Keyboard Shortcuts for the Excel Power User
Keyboard shortcuts in Excel 2010
Applies to: Microsoft Excel 2010
This is list of keyboard shortcuts that Microsoft has prepared for the power user. Keyboard shortcuts can dramatically increase your productivity if you take the time to learn and use them. Doing so allows the user to keep their hands on the keyboard instead of going to the mouse and back to the home keys again.
The list is rather extensive and can be a daunting task but there is an easy and simple way to learn them. Go through the list and chose only three commands that you might use often. Use the for at least a week or until they become second nature for you. At this point select another three shortcuts and do the same thing. In a matter of a few weeks you'll be impressed at how much easier these shortcuts make your work.
If you're interested in learning more, the link that indicates the source of this information is given at the end of this page.
This article describes what Key Tips are and how you can use them to access the ribbon. It also lists CTRL combination shortcut keys, function keys, and some other common shortcut keys for Microsoft Excel.
Note If you are using Microsoft Excel Starter 2010, be aware that not all the features listed for Excel are supported in Excel Starter 2010.
In this article
Keyboard access to the ribbon
If you're new to the ribbon, the information in this section can help you understand the ribbon's keyboard shortcut model. The ribbon comes with new shortcuts, called Key Tips. To make the Key Tips appear, press ALT.
To display a tab on the ribbon, press the key for the tab---for example, press the letter N for the Insert tab or M for the Formulas tab. This makes all the Key Tip badges for that tab's buttons appear. Then, press the key for the button you want.
Will my old shortcuts still work?
Keyboard shortcuts that begin with CTRL will still work in Excel 2010. For example, CTRL+C still copies to the clipboard, and CTRL+V still pastes from the clipboard.
Most of the old ALT+ menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut from memory — there are no screen reminders of what letters to press. For example, try pressing ALT, and then press one of the old menu keys E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A box pops up saying you're using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft Office. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead and initiate the command. If you don't know the sequence, press ESC and use Key Tip badges instead.
CTRL combination shortcut keys
Tip Download or print a Quick Reference Card: Keyboard Shortcuts - Ctrl keys. (PDF)
Key |
Description |
CTRL+PgUp |
Switches between worksheet tabs, from left-to-right. |
CTRL+PgDn |
Switches between worksheet tabs, from right-to-left. |
CTRL+SHIFT+( |
Unhides any hidden rows within the selection. |
CTRL+SHIFT+& |
Applies the outline border to the selected cells. |
CTRL+SHIFT_ |
Removes the outline border from the selected cells. |
CTRL+SHIFT+~ |
Applies the General number format. |
CTRL+SHIFT+$ |
Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses). |
CTRL+SHIFT+% |
Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places. |
CTRL+SHIFT+^ |
Applies the Scientific number format with two decimal places. |
CTRL+SHIFT+# |
Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year. |
CTRL+SHIFT+@ |
Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM. |
CTRL+SHIFT+! |
Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values. |
CTRL+SHIFT+* |
Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns). |
CTRL+SHIFT+: |
Enters the current time. |
CTRL+SHIFT+" |
Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. |
CTRL+SHIFT+Plus (+) |
Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells. |
CTRL+Minus (-) |
Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells. |
CTRL+; |
Enters the current date. |
CTRL+` |
Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet. |
CTRL+' |
Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar. |
CTRL+1 |
Displays the Format Cells dialog box. |
CTRL+2 |
Applies or removes bold formatting. |
CTRL+3 |
Applies or removes italic formatting. |
CTRL+4 |
Applies or removes underlining. |
CTRL+5 |
Applies or removes strikethrough. |
CTRL+6 |
Alternates between hiding and displaying objects. |
CTRL+8 |
Displays or hides the outline symbols. |
CTRL+9 |
Hides the selected rows. |
CTRL+0 |
Hides the selected columns. |
CTRL+A |
Selects the entire worksheet. |
CTRL+B |
Applies or removes bold formatting. |
CTRL+C |
Copies the selected cells. |
CTRL+D |
Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below. |
CTRL+F |
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find tab selected. |
CTRL+G |
Displays the Go To dialog box. |
CTRL+H |
Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected. |
CTRL+I |
Applies or removes italic formatting. |
CTRL+K |
Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks. |
CTRL+L |
Displays the Create Table dialog box. |
CTRL+N |
Creates a new, blank workbook. |
CTRL+O |
Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file. |
CTRL+P |
Displays the Print tab in Microsoft Office Backstage view. |
CTRL+R |
Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right. |
CTRL+S |
Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format. |
CTRL+T |
Displays the Create Table dialog box. |
CTRL+U |
Applies or removes underlining. |
CTRL+V |
Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents. |
CTRL+W |
Closes the selected workbook window. |
CTRL+X |
Cuts the selected cells. |
CTRL+Y |
Repeats the last command or action, if possible. |
CTRL+Z |
Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry that you typed. |
Tip The CTRL combinations CTRL+E, CTRL+J, CTRL+M, and CTRL+Q are currently unassigned shortcuts.
Function keys
Tip Download or print a Quick Reference Card: Keyboard Shortcuts - Function keys. (PDF)
Key |
Description |
|
F1 |
Displays the Excel Help task pane. |
|
F2 |
Edits the active cell and positions the insertion point at the end of the cell contents. It also moves the insertion point into the Formula Bar when editing in a cell is turned off. |
|
F3 |
Displays the Paste Name dialog box. Available only if there are existing names in the workbook. |
|
F4 |
Repeats the last command or action, if possible. |
|
F5 |
Displays the Go To dialog box. |
|
F6 |
Switches between the worksheet, ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls. In a worksheet that has been split (View menu, Manage This Window, Freeze Panes, Split Window command), F6 includes the split panes when switching between panes and the ribbon area. |
|
F7 |
Displays the Spelling dialog box to check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range. |
|
F8 |
Turns extend mode on or off. In extend mode, Extended Selection appears in the status line, and the arrow keys extend the selection. |
|
F9 |
Calculates all worksheets in all open workbooks. |
|
F10 |
Turns key tips on or off. (Pressing ALT does the same thing.) |
|
F11 |
Creates a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet. |
|
F12 |
Displays the Save As dialog box. |
|
Other useful shortcut keys
Note Download or print a Quick Reference Card: Keyboard Shortcuts - Miscellaneous. (PDF)
Key |
Description |
ALT |
Displays the Key Tips (new shortcuts) on the ribbon. |
ARROW KEYS |
Move one cell up, down, left, or right in a worksheet. |
BACKSPACE |
Deletes one character to the left in the Formula Bar. |
DELETE |
Removes the cell contents (data and formulas) from selected cells without affecting cell formats or comments. |
END |
END turns End mode on. In End mode, you can then press an arrow key to move to the next nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell. If the cells are blank, pressing END followed by an arrow key moves to the last cell in the row or column. |
ENTER |
Completes a cell entry from the cell or the Formula Bar, and selects the cell below (by default). |
ESC |
Cancels an entry in the cell or Formula Bar. |
HOME |
Moves to the beginning of a row in a worksheet. |
PAGE DOWN |
Moves one screen down in a worksheet. |
PAGE UP |
Moves one screen up in a worksheet. |
SPACEBAR |
In a dialog box, performs the action for the selected button, or selects or clears a check box.
|
TAB |
Moves one cell to the right in a worksheet. |
Pasted from <http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/keyboard-shortcuts-in-excel-2010-HP010342494.aspx?CTT=1>