[Articles](/articles.html)>[Business](/articles.html#business-articles)> Excel shortcuts cheat sheet
# Excel shortcuts cheat sheet
August 20, 2026 • 8 minutes
Written by[Beth Earnest](/blog/authors/beth-earnest.html)
Reviewed by [Kathryn Uhles](/about/academic-leadership/dean-kathryn-uhles.html), MIS, MSP, Dean,[College of Business and IT](/about/colleges/college-of-business-and-information-technology.html)
Since the mid-1980s, people have been using Microsoft Excel®for both simple and complex projects. But some still use this desktop tool on a daily basis without taking full advantage of its capabilities. Read on to learn more about what it can do and discover a cheat sheet with Excel keyboard shortcuts that may come in handy.
## Excel shortcuts for basic navigation and workbook management
Excel shortcuts can boost productivity by decreasing the steps a person needs to take when using a workbook. They can help users:
- Move between cells, rows and columns using keyboard keys and key combinations
- Switch between worksheets and quickly open or close workbooks
- Save work, undo and redo mistaken keystrokes, and print using keyboard commands
Here are some helpful[Excel](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/excel)shortcuts for basic navigation and workbook management. Please note that these shortcuts are specifically for Windows®users. (Mac®users can check out the cheat sheet below for their system-specific commands.)
_Click the image above to download the Excel shortcuts cheat sheet._
###
### Jumping and movement
Ctrl + arrow keys: Jump to the edge of your current data region in the direction of the arrow
Home: Move to the beginning of the current row
Ctrl + Home: Move directly to the very first cell of the worksheet
Ctrl + End: Move to the last used cell of the worksheet
### Scrolling and sheets
Page Up/Page Down: Move one screen up or down
Ctrl + Page Down: Move to the next worksheet tab
Ctrl + Page Up: Move to the previous worksheet tab
Ctrl + Backspace: Scroll the screen back to center on the currently active cell
### File management
Ctrl + N: Create a new workbook
Ctrl + O: Open an existing workbook
Ctrl + S: Save the current workbook
F12: Save as
Ctrl + W: Close the current workbook
Ctrl + P: Print
### Window management
Ctrl + Tab: Switch between open Excel files
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Go to the previous open workbook
Ctrl + F9: Minimize the current workbook window
Ctrl + F10: Maximize/restore the current workbook window
### Worksheet navigation and management
Shift + F11: Insert a new worksheet
Shift + click on sheet tabs: Select adjacent sheets
Ctrl + click on sheet tabs: Select non-adjacent sheets
Ctrl + F4: Close file
Shift + click the X button on a workbook: Closes all open Excel files
### Find and replace
Ctrl + F: Find
Ctrl + H: Find and replace
Ctrl + G: Go to a specific cell
Shift + F4: Finds the next matching item
Ctrl + Shift + F4: Finds the previous matching item
## Excel shortcuts for data entry, editing and formatting
Entering data into an Excel spreadsheet can be tedious and time-consuming. Excel shortcuts can help users:
- Enter data quickly
- Edit cell contents
- Apply common formatting
- Navigate and manage tables
Here are some helpful Excel shortcuts for data entry, editing and formatting:
### Data entry
F2: Edit the contents of the selected cell
Ctrl + Shift + L: Toggle filters on and off to sort data
Ctrl + T: Convert the data range into an Excel table
Alt + F1: Create a default chart using the selected data
Alt, E, S, V: Paste special values only, not formulas
Ctrl + Shift + “+”: Insert a new row or column quickly
Ctrl + “-”: Delete a new row or column quickly
Ctrl + 1: Open the Format Cells dialog box for customization
Ctrl + “;”: Insert today’s date into the active cell
Ctrl + Shift + “;”: Insert the current time into the active cell
Ctrl + Space: Select the entire column in one click
Shift + Space: Select the entire row in one click
Ctrl + D: Fill down from the cell above
Ctrl + R: Fill right from the cell on the left
Ctrl + Enter: Fill selected cells with the current entry
Alt + Enter: Start a new line within a cell
### Editing text and cells
F2: Enter edit mode and place the cursor at the end of the cell’s text to add more
Enter: Confirm change and get out of cell
Esc: Cancel the current edit, and revert the cell to its original state
Alt + Enter: Start a new line within the same cell
Ctrl + C/X/V: Copy/remove/paste the contents of a cell
Ctrl + Z: Undo
Ctrl + Y: Duplicates the last edit in another cell
Shift + left/right arrow: Highlights across cell
Ctrl + Shift + left/right arrow: Highlight contiguous elements
Home: Jump to beginning of cell contents
End: Jump to end of cell contents
Backspace: Delete character to left
Tab: Accept autocomplete suggestion
### Formatting
Alt, W, V, G: Remove gridlines
Alt, H, B, A: Add borders all around
Alt, H, F, C: Change cell colors
Alt, H, A, C: Align center
Alt, H, M, C: Merge and center
## More Excel shortcuts
Here are some other common Excel shortcuts to consider:
### Formulas and calculations
“=”: Start a formula
Ctrl + “`”: Toggle showing formulas in cells
Ctrl + Shift + U: Expand or collapse the formula bar
Alt, M, F: Open the Insert Function dialog
Alt + “=”: Instantly insert the AutoSum formula to add up a column or row
F4: Cycle through absolute/relative cell references while typing a formula (for example, change A1 to $A$1)
F9: Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks
Shift + F9: Calculate the active worksheet
Ctrl + Shift + F3: Instantly create named ranges from selected rows or columns
### Math or trigonometry
Whether a person’s job is completely focused on[math](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/why-math-does-not-have-to-be-hard.html)or they just use the software for certain functions, Excel shortcuts can be a big help. Because there aren’t shortcut keyboard combinations for these functions, users need to type these commands into cells after the “=” sign and follow them with the cell range to calculate in parentheses, as in the examples.
=Sum(A1:A5): Add values in a range
=Product(A1:A5): Multiply values in a range
=Abs(A1): Return the absolute value
=Mod(A1, B1): Return the remainder after a number is divided by a divisor
=Round(A1, 2) Round a number to two decimal places
=Roundup/Rounddown: Force numbers up or down regardless of the traditional rounding rules
=Ceiling.Math/Floor.Math: Round numbers up or down to the nearest integer
=Radians(degrees): Compute the value in radians
=Sin/Cos/Tangent(A1): Return the sin, cosine or tangent of the radian angle
### Advanced paste and formatting
Ctrl + Alt + V: Open the Paste Special menu to specifically paste formulas, column widths or formats
Ctrl + Shift + V: Bypass the Paste Special dialog to instantly paste only the calculated values of a copied formula
Ctrl + Shift + “&”: Add an outline border around the selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + “_”: Strip all borders from the selected cells
Ctrl + 1: Open the primary formatting menu for deep customization of numbers, alignments and fonts
### Specialized operations
Ctrl + T: Convert raw data into an Excel table
Ctrl + Shift + L: Instantly apply or remove filter drop-downs from your headers
Alt + F1: Create a default chart based on your selected data range
F4: While editing a formula, rapidly cycle a cell reference between absolute, relative and mixed
### Pivot tables
Analysts and finance teams use pivot tables to analyze large datasets. The following are some important pivot tables shortcuts:
Alt, N, V, T: Insert a new pivot table
Ctrl + A: Select entire pivot table
Alt, J, T, I: Insert a calculated field
Alt, J, T: Open the PivotTable Analyze tab
Alt, J, T, P, O: Open PivotTable field dialog
Alt + F5: Refresh active pivot tables
Ctrl + Alt + F5: Refresh all pivot tables
## Put those Excel shortcuts to use
Excel shortcuts can be extremely helpful for saving time and decreasing tedium when working with spreadsheets. Many jobs and careers may call for at least basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel. Excel is widely used for a variety of tasks, from basic budgeting to complex financial modeling, as well as data analysis and reporting across many industries.
University of Phoenix offers several programs in these areas, including:
- [Business degree programs](https://www.phoenix.edu/online-business-degrees.html)
- [Bachelor of Science in Accounting](/online-business-degrees/accounting-bachelors-degree.html)
- [Bachelor of Science in Finance and Technology](/online-business-degrees/finance-technology-bachelors-degree.html)
- [Information Technology programs](https://www.phoenix.edu/online-information-technology-degrees.html)
- [Bachelor of Science in Data Science](https://www.phoenix.edu/online-information-technology-degrees/data-science-bachelors-degree.html)
For[more information](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information), contact University of Phoenix.
_Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries._
_Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries._
_Mac is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries._
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### ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A former newspaper journalist, Beth Earnest has more than 25 years of experience as a professional writer. She has worked with healthcare systems, insurance companies, nonprofits and educational institutions.
### ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served University of Phoenix in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.
[Read more about our editorial process.](/blog/editorial-process.html)
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