Excel shortcut Keys (September 2023): 100+ Best Excel shortcuts that everyone should know

Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software has always been one of the most popular tools for consumers to stack data, analyze it, or even visualize it in different ways when it comes to data stacking. While Excel was introduced back in 1985 by the Microsoft Corporation, a large majority of its users are still unaware of the shortcut keys they can use to optimize and work more efficiently with the spreadsheets they work with. Here are the 20+ shortcut keys you must know while working with Excel.

Basic Shortcuts Keys for Excel

Starting up with the basic shortcuts which will help you to navigate,

• Using the CTRL + N keys on your keyboard, you can create a new notebook
• Use the CTRL + O, to open an existing workbook
• Use the CTRL + S, to save a workbook/spreadsheet
• Use the CTRL + W, to close the current workbook
• Use the CTRL + F4, to close the excel
• Use the CTRL + PageDown, to move to the next sheet
• Use the CTRL + PageUP, to move to the previous sheet
• Use Alt + A, to go to the data tab
• Use Alt + W, to go to the view tab
• Use Alt + M, to go to the formula tab

So, using the above shortcut keys, you can glide through the spreadsheet.

Cell editing shortcuts Keys for Excel

We are now going to delve into the shortcuts that can be used for cell formatting, such as aligning, adding a border, adding an outline, etc.

• Use the F2 key on your keyboard, to edit the cell
• Use the CTRL + C & CTRL + V, to copy and paste the cells
• Use the CTRL + I & CTRL + B, to italicize and make the fonts bold
• Use the Alt + H + A + C, to align cell content in the centre
• Use the Alt + H + H, to fill the cell with colour
• Use the Alt + H + B, to add a border to the cell
• Use the CTRL + Shift + _, to remove a border from the cell
• Use the CTRL + Shift + &, to add an outline to the selected cells
• Use the TAB, to move to the next cell
• Use the SHIFT + TAB, to move to the previous cell
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW, to select all the cells on the right
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW, to select all the cells on the left
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW, from the selected cell, to select the column until the end of the table
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + UP ARROW, to select all the cells above the selected cell

Also Read: Shotcut keys for Undo and Redo

Advanced Cell editing shortcuts Keys for Excel

It is fair to say, that you now know how to edit a cell using a shortcut, but if you want to go further than this, you can go ahead and try the following shortcut keys that will let you insert comments, search and replace, insert date, and even insert hyperlinks when pressing these shortcut keys.

• Use the SHIFT + F2 keys, to add a comment to the cell
• Use the SHIFT + F10 + D, to delete a comment from the cell
• Use the CTRL + H, to display find and replace
• Use the CTRL + ; , to insert the current date into the cell
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + : , to insert the current time into the cell
• Use the CTRL + K, to insert a hyperlink to the cell
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + $, to apply the currency format to the cell
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + %, to apply the percent format to the cell
• Use the ALT + Q, to go to the “tell me what you want to do” box

Rows and Column formatting shortcuts Keys for Excel

Once we have finished formatting individual cells, we can also format rows and columns, allowing them to be hidden, unhide, grouped, and ungrouped. In the part of the data where data needs are aligned, these shortcut keys will make it easier to find the data in a specific row or column.

• Use the SHIFT + SPACE keys, to select the entire row in the spreadsheet
• Use the CTRL + SPACE, to select the entire column in the spreadsheet
• Use the ALT + H + D + C, to delete a column
• Use the SHIFT + SPACE or CTRL + – , to delete a row from the spreadsheet
• Use the CTRL + 9, to hide the selected row
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + 9, to unhide the selected row
• Use the CTRL + 0, to hide the selected column
• Use the CTRL + SHIFT + 0, to unhide the selected column
• Use ALT + SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW, to group rows or columns in a spreadsheet
• Use ALT + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW, to ungroup rows or columns in a spreadsheet

Hopefully, now that you understand the shortcut keys for the individual cells, rows, and columns, you can integrate these shortcuts into your daily work, which will improve your efficiency while synchronizing your workflow.

Workbook Shortcut Keys

Cell Formatting Shortcut Keys

Row and Column Formatting Shortcut Keys

Pivot Table Shortcut Keys

Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigating in Cells 

Keyboard Shortcuts for working with Data, Functions, and the Formula bar