Excel shortcut and function keys

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

Tip To keep this reference available when you work, you may want to print this topic. To
print this topic, press CTRL+P.

Note If an action that you use often does not have a shortcut key, you can record a macro to
create one.

In this article
 CTRL combination shortcut keys
 Function keys

 Other useful shortcut keys

CTRL combination shortcut keys

Key Description
CTRL+PgUp Switches between worksheet tabs, from left-to-right.
CTRL+PgDn Switches between worksheet tabs, from right-to-left.
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.
Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative
CTRL+SHIFT+$
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.
Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands
CTRL+SHIFT+!
separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values.
Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed
CTRL+SHIFT+* by blank rows and blank columns).
In a PivotTable, it selects the entire PivotTable report.
CTRL+SHIFT+: Enters the current time.
Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the
CTRL+SHIFT+"
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.
Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the
CTRL+'
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.
Alternates between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying
CTRL+6
placeholders for objects.

CTRL+8 Displays or hides the outline symbols.

CTRL+9 Hides the selected rows.
CTRL+0 Hides the selected columns.
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.
CTRL+A
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.
Copies the selected cells.
CTRL+C
CTRL+C followed by another CTRL+C displays the Clipboard.
Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the
CTRL+D
topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below.
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
CTRL+F action.

CTRL+SHIFT+F opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab
selected.
Displays the Go To dialog box.
CTRL+G
F5 also displays this dialog box.
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab
CTRL+H
selected.
CTRL+I Applies or removes italic formatting.
Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the
CTRL+K
Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks.
CTRL+N Creates a new, blank workbook.
 Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file.
CTRL+O
CTRL+SHIFT+O selects all cells that contain comments.
Displays the Print dialog box.
CTRL+P CTRL+SHIFT+P opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab
selected.
Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the
CTRL+R
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.
Applies or removes underlining.
CTRL+U CTRL+SHIFT+U switches between expanding and collapsing of the
formula bar.
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+V
CTRL+ALT+V displays the Paste Special dialog box. Available only
after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents on a
worksheet or in another program.
CTRL+W Closes the selected workbook window.
CTRL+X Cuts the selected cells.
CTRL+Y Repeats the last command or action, if possible.
Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the
last entry that you typed.
CTRL+Z CTRL+SHIFT+Z uses the Undo or Redo command to reverse or
restore the last automatic correction when AutoCorrect Smart Tags are
displayed.

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Function keys

Key Description
Displays the Microsoft Office Excel Help task pane.

CTRL+F1 displays or hides the Ribbon, a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user
interface.
F1
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.
Displays the Paste Name dialog box.
F3
SHIFT+F3 displays the Insert Function dialog box.
Repeats the last command or action, if possible.

When a cell reference or range is selected in a formula, F4 cycles through the various
F4
combinations of absolute and relative references.

CTRL+F4 closes the selected workbook window.

Displays the Go To dialog box.
F5
CTRL+F5 restores the window size of the selected workbook window.
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.
F6
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.
Displays the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet or selected
range.
F7 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.
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.
F8
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.
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

F9 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.

Creates a chart of the data in the current range.

SHIFT+F11 inserts a new worksheet.

F11
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.

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Other useful shortcut keys

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

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.

ARROW LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW selects the tab to the left or right when
KEYS 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.
Removes the cell contents (data and formulas) from selected cells without
DELETE affecting cell formats or comments.
In cell editing mode, it deletes the character to the right of the insertion point.
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
END
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.
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.
ENTER
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.

Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar.

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

ESC
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.
Moves one screen down in a worksheet.

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

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

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

workbook.
Moves one screen up in a worksheet.

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

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

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

workbook.
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.

SPACEBAR
 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.