Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
Excel has a large collection of keyboard shortcuts that you can use to simplify your everyday tasks.
Below is a list of the ones I use every time I need to do a particular action. I will list them by order of frequency starting with the ones I use the most to the other ones I use occasionally. If you can commit to learn one or two per month then at the end of the year you will have mastered at least 15 new keyboard shortcuts. Way more that the average user!
Every Day Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Usage |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+S | Save workbook |
| Ctrl+W | Close workbook |
| Ctrl+S, W | Save and close workbook |
| Ctrl+N | Create a new workbook |
| Ctrl+Enter | Prevent active cell from moving down |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo |
| Ctrl+P | Print Preview |
| Ctrl+D | Copy the entry or formula above in the active cell |
| Shift+Arrow | Extend selection in the selected direction |
| Ctrl+Shift+Arrow | Select to the extremity in the selected direction |
| Ctrl+1 | Open the Format Cells dialog box |
| Alt+= | Execute the AutoSUM command |
| Alt+1 | Run first button in the Quick Access toolbar (Alt+2 for second, etc) |
| Ctrl+PgDn | Move to the next worksheet |
| Ctrl+PgUp | Move to the previous worksheet |
| Alt+PgDn | Move one full screen to the right |
| Alt+PgUp | Move one full screen to the left |
Every Other Day Shortcuts
Once you have committed to memory the keyboard shortcuts above, experiment with the ones below.
| Shortcut | Usage |
|---|---|
| Alt+Ctrl+V | Open Paste Special dialog box |
| Alt+Enter | Hard return (Enter) in a cell |
| Ctrl+F | Launch the Find command |
| Ctrl+H | Launch the Replace command |
| Ctrl+* | Select a region Note:to use the * above the 8 press Ctrl+Shift+8 |
| Ctrl+<Addition> Numeric keypad | Insert new row in worksheet or new cells in selection Make you selection with Ctrl+Shift+<arrow> before |
| Ctrl+<Subtraction> Numeric keypad | Delete row in worksheet or cells in selection Make you selection with Ctrl+Shift+<arrow> before |
| F12 | Open the SaveAs command |
| Ctrl+G or F5 | Open the Goto command then Alt+S for Special |
| F4 | Change the Reference to $A$1, A$1, $A1 then back to A1 |
| Ctrl+~ (Tilde) | Above the Tab key. Show/Hide formulas |
| Ctrl+T | Convert a list into an Excel Table |
| Ctrl+Shift+$ | Format selection as Currency |
| Ctrl+Shift+% | Format selection as Percentage |
If you find a use for one, use it otherwise save your memory for something else.