Excel Shortcuts

The most useful Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts, with Windows and Mac keys side by side, essentials, navigation and selection, editing, formulas, and formatting.

The Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts that save the most time, with both the Windows and macOS keys. Basic editing shortcuts such as copy, paste and bold carry over to most other spreadsheet apps, but the advanced ones differ. On a Mac, Cmd is the Command key; where a shortcut uses Ctrl on Mac it is intentional.

Essentials

ActionWindowsMac
Copy Ctrl+C Cmd+C
Cut Ctrl+X Cmd+X
Paste Ctrl+V Cmd+V
Paste special Ctrl+Alt+V Cmd+Ctrl+V
Undo / Redo Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y Cmd+Z / Cmd+Shift+Z
Save Ctrl+S Cmd+S
Find / Replace Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H

Navigation & selection

ActionWindowsMac
Move to edge of data Ctrl+Arrow Cmd+Arrow
Select to edge of data Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Cmd+Shift+Arrow
Select entire column / row Ctrl+Space / Shift+Space Ctrl+Space / Shift+Space
Go to cell A1 Ctrl+Home Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+Fn+Left
Next / previous sheet Ctrl+PgDn / Ctrl+PgUp Option+Right / Option+Left
Open Go To dialog F5 Ctrl+G

Editing cells

ActionWindowsMac
Edit active cell F2 Ctrl+U
New line within a cell Alt+Enter Ctrl+Option+Return
Fill down / right Ctrl+D / Ctrl+R Cmd+D / Cmd+R
Insert current date / time Ctrl+; / Ctrl+Shift+; Ctrl+; / Cmd+;
Insert / delete cells Ctrl+Shift+Plus / Ctrl+Minus Ctrl+Shift+= / Cmd+Minus
Repeat last action (Windows) / Redo (Mac) Ctrl+Y / F4 Cmd+Y

Formulas & data

ActionWindowsMac
AutoSum Alt+= Cmd+Shift+T
Toggle absolute reference F4 Cmd+T
Show all formulas Ctrl+` Ctrl+`
Create a table Ctrl+T Ctrl+T
Insert a chart sheet F11 F11
Filter (toggle) Ctrl+Shift+L Cmd+Shift+F

Formatting

ActionWindowsMac
Bold / Italic / Underline Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I / Ctrl+U Cmd+B / Cmd+I / Cmd+U
Format Cells dialog Ctrl+1 Cmd+1
Currency / Percent format Ctrl+Shift+$ / Ctrl+Shift+% Ctrl+Shift+$ / Ctrl+Shift+%
Add a border Ctrl+Shift+& Cmd+Option+0
Apply General format Ctrl+Shift+~ Ctrl+Shift+~

Press Alt in Windows Excel to reveal the ribbon's KeyTips, letter overlays that let you run any ribbon command from the keyboard. The F4 key is a double winner: it repeats your last action and cycles cell reference types when editing a formula.

What this does

An Excel shortcuts reference lists the most useful keyboard shortcuts with Windows and Mac keys side by side — essentials, navigation, editing, formulas, and formatting.

How to use it

  1. Browse by task.
  2. Find the Windows or Mac keys.
  3. Press the keys together.
  4. Try it in your sheet.

Example

Ctrl+; inserts today’s date on both Windows and Mac.

Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

Do these work in Google Sheets?

Many of the essentials (copy, paste, bold, find) are identical, but Sheets has its own set of advanced shortcuts. The core editing keys carry over well.

What does F4 do in Excel?

F4 repeats your last action, and while editing a formula it cycles a cell reference through absolute and relative forms ($A$1, A$1, $A1, A1).

How do I see all ribbon shortcuts?

In Windows Excel, press Alt to display KeyTips, letter overlays that let you trigger any ribbon command from the keyboard.