⌃;
ExcelExcel Keyboard Shortcuts [Mac & Windows]
Complete Excel keyboard shortcuts for Mac and Windows. Navigation, formatting, formulas, data management, and pivot table shortcuts included.
Why Learn Excel Keyboard Shortcuts?
Microsoft Excel is used by hundreds of millions of people — from finance analysts to project managers to data scientists. Yet the vast majority of users spend time clicking through ribbons and menus for actions that have dedicated keyboard shortcuts. Learning Excel shortcuts is one of the fastest ways to boost your productivity with spreadsheets.
This guide covers essential shortcuts for both Mac and Windows, organized by workflow.
---
Navigation
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Move to edge of data region | Cmd + Arrow | Ctrl + Arrow |
| Go to cell A1 | Ctrl + Home | Ctrl + Home |
| Go to last used cell | Ctrl + End | Ctrl + End |
| Go to specific cell | Cmd + G or Ctrl + G | Ctrl + G or F5 |
| Move one screen down | Page Down | Page Down |
| Move one screen up | Page Up | Page Up |
| Move one screen right | Option + Page Down | Alt + Page Down |
| Move one screen left | Option + Page Up | Alt + Page Up |
| Next sheet | Ctrl + Page Down or Option + Right | Ctrl + Page Down |
| Previous sheet | Ctrl + Page Up or Option + Left | Ctrl + Page Up |
| Switch workbooks | Cmd + ~ | Ctrl + Tab |
---
Selection
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Select entire row | Shift + Space | Shift + Space |
| Select entire column | Ctrl + Space | Ctrl + Space |
| Select all cells | Cmd + A | Ctrl + A |
| Extend selection to edge | Cmd + Shift + Arrow | Ctrl + Shift + Arrow |
| Select to beginning | Cmd + Shift + Home | Ctrl + Shift + Home |
| Select to last used cell | Cmd + Shift + End | Ctrl + Shift + End |
| Add non-adjacent cells | Cmd + Click | Ctrl + Click |
| Select visible cells only | Cmd + Shift + Z | Alt + ; |
---
Editing
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Enter edit mode | F2 | F2 |
| Confirm entry | Enter | Enter |
| Cancel entry | Esc | Esc |
| Enter same data in multiple cells | Select cells > Type > Ctrl + Enter | Select cells > Type > Ctrl + Enter |
| Fill down | Cmd + D | Ctrl + D |
| Fill right | Cmd + R | Ctrl + R |
| Delete cell contents | Delete | Delete |
| Undo | Cmd + Z | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Cmd + Y | Ctrl + Y |
| Find | Cmd + F | Ctrl + F |
| Find and Replace | Cmd + H | Ctrl + H |
| Insert cells/rows/columns | Ctrl + Shift + + | Ctrl + Shift + + |
| Delete cells/rows/columns | Ctrl + - | Ctrl + - |
| Insert new sheet | Shift + F11 | Shift + F11 |
---
Formatting
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Cmd + B | Ctrl + B |
| Italic | Cmd + I | Ctrl + I |
| Underline | Cmd + U | Ctrl + U |
| Strikethrough | Cmd + Shift + X | Ctrl + 5 |
| Format Cells dialog | Cmd + 1 | Ctrl + 1 |
| General format | Ctrl + Shift + ~ | Ctrl + Shift + ~ |
| Currency format | Ctrl + Shift + $ | Ctrl + Shift + $ |
| Percentage format | Ctrl + Shift + % | Ctrl + Shift + % |
| Date format | Ctrl + Shift + # | Ctrl + Shift + # |
| Time format | Ctrl + Shift + @ | Ctrl + Shift + @ |
| Number format (2 decimals) | Ctrl + Shift + ! | Ctrl + Shift + ! |
| Add border | Cmd + Option + 0 | Ctrl + Shift + & |
| Remove borders | Cmd + Option + - | Ctrl + Shift + _ |
| Toggle gridlines | View > Gridlines | View > Gridlines |
---
Formulas
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Start formula | = | = |
| Toggle absolute/relative reference | F4 or Cmd + T | F4 |
| AutoSum | Cmd + Shift + T | Alt + = |
| Insert function | Shift + F3 | Shift + F3 |
| Show formulas | Ctrl + ~ | Ctrl + ~ |
| Calculate all sheets | Cmd + = | F9 |
| Calculate active sheet | Cmd + Shift + = | Shift + F9 |
| Enter array formula | Cmd + Shift + Enter | Ctrl + Shift + Enter |
| Name a range | Cmd + L or name box | Ctrl + F3 |
| Trace precedents | — | Alt + M, P |
| Trace dependents | — | Alt + M, D |
Essential Formula Reference
| Formula | Purpose |
|---|---|
=SUM(range) | Sum a range of cells |
=AVERAGE(range) | Average of a range |
=COUNT(range) | Count numeric values |
=COUNTA(range) | Count non-empty cells |
=IF(condition, true, false) | Conditional logic |
=VLOOKUP(value, table, col, match) | Vertical lookup |
=XLOOKUP(value, lookup, return) | Modern lookup (Excel 365) |
=INDEX(range, row, col) | Return value at position |
=MATCH(value, range, type) | Find position of value |
=CONCATENATE() or & | Join text |
=TEXT(value, format) | Format number as text |
---
Data Management
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Sort dialog | Data > Sort | Alt + A, S, S |
| Filter (toggle) | Cmd + Shift + F | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Group rows/columns | Cmd + Shift + K | Alt + Shift + Right |
| Ungroup | Cmd + Shift + J | Alt + Shift + Left |
| Create Table | Cmd + T | Ctrl + T |
| Remove duplicates | Data > Remove Duplicates | Data > Remove Duplicates |
| Data Validation | Data > Validation | Alt + A, V, V |
| Text to Columns | Data > Text to Columns | Alt + A, E |
| Flash Fill | Data > Flash Fill | Ctrl + E |
---
Pivot Tables
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Create Pivot Table | Insert > PivotTable | Alt + N, V |
| Refresh Pivot Table | Right-click > Refresh | Alt + F5 |
| Group items | Right-click > Group | Alt + Shift + Right |
| Ungroup items | Right-click > Ungroup | Alt + Shift + Left |
| Show/Hide Field List | — | Alt + J, T, L |
---
Workbook and File Shortcuts
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| New workbook | Cmd + N | Ctrl + N |
| Open workbook | Cmd + O | Ctrl + O |
| Save | Cmd + S | Ctrl + S |
| Save As | Cmd + Shift + S | F12 |
Cmd + P | Ctrl + P | |
| Close workbook | Cmd + W | Ctrl + W |
---
Top 10 Excel Shortcuts Everyone Should Know
- Ctrl/Cmd + Arrow — Jump to the edge of data. The fastest way to navigate large datasets.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Arrow — Select to the edge of data. Combined with the above, you can select thousands of cells in a second.
- F2 — Edit the active cell. Essential for modifying formulas.
- F4 / Cmd + T — Toggle absolute reference (
$A$1vsA1). Critical when writing formulas. - Ctrl/Cmd + 1 — Open Format Cells. The one-stop shop for all formatting.
- Ctrl + Enter — Fill multiple selected cells with the same entry.
- Ctrl/Cmd + D — Fill down. Copies the cell above into the selected range.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + L — Toggle filters on your data.
- Alt + = / Cmd + Shift + T — AutoSum. Instantly sums the column above.
- Ctrl/Cmd + Z — Undo. Saves you from mistakes constantly.
---
Tips for Learning Excel Shortcuts
- Focus on navigation first. Being able to move around quickly is the foundation for everything else.
- Print the top 10 list and place it near your screen.
- Avoid the mouse for one hour per day and force yourself to use shortcuts.
- Use a spaced-repetition trainer like Keyhab to drill shortcuts daily until they become second nature.
---
Conclusion
Excel keyboard shortcuts are a massive productivity multiplier for anyone who works with spreadsheets regularly. Start with navigation and selection shortcuts, then build up to formatting, formulas, and data management. Consistent practice — even 5 minutes a day — will make these shortcuts feel effortless within a few weeks.