on the menu when a menu or

submenu is visible.

CTRL+END moves to the last cell on a worksheet, in the lowest

used row of the rightmost used column. If the cursor is in the
formula bar, CTRL+END moves the cursor to the end of the text.

CTRL+SHIFT+END extends the selection of cells to the last used

cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner). If the cursor is in the
formula bar, CTRL+SHIFT+END selects all text in the formula bar
from the cursor position to the end—this does not affect the
height of the formula bar.

ENTER Completes a cell entry from the cell or the Formula Bar, and
selects the cell below (by default).

In a data form, it moves to the first field in the next record.

Opens a selected menu (press F10 to activate the menu bar) or

 performs the action for a selected command.

In a dialog box, it performs the action for the default command

button in the dialog box (the button with the bold outline, often
the OK button).

ALT+ENTER starts a new line in the same cell.

CTRL+ENTER fills the selected cell range with the current entry.

SHIFT+ENTER completes a cell entry and selects the cell above.

ESC Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar.

Closes an open menu or submenu, dialog box, or message

window.

It also closes full screen mode when this mode has been applied,
and returns to normal screen mode to display the Ribbon and
status bar again.

HOME Moves to the beginning of a row in a worksheet.

Moves to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when

SCROLL LOCK is turned on.

Selects the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu

is visible.

CTRL+HOME moves to the beginning of a worksheet.

CTRL+SHIFT+HOME extends the selection of cells to the

beginning of the worksheet.

PAGE Moves one screen down in a worksheet.

DOWN
ALT+PAGE DOWN moves one screen to the right in a worksheet.

CTRL+PAGE DOWN moves to the next sheet in a workbook.

CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE DOWN selects the current and next sheet in

 a workbook.

PAGE UP Moves one screen up in a worksheet.

ALT+PAGE UP moves one screen to the left in a worksheet.

CTRL+PAGE UP moves to the previous sheet in a workbook.

CTRL+SHIFT+PAGE UP selects the current and previous sheet in

a workbook.

SPACEBAR In a dialog box, performs the action for the selected button, or
selects or clears a check box.

CTRL+SPACEBAR selects an entire column in a worksheet.

SHIFT+SPACEBAR selects an entire row in a worksheet.

CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR selects the entire worksheet.

If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR

selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR
a second time selects the current region and its summary
rows. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR a third time selects
the entire worksheet.

When an object is selected, CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR

selects all objects on a worksheet.

ALT+SPACEBAR displays the Control menu for the Microsoft

Office Excel window.

TAB Moves one cell to the right in a worksheet.

Moves between unlocked cells in a protected worksheet.

Moves to the next option or option group in a dialog box.

SHIFT+TAB moves to the previous cell in a worksheet or the

previous option in a dialog box.
CTRL+TAB switches to the next tab in dialog box.

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB switches to the previous tab in a dialog box.