Learn Excel Keyboard Shortcut in Infographic

Who does not like to be quick when it comes to using technology!! No matter how much you know excel functions and tools, but I am sure that you would certainly like to increase your excel speed. This is when Excel Keyboard Shortcut comes like a life-saver for you.

In this section, we would go through all the Control (Ctrl), Alter (Alt), Shift, and Control Shift (Ctrl + Shift) keyboard excel shortcuts.

Control (Ctrl) Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl Keyboard Shorcuts
#Keyboard ShortcutDescriptionExplanation
1Ctrl + F3Define NameThis shortcut opens the ‘Name Manager’ dialog box where you can define a name for a cell or cell range in Excel
2Ctrl + F4Close WindowThis shortcut key combination closes the active workbook visible on the screen at that point in time
3Ctrl + F5Restore SizeIf the Excel workbook is not in maximum size and you make it maximum. Now, if you press Ctrl + F5, it will restore the size from maximum to the previous one
4Ctrl + F6Next WorkbookOn using this keyboard shortcut combinations, the excel would activate the next open workbook
5Ctrl + F7Move WindowWhen the excel workbook is minimized, just press Ctrl + F7, and then use the arrow keys to move the workbook window left, right, up and down.  
6Ctrl + F8Resize WindowWhen your workbook is not in maximum size, just press Ctrl + F8 and use the arrow keys (left, right, up, and down) to resize the borders of the workbook.
7Ctrl + F9Minimize WindowUsing Ctrl + F9 keyboard shortcut key would Minimize the active excel workbook window
8Ctrl + F10Maximum WindowUsing Ctrl + F10 keyboard shortcut key would maximize the active workbook window. If already maximized, then it would restore it down (reduce the size)
9Ctrl + F12Open FileThis keyboard shortcut opens the ‘Open’ dialog box, from where you can choose the file that you want to open.  
10Ctrl + `Show/Hide FormulaUsing this keyboard shortcut would show the formula in the cell (instead of the calculated result).   If the formulas are already visible, then this keyboard shortcut would hide them (i.e. it would show calculated results now)  
11Ctrl + 1Format Cells Dialog BoxThis keyboard shortcut opens the Format Cells dialog box where there are multiple options to format the selected cell.  
12Ctrl + 2BoldThis keyboard shortcut bolds the content in the selected cell.  
13Ctrl + 3ItalicsThis keyboard shortcut italicizes the content in the selected cell.  
14Ctrl + 4UnderlineThis keyboard shortcut underlines the text in the selected cells.  
15Ctrl + 5StrikeThis keyboard shortcut strikes the text (i.e. cuts the text from the middle) in the selected cell.  
16Ctrl + 6Show/Hide ObjectWhen there is any object embedded in the worksheet, this keyboard shortcut would show or hide the object.  
17Ctrl + 7Show/Hide Toolbar   –
18Ctrl + 9Show RowIf a row is hidden, then press Ctrl key along with 9 will show the hidden row.  
19Ctrl + 10Show ColumnIf a column is hidden, then press Ctrl key along with 10 will show the hidden column.  
20Ctrl + TabNext WorkbookIf two or more workbooks are open, then using Ctrl + Tab would display the next workbook on the screen.  
21Ctrl + WClose WorkbookThis keyboard shortcut would close the active workbook on the screen
22Ctrl + RFill RightWhen you select the range of cells and press Ctrl + R, excel would copy value of the leftmost cell to the other cells on the right.  
23Ctrl + YRe DoThis keyboard shortcut would redo the undo task.  
24Ctrl + UUnderlineThis keyboard shortcut underlines the text in the selected cells.  
25Ctrl + IItalicsThis keyboard shortcut italicizes the content in the selected cell.  
26Ctrl + OOpen FileThis keyboard shortcut opens the ‘Open’ dialog box, from where you can choose the file that you want to open.  
27Ctrl + PPrintThis keyboard shortcut opens the Print feature in Excel, from where you can control the print settings.  
28Ctrl + ASelect AllIf there is data in the worksheet, using Ctrl + A will select the current region. If there is no data in the worksheet, then Ctrl + A will select all the cells in the worksheet.  
29Ctrl + SSaveIf worksheet is a new book, then using this keyboard shortcut would open ‘Save As’ dialog box. If it is already saved in the drive, then this keyboard shortcut would save the changes.  
30Ctrl + DFill DownWhen you select range of cells and press Ctrl + D, excel would copy value of the topmost cell to the other cells below it. It also copies the formula from the above cells.  
31Ctrl + FFindThis keyboard shortcut opens the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog to find a particular value in the selected cell range.  
32Ctrl + GGo ToThis keyboard shortcut opens the ‘Go To’ dialog box.  
33Ctrl + HReplaceThis keyboard shortcut opens the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog to find and replace the value in the selected cell range.  
34Ctrl + KHyperlinkThis keyboard shortcut open ‘Hyperlink’ dialog box.  
35Ctrl + ;Insert Current Date This keyboard shortcut inserts today’s date in the selected cell.  
36Ctrl + ‘Copy Above FormulaThis keyboard shortcut exactly copies the formula above cell and pastes it in the selected cell, without changing the cell references.  
37Ctrl + EnterFill Selected Cell With Current ValueSelect the range of cells, write something and press Ctrl + Enter (not Enter). This would insert the text in all the selected cells at one time.  
38Ctrl + ZUn DoThis keyboard shortcut would undo the task.  
39Ctrl + XCutThis shortcut key combination would cut the selected cell. You can paste the cut cell using Ctrl + V at some other location.  
40Ctrl + CCopyThis shortcut key combination would copy the selected cell. You can paste the copied cell using Ctrl + V at some other location.  
41Ctrl + VPasteUse this keyboard to paste the cut / copied cell.  
42Ctrl + BBoldThis keyboard shortcut bolds the content in the selected cell.  
43Ctrl + NNew WorkbookUsing Ctrl + N would open a new book on the screen.  
44Ctrl + SpaceSelect Entire ColumnClick on the cell and press Ctrl + Space key combinations to select the entire column.  
45Ctrl + Pg UpPrevious SheetUsing the Ctrl + Page Up keyboard combinations, you could toggle to the previous excel worksheet.  
46Ctrl + Pg DownNext SheetUsing the Ctrl + Page Down keyboard combinations, you could toggle to the next excel worksheet.  
47Ctrl + –Delete Row/ColumnSelect the row or column and use the keyboard combinations Ctrl + – (minus) to delete the selected row(s) or columns(s).  
48Ctrl + +Insert Row/ColumnSelect the row or column and use the keyboard combinations Ctrl + + (plus) to insert a new row(s) or columns(s) at selected location.  

Alter (Alt) Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt Keyboard Shortcuts
#Keyboard ShortcutDescriptionExplanation
1Alt + F1Insert ChartSelect the table and use keyboard shortcut Alt + F1 to create a default bar chart.  
2Alt + F2Save AsUse keyboard shortcut Alt + F2 to open the Save As dialog box in Excel  
3Alt + F4Exit Excel WorkbookOn using Alt + F4 keyboard shortcut combinations, the excel workbook would close. It would firstly ask you to save the file if it is not already saved.  
4Alt + F8Macro Dialog BoxThis keyboard shortcut would open the Macro Dialog box from where you can select and run the existing macros in the workbook and / or create a new one.  
5Alt + F11Visual Basic EditorAlt + F11 keyboard combination opens the Visual Basic Editor window.  
6Alt + =Auto SumWhen you have range of numbers in consecutive cells, and you want to find sum of those values, simply select the cell just below the number range and use Alt + = (Equal) to do AutoSum of numbers.  
7Alt + ;Select Visible CellsWhen there are hidden or filtered row/columns in our excel file, you can select only the visible cells by using Alt + ; (semi-colon) keyboard shortcut.  
8Alt + ‘Format Style Dialog BoxThe keyboard shortcut Alt + ‘ (single quote) will open the style dialog box showing the format for the selected cell.
9Alt + EStart New Line in CellWhile your cell is in edit mode (F2), and you press Alt + E keyboard shortcut, the cursor would move to the next line in the same cell.  

Shift Keyboard Shortcuts

Shift Keyboard Shortcuts
#Keyboard ShortcutDescriptionExplanation
1Shift + F2Edit Cell CommentSelect the cell which contains comments and use keyboard shortcut Shift + F2 to open the comment box in edit mode.  
2Shift + F3Open Function ArgumentType any function with open and closed parenthesis like =VLOOKUP() and then use Shift + F3 to open the Function Argument dialog box.
3Shift + F4Find NextIf find a text in the worksheet and close the Find and Replace window. You can still find the next instance of the word using the keyboard shortcut Shift + F4.  
4Shift + F5FindShift + F5 keyboard shortcut works like the Ctrl + F. Both these keyboard shortcuts are used to open the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog box.  
5Shift + F8Add or Remove cell to selectionShift + F8 keyboard shortcut is an alternate way to select multiple cells. Select the cell, then use Shift + F8 and now simply go on clicking other cells to add them to selection.  
6Shift + F9Calculate Active SheetWhen you have activated manual formula calculation, use Shift + F9 to recalculate the formulas in active sheet.  
7Shift + F10Right Click OptionsThis keyboard shortcut is the same as you right-click on your mouse. Simply, select the cell and press Shift + F10 to open the available right-click options.  
8Shift + F11Add New WorksheetUse Shift + F11 to add a new worksheet to the left of the active worksheet.  
9Shift + F12SaveUse this keyboard shortcut to save the active workbook.  
10Shift + Back SpaceSelect Active Cell in Multiple Selected CellsWhen there are multiple selected cells in excel worksheet, using Shift + Back Space would unselect all the other cells and select only the active cell.  
11Shift + Space BarSelect Entire RowUse the Shift + Space Bar keyboard shortcut combination to select the entire row for the active cell.  

Control + Shift Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl+Shift Keyboard Shortcuts
#Keyboard ShortcutDescriptionExplanation
1Ctrl + Shift + F3Create NameOn using this keyboard shortcut keys you can create a name from the selection.  
2Ctrl + Shift + F6Previous Workbook WindowWhen there are two or more workbooks open, use Ctrl + Shift + F6 keyboard shortcut to toggle to the previous active workbook.  
3Ctrl + Shift + F12PrintThis excel keyboard shortcut works like Ctrl + P. It opens the Excel Printing settings used to manage worksheet printing.  
4Ctrl + Shift + `General FormatThis keyboard combination changes the formatting of the selected cell to the ‘General’ format.  
5Ctrl + Shift + 1Comma Number FormatSelect the cell containing numbers and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 1 to change the cell formatting to a comma separated number format.  
6Ctrl + Shift + 2Time FormatThis keyboard shortcut changes the cell formatting to the format of the system ‘Time’.  
7Ctrl + Shift + 3Date FormatThis keyboard shortcut changes the cell formatting to the format of the system ‘Date’.  
8Ctrl + Shift + 4Currency FormatThis keyboard shortcut changes the cell formatting to the ‘Currency’ format. This means, it would prefix the number with the currency.  
9Ctrl + Shift + 5Percentage FormatThis keyboard shortcut converts the number in the selected cell into percentage (i.e. it suffixes the number percentage symbol %).  
10Ctrl + Shift + 6Exponential FormatThe exponential format is generally used for scientific calculations. The keyboard shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + 6 would convert the cell format into Exponential. For example, 15000 would be displayed as 1.50E+04.  
11Ctrl + Shift + 7Outline Cell BorderThe excel keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + 7 makes an outside border around the selected cells.  
12Ctrl + Shift + 8Select Current RegionThis perform the same function as – Ctrl + A (selecting the entire current region). Select any cell in the dataset or table and use Ctrl + Shift + 8 to select the dataset/table.  
13Ctrl + Shift + 9Unhide RowThis keyboard shortcut unhide the hidden rows that comes within the selection range.  
14Ctrl + Shift + 0Unhide ColumnThis excel keyboard shortcut unhide the hidden columns that come within the selected range.  
15Ctrl + Shift + –Remove Outline BordersThis is an opposite of the Ctrl + Shift + 7. This keyboard shortcut removes the outline borders around the selected cells/range.  
16Ctrl + Shift + TabPrevious WorkbookThis keyboard shortcut takes us to the previous open workbook.  
17Ctrl + Shift + OSelect Comment CellsUse this keyboard shortcut to select all the cells that contains comments in it.  
18Ctrl + Shift + AInsert Formula ArgumentThis excel keyboard shortcut is used to insert the text of the arguments of a formula. For Example – Type =VLOOKUP( and then simply press Ctrl + Shift + A on your keyboard. As a result, excel would write all the argument’s text after the open round bracket.  
19Ctrl + Shift + FFont Tab in Format CellsThis keyboard shortcut opens the Format Cells dialog box and activates the ‘Font’ tab in it.  
20Ctrl + Shift + LInsert Auto FilterUse keyboard shortcut combination Ctrl + Shift + L on your keyboard to insert auto filter down arrow symbols on the table headers.  
21Ctrl + Shift + ;Insert Current TimeThis keyboard combination inserts the current system’s time in the selected cell.  
22Ctrl + Shift + ‘Copy above cell valueThis keyboard shortcut works as Ctrl + D. It copies the value in the above cell. However, unlike Ctrl + D, it does not copy the formula.  
23Ctrl + Shift + SpaceCopy all cells in worksheetThis keyboard shortcut selects all the cells in the active worksheet in the workbook.  

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