Microsoft Excel Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete Guide

Microsoft Excel — a powerful tool for working with data, calculations, and information analysis. To speed up work and increase efficiency, Excel supports dozens of keyboard shortcuts and their combinations that allow you to perform actions without using the mouse.

Using these combinations helps reduce time spent on routine operations, increase accuracy, and reduce the number of errors. Most importantly – increase productivity when working with large spreadsheets. Whether you're providing typing practice for kids or advanced typing lessons for professionals, mastering Excel shortcuts is an essential computer skill that complements overall keyboard proficiency.

General Commands for Working with Workbooks and Worksheets

Creating, opening, saving:

• Ctrl + N — create a new workbook.
• Ctrl + O — open an existing workbook.
• Ctrl + S — save the current workbook.
• F12 — «Save As…».

Printing: Ctrl + P — print dialog.

Closing:

• Ctrl + W — close the current file.
• Alt + F4 — close Excel.

Navigation Through Worksheet and Workbook

• Arrow keys — move between cells.
• Ctrl + arrow keys — jump to the last filled cell in the direction of the arrow.
• Home — go to the beginning of the row.
• Ctrl + Home — go to cell A1.
• Ctrl + End — go to the last used cell.
• Page Up / Page Down — scroll page up/down.
• Ctrl + Page Up — go to previous worksheet.
• Ctrl + Page Down — go to next worksheet.

Data Selection

• Shift + arrow keys — select cells in the direction of the arrow.
• Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys — select to the edge of data range.
• Shift + Spacebar — select row.
• Ctrl + Spacebar — select column.
• Ctrl + A — select entire worksheet.
• Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar — select entire data area.

Editing and Data Entry

• F2 — edit the contents of the active cell.
• Ctrl + C — copy.
• Ctrl + X — cut.
• Ctrl + V — paste.
• Delete — clear contents.
• Ctrl + Z — undo action.
• Ctrl + Y — repeat action.
• Alt + Enter — line break in cell.

Cell Formatting

• Ctrl + 1 — «Format Cells» dialog.
• Ctrl + B — bold text.
• Ctrl + I — italic.
• Ctrl + U — underline.
• Ctrl + Shift + $ — «Currency» format.
• Ctrl + Shift + % — «Percentage» format.
• Ctrl + Shift + # — date format.
• Ctrl + Shift + @ — time format.
• Ctrl + Shift + ^ — exponential format.

Working with Formulas

= — start entering formula.

• Alt + = — autosum.
• Ctrl + Shift + Enter — array formula.
• F4 — lock reference (A1 → $A$1).
• Shift + F9 — calculate selected part of formula.
• Ctrl + (tilde) — show all formulas.

Worksheet Management

• Shift + F11 — insert new worksheet.
• Alt + O, H, R — rename worksheet.
• Ctrl + Shift + K — move or copy worksheet.
• Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down — switch between worksheets.

Working with Tables and Ranges

• Ctrl + T — convert range to table.
• Ctrl + Shift + L — turn on/off autofilter.
• Alt + ↓ — open filter list.
• Ctrl + - — delete selected cells/rows/columns.
• Ctrl + Shift + + — insert cells/rows/columns.

Find and Replace

• Ctrl + F — find.
• Ctrl + H — replace.
• Shift + F4 — repeat search.

Working with Windows and Views

• Ctrl + F2 — print preview.
• Alt + F1 — create chart on current worksheet.
• F11 — create chart on separate worksheet.
• Ctrl + Tab — switch between open workbooks.

Excel Function Keys

• F1 — help.
• F2 — edit cell.
• F4 — repeat last action or lock references.
• F7 — spell check.
• F9 — recalculate all worksheets.

How to Remember Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

To start, master basic operations: copy, paste, save, undo. Next, learn navigation and data selection — this is the key to speed. Gradually add formatting and working with formulas – don't rush. Keep a cheat sheet handy and use the combinations daily.