Introduction: Why Are Shortcut Keys Important?
Shortcut keys are designed to make using a computer more efficient. Every keystroke is a keyboard shortcut, and there are many shortcuts that can be used by pressing only one key. In this article, we will review the top ten keyboard shortcuts that can improve your efficiency on a computer.
1. Ctrl+C – Copy the highlighted text
2. Ctrl+X – Cut the highlighted text
3. Ctrl+V – Paste the copied or cut text
Best Excel Shortcut Keys That Can Save You A Lot Of Time & Effort
One of the most frustrating parts of using Excel is that it can take a while to find the features you need. Here are some shortcuts that can save you time and effort when working with Excel:
Ctrl+F3: View all sheets in the active workbook.
Ctrl+PgUp/PgDn: Move among sheets in the active workbook.
Ctrl+Shift+O: Make all cells blank or zero in selected range.
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X, Ctrl-B: Cut, copy, paste and bold text respectively.
1. Frequently Used Excel Shortcuts
Microsoft Excel is a common software program that many professionals use to create and maintain records. We have compiled a list of shortcuts below, so keep them in mind as you start using this application.
Action | Shortcut | |
---|---|---|
Copy |
Ctrl + C |
Command + C |
Paste |
Ctrl + V |
Command + V |
Undo | Ctrl + Z |
Command + Z |
Clear | Delete |
Delete |
Save |
Ctrl + S |
Command + S |
Redo |
Ctrl + Y |
Command + Y |
Cut |
Ctrl + X |
Command + X |
Bold | Ctrl + B |
Command + B |
|
Ctrl + P |
Command + P |
Open Visual Basic |
Alt + F11 |
Option + F11 |
Fill Down |
Ctrl + D |
Command + D |
Fill Right |
Alt + G + H |
Command + R |
Insert cells |
Shift + F2 | Control + Shift + = |
Delete cells |
Delete |
Command + Hyphen |
Calculate all open workbooks |
F9 |
F9 |
Close window |
Ctrl + Esc |
Command + W |
Quit Excel |
Alt + F4 |
Command + Q |
Display the Go To dialog |
F5 |
F5 |
Display the Format Cells dialog |
Ctrl + 1 |
Command + 1 |
Open the Paste Special dialog |
Ctrl + Alt + V | Command + Option + V |
Underline |
Ctrl+U |
Command + U |
Italic |
Ctrl+I |
Command + I |
New blank workbook |
Ctrl + O |
Command + O |
Display the Save As dialog |
F12 |
F12 |
Select All |
Ctrl + A |
Command + A |
Apply or remove strikethrough formatting |
Ctrl+5 | Command + 5 |
Extend the cell selection to the left or right |
Shift + Left/Right arrow | Shift + Left/Right arrow |
Select the entire row |
Shift + Space | Shift + Space |
Select the entire column |
Ctrl + Space | Cmd + Space |
Select the entire worksheet |
Ctrl + Shift + Space | Cmd + Shift + Space |
2. Microsoft Excel Shortcuts to Enter Data Into Sheets
Entering data into a cell is the most common action in Excel. But, typing out the entire address of a cell over and over again can be tedious and time-consuming. It is not that difficult to learn some basic Microsoft Excel shortcuts that will help you work more efficiently with your sheets.
When entering data into a cell, especially when typing out the entire address of a cell over and over again, it can be tedious and time-consuming. However, it is not that difficult to learn some shortcuts to make the process much faster. Learning shortcuts will help save time and energy in Excel.
This table displays all the data entry Excel shortcuts to help you enter data quickly into sheets.
Action | Shortcut | |
---|---|---|
Edit the selected cell |
F2 |
F2 |
Add or edit a cell comment |
Shift + F2 |
Shift + F2 |
Paste a Cell name |
F3 |
F3 |
Complete a cell entry and move forward in the selection |
Enter |
Return |
Start a new line in the same cell | Alt + Enter |
Option + Return |
Complete a cell entry and move up in the selection | Shift + Enter |
Shift + Return |
Complete a cell entry and move to the right in the selection |
Tab key |
Tab key |
Complete a cell entry and move to the left in the selection | Shift + Tab |
Shift + Tab |
Cancel a cell entry |
Esc |
Esc |
Delete the character to the left | Backspace |
Delete |
Delete the character to the right |
N/A | FN + Delete |
Move one character |
Arrow keys |
Arrow keys |
Move to the beginning of the line |
Home |
Home |
Move to the last cell in use on the sheet | Ctrl + End | Command + End |
Move down one screen |
Page down | Page down |
Enter the current time |
Ctrl + Shift + colon (:) |
Control + option + colon (:) |
Enter the current date |
Ctrl + semi-colon (;) |
Control + semi-colon (;) |
Move the selected cells |
Ctrl + X | Command + X |
Copy the selected cells |
Ctrl + C |
Command + C |
Insert a hyperlink |
Ctrl + K |
Command + K |
Calculate the active sheet |
Shift+ F9 | Shift + F9 |
Start a formula |
Equal (=) | Equal (=) |
Insert the AutoSum formula |
Alt + = |
Command + Shift + T |
Insert a function |
Shift + F3 |
Shift + F3 |
Open the Smart Lookup pane |
N/A |
Control + Option + Command + L |
Define a name |
Alt + M |
Control + L |
3. Function Key Excel Shortcuts
Function keys are a series of keys on your keyboard that perform specific operations when pressed together with other keys. They are F1, F2, F3, up to F12 in most cases. Function key Excel shortcut keys can be very useful as they will save you a lot of time and effort in MS Excel.
Action | Shortcut | |
---|---|---|
Display the Help window |
F1 |
F1 |
Edit the selected cell |
F2 |
F2 |
Insert a note | Shift + F2 | Shift+F2 |
Insert a threaded comment | Ctrl + Shift + F2 | Command + Shift + F2 |
Open the Save dialog |
F12 |
Option + F2 |
Open the Formula Builder | Shift + F3 |
Shift + F3 |
Open the Define Name dialog |
Ctrl + F3 |
Command + F3 |
Close | Ctrl + F4 | Command + F4 |
Display the Go To dialog |
F5 | F5 |
Display the Find dialog |
N/A |
Shift + F5 |
Move to the search sheet dialog |
Ctrl + F5 | Control + F5 |
Check a spelling | F7 | F7 |
Open the thesaurus |
Shift + F7 | Shift + F7 |
Extend the selection | F8 | F8 |
Display the Macro dialog |
Alt + F8 |
Option + F8 |
Minimize the active window |
Ctrl + F9 |
Control + F9 |
Insert a new chart sheet |
F11 |
F11 |
4. Office Add-Ins Task Pane Excel Shortcuts
Office add-ins let you do more than pressing common commands to navigate through your workflows. You can use the following shortcuts when in an Add-in task panel:
Action | Shortcut | |
---|---|---|
Open the context menu |
Ctrl + Shift + F10 |
Control + Shift + F10 |
Open the task pane options menu | Ctrl + Space bar |
Control + Space bar |
Close the task pane |
Ctrl + Space bar and select close |
Control + Space bar and select close |
Excel in Your Career With These Microsoft Excel Hotkeys
You can use Excel’s hotkeys to do various actions, such as data entry or math problems. Just by pressing a few buttons, you can quickly perform any task.
Feel free to comment on this post to let us know if you found these shortcuts helpful. Are you planning on using these next time?
If you also use Word, knowing these keyboard shortcuts is a time saver and will make your life easier with the platform.
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