Buzz
Utilizing shortcuts drastically speeds up your work. This article introduces the most commonly used shortcuts in Excel.
1. Basic Shortcuts
Enter: Assigns entered data to the cell and moves down to the cell below.
ESC: Dismisses the currently changing data.
Alt + Enter: Creates a new line within the same cell.
BackSpace: Deletes the character to the left of the selection.
F4 or Ctrl + Y: Repeats the previous action.
Delete: Erases the character to the right of the mouse cursor or the selected area.
Ctrl + Delete: Deletes all characters on the highlighted row or containing the mouse cursor.
Ctrl + D: Copies data from the cell above to the cell below.
Ctrl + R: Copies data from the cell on the left to the right.
Shift + Enter: Assigns data to the cell and moves it upwards from the selected range.
2. Data Formatting Shortcuts
2.1. Data Cell Formatting
Ctrl + 1: Displays the Format dialog box.
Ctrl + B (or Ctrl + 2): Formats text in bold or removes bold formatting.
Ctrl + I (or Ctrl + 3): Formats text in italics or removes italic formatting.
Ctrl + U (or Ctrl + 4): Formats text with underline or removes underline formatting.
Ctrl + 5: Formats with strikethrough or removes strikethrough formatting.
Pressing Alt + ' summons the Style dialogue box.
2.2. Number Formatting
Employ Ctrl + Shift + $ for currency data formatting with 2 decimal places.
Use Ctrl + Shift + ~ for General-style numeric data formatting.
Utilize Ctrl + Shift + % to format percentage data without decimal places.
Employ Ctrl + Shift + # to format date data in day, month, year order.
Use Ctrl + Shift + @ to format time data in hour-minute format with AM and PM distinctions.
Apply Ctrl + Shift +! to format numbers with 2 decimal places and use '-' for negative values.
Press F4: to repeat the last applied format.
3. Shortcut keys for data editing
Use Ctrl + Z to undo the previous action.
Press Ctrl + Y to redo the previous action.
Use Ctrl + C to copy the content of the selected cell.
Employ Ctrl + X to cut the content of the selected cell and save it to the clipboard.
Press Ctrl + V to paste content from the clipboard into the selected cell.
Press Ctrl + Alt + V to choose the paste data type in the Paste Special dialog box.
Shortcut keys for data cell operations:
F2: Enables editing of a data cell with the mouse cursor positioned at the end of the line.
Alt + Enter: Moves to a new line within the same cell.
Enter: Completes data entry in a cell and moves to the cell below.
Press Shift + Enter to complete data entry in a cell and move to the cell above it.
Tab/ Shift + Tab: Finishes data entry in the current cell and moves to the cell to the left or right of it.
ESC: Cancels all actions within a cell.
BackSpace: Deletes the character to the left of the mouse cursor.
Delete: Deletes the character to the right of the mouse cursor.
Ctrl + Delete: Deletes text content to the end of the line.
Ctrl + ; (semicolon): Inserts the current date at the mouse cursor position.
Ctrl + Shift + : (colon): Inserts the current time.
Ctrl + D: Copies the content from the cell above.
Ctrl + R: Copies the content from the cell to the left.
Ctrl + ': Copies the content of the cell above and allows for editing.
Ctrl + ': Copies the formula of the cell above and enters edit mode.
Ctrl + -: Displays the delete row and column menu.
Ctrl + Shift + +: Displays the insert row and column menu.
Shift + F2: Inserts or edits a Comment.
Shift + F10, then press m: Deletes the Comment.
Alt + F1: Create and insert a chart on the current page.
F11: Create and insert a chart on a different sheet.
Ctrl + K: Insert an additional hyperlink.
Enter (in a cell containing a hyperlink): Open the link within the hyperlink.
4. Keyboard shortcuts for navigating in spreadsheets
Page Down/Page Up: Scroll to the bottom or top of the spreadsheet.
Alt + PageDown/Alt + PageUp: Scroll left or right within the spreadsheet.
Tab/Shift + Tab: Move one cell to the right or left within the spreadsheet.
Ctrl + Arrow keys: Navigate to adjacent cells within the data range.
Home: Navigate to the first cell of a row.
Ctrl + Home: Navigate to the first cell of the spreadsheet.
Ctrl + End: Navigate to the last cell of the spreadsheet.
Ctrl + F: Opens the Find and Replace dialog in search mode.
Ctrl + H: Opens the Find and Replace dialog in search and replace mode.
Shift + F4: Repeats the previous search.
Ctrl + G (Or F5): Opens the Goto dialog.
Ctrl + Right arrow key or Ctrl + Left arrow key: Move to the cell to the right or left.
Alt + Down arrow key: Display the AutoComplete list.
5. Shortcut keys for inserting formulas in Excel
Alt + =: Insert AutoSum formula.
Shift + F3: Displays the Insert Function dialog.
Ctrl + A: Displays input method after typing formula name.
Ctrl + Shift + A: Inserts formula arguments.
Ctrl + Shift + Enter: Enters a formula as an array formula.
F4: Converts cell reference to absolute reference.
F9: Calculates all tables in the spreadsheets.
Shift + F9: Calculates active spreadsheet.
Ctrl + Shift + U: Toggles expand or collapse mode of the toolbar.
Hope these handy shortcuts boost your productivity. Wishing you success!
