Excel Shortcut Keys: 100 Essential Shortcuts

Excel shortcut keys let you move, select, format and calculate without reaching for the mouse. Because spreadsheets involve many repeated steps, a few shortcuts can save hours every month. This guide lists 100 Excel shortcut keys for Windows, grouped by task so that you can learn them in small steps. Most also work in Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2019 and Excel 2021. First, learn the navigation and selection group. Then add editing, formulas and formatting.

Excel Shortcut Keys for Files and Workbooks

Start with the file shortcuts. They are short, and they protect your work.

Create a new workbook with Ctrl + N when you start fresh.
Open an existing workbook with Ctrl + O, because it skips the menu.
Save your work with Ctrl + S, and do it often.
Save a copy under a new name with F12.
Print the sheet with Ctrl + P, and then check the preview.
Close the current workbook with Ctrl + W.
Undo the last action with Ctrl + Z.
Redo it with Ctrl + Y if you undo too much.
Switch to the next open workbook with Ctrl + Tab.
Repeat the last action with F4 when it is not inside a formula.

Navigation shortcuts matter most in large sheets, since scrolling wastes time.

Jump to the first cell, A1, with Ctrl + Home.
Jump to the last used cell with Ctrl + End.
Move to the edge of the data with Ctrl + Arrow key, so long lists need no scrolling.
Go to a specific cell with Ctrl + G or F5 if you know its address.
Move one screen down with Page Down, and one screen up with Page Up.
Move one screen right with Alt + Page Down.
Switch to the next sheet with Ctrl + Page Down.
Switch to the previous sheet with Ctrl + Page Up.
Move to the next cell on the right with Tab, and to the left with Shift + Tab.
Bring the active cell back into view with Ctrl + Backspace if you scroll away.
Move to the start of the row with Home, because it saves scrolling left.
Open the Find box with Ctrl + F.
Open the Replace box with Ctrl + H.

Selection Shortcuts in Excel

Select the whole sheet with Ctrl + A.
Select the whole column with Ctrl + Space, and then format it in one step.
Select the whole row with Shift + Space when you want to insert or delete it.
Extend the selection by one cell with Shift + Arrow key.
Select up to the edge of the data with Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key, so you can pick a long list quickly.
Select to the last used cell with Ctrl + Shift + End if you want the whole used range.
Select to the start of the sheet with Ctrl + Shift + Home.
Select the current data region with Ctrl + A when the cell sits inside a block of data.
Pick separate blocks together by holding Ctrl while you drag, so you can format them in one go.
Turn on extend mode with F8, and then use the arrow keys.
Select cells with notes using Ctrl + Shift + O, so you can review them together.

Editing and Data Entry Shortcuts

These shortcuts speed up typing and correcting data.

Edit the active cell with F2, instead of double-clicking.
Start a new line inside a cell with Alt + Enter when the text is long.
Fill the selected cells with the typed entry using Ctrl + Enter.
Fill down from the cell above with Ctrl + D, which also works on a selection.
Fill right from the cell on the left with Ctrl + R.
Use Flash Fill with Ctrl + E, because Excel then spots the pattern from your example.
Enter today’s date with Ctrl + ;.
Enter the current time with Ctrl + Shift + ;.
Copy the cell above with Ctrl + ‘ if you need the same value.
Insert a hyperlink with Ctrl + K if you want to link a cell to a page or file.
Add a note to a cell with Shift + F2.
Clear the contents of the selected cells with Delete.
Delete the character before the cursor with Backspace when you edit a cell.
Cancel an entry with Esc if you type in the wrong cell.
Open Paste Special with Ctrl + Alt + V when you only need values or formats.
Check spelling with F7.

Rows, Columns and Sheets

Insert cells, rows or columns with Ctrl + Shift + Plus (+).
Delete them with Ctrl + Minus (-).
Hide the selected rows with Ctrl + 9, then unhide them later.
Unhide rows with Ctrl + Shift + 9.
Hide the selected columns with Ctrl + 0.
Unhide columns with Ctrl + Shift + 0, although some systems block this key.
Insert a new worksheet with Shift + F11 when the data needs its own tab.
Rename the current sheet with Alt + H + O + R.
Group the selected rows or columns with Alt + Shift + Right Arrow.
Ungroup them with Alt + Shift + Left Arrow.
Create a chart on a new sheet with F11, and an embedded chart with Alt + F1.

Formula Shortcuts

Formulas are the heart of Excel. Therefore, these shortcuts pay off quickly.

Start every formula with the = sign.
Insert the SUM formula with Alt + =, which also picks the range for you.
Lock or unlock a cell reference with F4 while you edit a formula.
Open the Insert Function box with Shift + F3.
Show formulas instead of values with Ctrl + `, and press it again to return.
Recalculate all formulas with F9 when automatic calculation is off.
Recalculate only the active sheet with Shift + F9.
Enter an array formula in older versions with Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Expand or collapse the formula bar with Ctrl + Shift + U.
Show function arguments with Ctrl + Shift + A after you type a function name.
Select cells that feed the active formula with Ctrl + [.
Select cells that depend on the active cell with Ctrl + ].
Paste a defined name into a formula with F3.

Formatting Shortcuts

Open the Format Cells box with Ctrl + 1.
Make text bold with Ctrl + B, italic with Ctrl + I and underlined with Ctrl + U.
Apply strikethrough with Ctrl + 5.
Apply the General format with Ctrl + Shift + ~.
Apply the Number format with Ctrl + Shift + !.
Apply the Currency format with Ctrl + Shift + $.
Apply the Percentage format with Ctrl + Shift + % because it multiplies by 100 for display.
Apply the Date format with Ctrl + Shift + #.
Apply the Time format with Ctrl + Shift + @.
Add an outline border with Ctrl + Shift + &.
Remove all borders with Ctrl + Shift + _.
Centre the cell content with Alt + H + A + C.
Merge and centre cells with Alt + H + M + C, but use it sparingly since merged cells block sorting.
Apply a fill colour with Alt + H + H.
Apply all borders with Alt + H + B + A.
Auto-fit the column width with Alt + H + O + I.

Tables, Filters and Pivot Tables

Create a table with Ctrl + T or Ctrl + L, so your data gets filters and banded rows.
Turn filters on or off with Ctrl + Shift + L.
Open the filter drop-down for a column with Alt + Down Arrow.
Insert a PivotTable with Alt + N + V.
Sort data using Alt + A + S + S after you select it.
Open the Data tab with Alt + A, then press the letter shown on screen.
Open the Formulas tab with Alt + M.
Open the Home tab with Alt + H.
Open the Insert tab with Alt + N.
Open the View tab with Alt + W.
Open the Page Layout tab with Alt + P when you set up printing.

How to Learn Excel Shortcut Keys Quickly

Learn ten shortcuts a week, instead of the entire list at once. Begin with navigation and selection, because they pay back the most. Next, add the AutoSum, F4 and Flash Fill shortcuts. After that, add formatting and table keys. Practise on a real sheet, such as a budget or a marks list. If you want the general Windows keys first, read computer shortcut keys. If you are new to computers, begin with types of computer in the Excel in Hindi section.

FAQs on Excel Shortcut Keys

What are Excel shortcut keys?

Excel shortcut keys are keyboard combinations that perform tasks such as moving, selecting, formatting and calculating without using the mouse. They save time in large sheets.

What are the most useful Excel shortcut keys?

The most useful are Ctrl + Arrow to jump to the data edge, Ctrl + Shift + Arrow to select data, F2 to edit a cell, Alt + = for AutoSum, F4 for absolute references and Ctrl + T for tables.

What does F4 do in Excel?

Inside a formula, F4 cycles a cell reference through absolute and relative forms, such as $A$1. Outside a formula, it repeats your last action.

How do I select an entire column or row in Excel?

Press Ctrl + Space to select the whole column, and Shift + Space to select the whole row. Press both together to select the entire sheet.

Build the Habit

Excel shortcut keys help most when you use them on real work. Pick one group, practise it for a week, and then move to the next. As your speed grows, you will rarely touch the mouse for routine tasks. Then browse more in the Excel in Hindi category, or return to the The Note homepage.

Excel Shortcut Keys: 100 Essential Shortcuts for Faster Work