Keyboard shortcuts

Work faster without the mouse

Short, hands-on lessons in a real sheet. Each task is checked as you press the keys, so you build the habit, not just the knowledge.

0 of 46 tasks done

Start: Intro to shortcuts

Intro to shortcutsWhy shortcuts matter, and the three you’ll use every day.0/3 tasks Arrow keysMove around without the mouse, and jump to the edge of your data.0/4 tasks Cell selectionHold Shift to select as you move.0/4 tasks Larger selectionsCombine shortcuts to grab whole blocks of data.0/3 tasks Row and column selectionSelect entire rows and columns from the keyboard.0/3 tasks Text formattingBold, italic and underline in a keystroke.0/3 tasks Number formattingCurrency, percentages, dates and plain numbers without menus.0/4 tasks Cut, copy, pasteCopy, move and fill without right-clicking.0/3 tasks Data shortcutsFilters, editing and absolute references.0/5 tasks Find and go toFind any value, replace it everywhere, and jump straight to a cell.0/4 tasks Hide, borders and notesHide rows and columns, draw borders and leave notes, all from the keyboard.0/5 tasks Power keysFormat Cells, line breaks, Flash Fill, links and Insert Function.0/5 tasks

Cheat sheet

* Some browsers and computers keep Ctrl+number and Ctrl+PageUp/PageDown for themselves. If one doesn’t work, use the right-click menu (Format cells…, Hide & unhide) or the sheet tabs instead. On a Mac, use ⌘ where you see Ctrl.

Move around

↓: Move one cell
Ctrl↓: Jump to the edge of the data
Home: Start of the row
CtrlHome: Go to A1
CtrlEnd: Last cell with data
Enter: Move down (Shift+Enter: up)
Tab: Move right (Shift+Tab: left)
PageDown: Down one screen
CtrlG: Go To a cell or range (F5 too)
CtrlBackspace: Scroll back to the active cell
CtrlPageDown: Next sheet (Ctrl+PageUp: previous)*

Select

Shift↓: Extend the selection
CtrlShift↓: Extend to the edge of the data
CtrlA: Select the data (press again: everything)
CtrlShiftSpace: Select the data around the cell
ShiftHome: Extend to the start of the row
CtrlShiftHome: Extend to A1
CtrlShiftEnd: Extend to the last cell with data
ShiftSpace: Select the row
CtrlSpace: Select the column

Find

CtrlF: Find (wildcards * and ? work)
CtrlH: Find and replace

Enter and edit

F2: Edit the cell
F4: Toggle $ in a reference (while typing)
AltEnter: New line inside a cell (while typing)
Alt=: AutoSum
Ctrl;: Today’s date
CtrlShift:: The time now
Ctrl': Copy the formula from the cell above
CtrlShift": Copy the value from the cell above
CtrlEnter: Fill the selection with what you typed (Playground)
Delete: Clear the cells
CtrlZ: Undo
CtrlY: Redo
CtrlD: Fill down
CtrlR: Fill right
CtrlE: Flash Fill
Ctrl`: Show formulas instead of results
F9: Recalculate (new RAND, NOW)

Functions, links and notes

ShiftF3: Insert a function
CtrlShiftA: Type a function’s arguments (after its name)
CtrlShiftU: Taller formula bar
CtrlK: Insert or edit a link (Ctrl+click opens it)
ShiftF2: Add or edit a note

Copy and paste

CtrlC: Copy
CtrlX: Cut
CtrlV: Paste
CtrlAltV: Paste special
ShiftF10: Open the right-click menu

Format

Ctrl1: Format Cells box*
CtrlB: Bold (Ctrl+2 too*)
CtrlI: Italic (Ctrl+3 too*)
CtrlU: Underline (Ctrl+4 too*)
Ctrl5: Strikethrough*
CtrlShift$: Currency
CtrlShift%: Percent
CtrlShift!: Number with 2 decimals
CtrlShift#: Date
CtrlShift@: Time
CtrlShift^: Scientific
CtrlShift`: General (no format)
CtrlShift&: Outline border
CtrlShift_: Remove borders

Rows, columns and sheets

CtrlShift=: Insert rows or columns
Ctrl-: Delete rows or columns
Ctrl9: Hide rows*
CtrlShift(: Unhide rows*
Ctrl0: Hide columns*
CtrlShift): Unhide columns*
CtrlShiftL: Filter on or off
Alt↓: Open the filter list (on a heading)
ShiftF11: New sheet
CtrlS: Download as .xlsx