Excel Shortcut Practice Cheat Sheet

Q: Can I download this Excel shortcut list as a PDF?

Yes — use your browser print function (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac) and select Save as PDF as the destination. The page is formatted for clean printing.

Q: Do these shortcuts work in Google Sheets too?

Many basic shortcuts (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+B) work identically in Google Sheets. However, some Excel-specific shortcuts like Alt key sequences and F4 for absolute references won't work in Google Sheets.

Q: Which Excel shortcuts should beginners learn first?

Start with Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V), Undo (Ctrl+Z), Save (Ctrl+S), Find (Ctrl+F), and Select All (Ctrl+A). Then move to Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+Arrow keys for navigation.

Covers 100 essential Excel shortcuts, organized by category, with Windows and Mac side by side. Print-friendly: press Ctrl + P to print this page.

Excel Basics Shortcuts

Copy, paste, save — essential shortcuts for everyday use.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Copy	`Ctrl + C`	`Cmd + C`	Copy selected cell contents to clipboard
Paste	`Ctrl + V`	`Cmd + V`	Paste clipboard contents to current position
Cut	`Ctrl + X`	`Cmd + X`	Cut selected content; original location is cleared after pasting
Undo	`Ctrl + Z`	`Cmd + Z`	Undo the last action; up to 100 steps can be undone
Redo	`Ctrl + Y`	`Cmd + Y`	Redo the previously undone action
Save	`Ctrl + S`	`Cmd + S`	Quickly save the current workbook
Select All	`Ctrl + A`	`Cmd + A`	Select current data region; press again to select entire worksheet
Find	`Ctrl + F`	`Cmd + F`	Open Find dialog to quickly locate content
Replace	`Ctrl + H`	`Cmd + H`	Open Find and Replace dialog
New Workbook	`Ctrl + N`	`Cmd + N`	Create a new blank workbook
Open File	`Ctrl + O`	`Cmd + O`	Open an existing workbook file
Print	`Ctrl + P`	`Cmd + P`	Open print preview and print settings
Close Workbook	`Ctrl + W`	`Cmd + W`	Close the current workbook window
Save As	`F12`	`Cmd + Shift + S`	Save file with a new name or to a new location
Close Excel	`Alt + F4`	`Cmd + Q`	Close the entire Excel application

Excel Navigation & Selection Shortcuts

Jump, select ranges, switch sheets — drastically reduce mouse usage.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Jump to end of row with data	`Ctrl + →`	`Cmd + →`	Jump to the next non-empty/empty cell boundary in the current row
Jump to start of row with data	`Ctrl + ←`	`Cmd + ←`	Jump to the previous non-empty/empty cell boundary in the current row
Jump to end of column with data	`Ctrl + ↓`	`Cmd + ↓`	Jump to the next non-empty/empty cell boundary in the current column
Jump to start of column with data	`Ctrl + ↑`	`Cmd + ↑`	Jump to the previous non-empty/empty cell boundary in the current column
Jump to worksheet start (A1)	`Ctrl + Home`	`Cmd + Home`	Quickly return to cell A1
Jump to end of data region	`Ctrl + End`	`Cmd + End`	Jump to the bottom-right corner of the used range on the worksheet
Select to end of row with data	`Ctrl + Shift + →`	`Cmd + Shift + →`	Select from current position to the data boundary at end of row
Select to end of column with data	`Ctrl + Shift + ↓`	`Cmd + Shift + ↓`	Select from current position to the data boundary at end of column
Select to worksheet start	`Ctrl + Shift + Home`	`Cmd + Shift + Home`	Select from current position to A1
Select to end of data region	`Ctrl + Shift + End`	`Cmd + Shift + End`	Select from current position to the bottom-right corner of the used range
Select entire column	`Ctrl + Space`	`Ctrl + Space`	Select the entire column of the current cell
Select entire row	`Shift + Space`	`Shift + Space`	Select the entire row of the current cell
Insert cells/rows/columns	`Ctrl + Shift + +`	`Cmd + Shift + +`	Insert new cells, rows, or columns at the selected position
Delete cells/rows/columns	`Ctrl + -`	`Cmd + -`	Delete selected cells, rows, or columns
Go To	`Ctrl + G`	`Ctrl + G`	Open Go To dialog to jump to a specific cell
Go To dialog	`F5`	`F5`	Same as Ctrl+G; opens the Go To window
Switch to next worksheet	`Ctrl + PageDown`	`Cmd + PageDown`	Switch to the next sheet tab to the right
Switch to previous worksheet	`Ctrl + PageUp`	`Cmd + PageUp`	Switch to the previous sheet tab to the left
Scroll one screen right	`Alt + PageDown`	`Option + PageDown`	Scroll one screen to the right to view more columns
Scroll one screen left	`Alt + PageUp`	`Option + PageUp`	Scroll one screen to the left
Scroll to active cell	`Ctrl + Backspace`	`Cmd + Delete`	Scroll the view to display the active cell

Excel Formatting Shortcuts

Bold, number formats, alignment — present data professionally.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Bold	`Ctrl + B`	`Cmd + B`	Toggle bold style for selected text
Italic	`Ctrl + I`	`Cmd + I`	Toggle italic style for selected text
Underline	`Ctrl + U`	`Cmd + U`	Toggle underline style for selected text
Strikethrough	`Ctrl + 5`	`Cmd + 5`	Add or remove strikethrough for selected text
Format Cells	`Ctrl + 1`	`Cmd + 1`	Open Format Cells dialog to adjust number, alignment, font, borders, etc.
General format	`Ctrl + Shift + ~`	`Ctrl + Shift + ~`	Set cell format to General (default)
Number format (with thousands separator)	`Ctrl + Shift + 1`	`Ctrl + Shift + 1`	Set number format with two decimals and thousands separator
Time format	`Ctrl + Shift + 2`	`Ctrl + Shift + 2`	Set time format (h:mm AM/PM)
Date format	`Ctrl + Shift + 3`	`Ctrl + Shift + 3`	Set date format (d-mmm-yy)
Currency format	`Ctrl + Shift + 4`	`Ctrl + Shift + 4`	Set currency format with $ symbol and two decimals
Percentage format	`Ctrl + Shift + 5`	`Ctrl + Shift + 5`	Set percentage format; automatically multiplies by 100 and adds %
Scientific notation format	`Ctrl + Shift + 6`	`Ctrl + Shift + 6`	Set scientific notation format (e.g., 1.23E+04)
Align center	`Alt → H → A → C`	`Cmd + E`	Horizontally center-align cell contents
Increase indent	`Alt + H → 6`	`Ctrl + Option + Tab`	Increase indent of cell contents
Wrap text	`Alt → H → W`	`Cmd + Option + Return`	Toggle wrap text for cell contents

Excel Formulas & Functions Shortcuts

Edit formulas, toggle references, AutoSum — formula editing essentials.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Edit cell	`F2`	`F2`	Enter cell edit mode with cursor at end of content
Toggle absolute/relative reference	`F4`	`Cmd + T`	When editing a formula, cycle through A1→$A$1→A$1→$A1
Confirm and move right	`Tab`	`Tab`	Confirm input and move active cell to the right
Confirm and move down	`Enter`	`Return`	Confirm input and move active cell down
Cancel edit	`Esc`	`Esc`	Cancel current cell edit and restore original content
Show/hide formulas	Ctrl + `	Ctrl + `	Toggle between showing formulas and showing results
Array formula confirm	`Ctrl + Shift + Enter`	`Cmd + Shift + Return`	Enter as array formula (required in legacy Excel; 365 auto-spills)
Insert Function dialog	`Shift + F3`	`Shift + F3`	Open Insert Function wizard to search and select functions
AutoSum	`Alt + =`	`Cmd + Shift + T`	Automatically insert SUM function and intelligently select range
Expand/collapse formula bar	`Ctrl + Shift + U`	`Ctrl + Shift + U`	Expand or collapse formula bar to show more content
Calculate all worksheets	`F9`	`F9`	Force recalculation of all formulas in open workbooks
Calculate current worksheet	`Shift + F9`	`Shift + F9`	Recalculate only formulas in the current active worksheet
Copy formula from cell above	`Ctrl + '`	`Ctrl + '`	Copy the formula (not result) from the cell above to current cell
Insert function argument names	`Ctrl + Shift + A`	`Ctrl + Shift + A`	After typing function name, automatically insert argument name placeholders

Excel Data Processing Shortcuts

Filter, sort, fill, charts — boost data processing efficiency.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Add/remove filter	`Ctrl + Shift + L`	`Cmd + Shift + F`	Add or remove auto-filter arrows for the data region
Open filter dropdown	`Alt + ↓`	`Option + ↓`	Open the filter dropdown for the current column
Insert current time	`Ctrl + Shift + :`	`Cmd + ;`	Insert current time (static value) in the current cell
Insert current date	`Ctrl + ;`	`Ctrl + ;`	Insert current date (static value) in the current cell
Fill down	`Ctrl + D`	`Cmd + D`	Fill selected range with content from the cell above
Fill right	`Ctrl + R`	`Cmd + R`	Fill selected range with content from the cell to the left
Fill selected range	`Ctrl + Enter`	`Ctrl + Return`	Enter the same content in all selected cells at once
New line in cell	`Alt + Enter`	`Option + Return`	Start a new line within the same cell
Create table	`Ctrl + T`	`Cmd + T`	Convert selected data region to Excel table (with header row and filter)
Apply currency format	`Ctrl + Shift + $`	`Ctrl + Shift + $`	Quickly apply currency format
Clear cell contents	`Delete`	`Delete`	Delete cell contents but keep formatting
Delete to end of line	`Ctrl + Delete`	`Ctrl + Delete`	In edit mode, delete all content from cursor to end of line
Sort ascending	`Alt → A → S → A`	`Cmd + Shift + R`	Sort data by current column in ascending order
Sort descending	`Alt → A → S → D`	`Cmd + Shift + R`	Sort data by current column in descending order
Percentage format	`Ctrl + Shift + %`	`Ctrl + Shift + %`	Set selected cells to percentage format
Text to Columns	`Alt → A → E`	`Data → Text to Columns`	Split a column of text into multiple columns by delimiter
Apply number format with decimals	`Ctrl + Shift + !`	`Ctrl + Shift + !`	Apply number format with thousands separator (two decimals)
Insert chart	`Alt + F1`	`Option + F1`	Quickly insert default chart based on selected data into current worksheet
Insert chart sheet	`F11`	`F11`	Insert default chart in a new worksheet based on selected data
Insert hyperlink	`Ctrl + K`	`Cmd + K`	Add or edit hyperlink for selected cell

Excel Advanced Techniques Shortcuts

Paste special, freeze panes, grouping — become an Excel power user.

Action	Windows	Mac	Description
Paste Special	`Ctrl + Alt + V`	`Cmd + Option + V`	Open Paste Special dialog: paste values only, format, formulas, etc.
Select visible cells only	`Alt + ;`	`Cmd + Shift + Z`	When rows are filtered or hidden, select only visible cells
Select cells with comments	`Ctrl + Shift + O`	`Ctrl + Shift + O`	Select all cells containing comments on the worksheet
AutoFit column width	`Alt → H → O → I`	`Format → Column → AutoFit`	Auto-fit column width based on content
AutoFit row height	`Alt → H → O → A`	`Format → Row → AutoFit`	Auto-fit row height based on content
Open font settings	`Ctrl + Shift + F`	`Cmd + Shift + F`	Open Font tab to set font, size, color, etc.
Group rows or columns	`Alt + Shift + →`	`Cmd + Shift + K`	Create a group for selected rows or columns (can collapse/expand)
Ungroup	`Alt + Shift + ←`	`Cmd + Shift + J`	Remove grouping from selected rows or columns
Data Validation	`Alt → D → L`	`Data → Validation`	Set data validation rules for cells (e.g., dropdown list, value range)
Set font size	`Ctrl + Shift + P`	`Cmd + Shift + P`	Activate font size input box to directly enter a number
Freeze panes	`Alt → W → F → F`	`View → Freeze Panes`	Freeze rows above and columns to the left of the current cell
Select current region	`Ctrl + Shift + *`	`Ctrl + Shift + *`	Select the contiguous data region around the current cell
Spell check	`F7`	`F7`	Run spell check on the worksheet
Add outline border	`Ctrl + Shift + 7`	`Cmd + Option + 0`	Add outline border to selected cell range
Remove all borders	`Ctrl + Shift + _`	`Cmd + Option + _`	Remove all borders from selected cells

Back to Home to Practice

About This Excel Shortcut Cheat Sheet

This is a complete reference of 100+ Excel keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Excel 365, 2021, 2019, and 2016. Every shortcut is organized by category and shows both Windows and Mac key combinations side by side, making it easy to look up any shortcut regardless of your platform.

Unlike PDF cheat sheets that you download and forget, this page is searchable (use Ctrl+F in your browser), always up-to-date, and linked to our interactive practice exercises. Once you've found a shortcut you want to learn, head to the Flash Cards or Practice Quiz to practice it hands-on, or test yourself under pressure in the 60-second Speed Challenge.

Want to learn shortcuts in context? Our real-world scenario exercises present workplace tasks where you pick the best shortcut. Beginners should start with the step-by-step interactive tutorials, then move to category-specific practice: Basics, Navigation, Formatting, Formulas, Data Processing, or Advanced.

Need a printable version? Simply press Ctrl + P to print this page directly from your browser — the layout is print-friendly with clean tables.

Excel Cheat Sheet FAQ

Can I download this Excel shortcut list as a PDF?

Yes — use your browser's built-in print function (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac) and select "Save as PDF" as the destination. The page is formatted for clean printing with all shortcut tables intact.

Do these shortcuts work in Google Sheets too?

Many basic shortcuts (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+B, etc.) work identically in Google Sheets. However, some Excel-specific shortcuts like Alt key sequences for ribbon commands, F4 for absolute references, and Ctrl+1 for Format Cells won't work in Google Sheets, which has its own set of unique shortcuts.

What's the difference between Excel 365 and Excel 2016 shortcuts?

The vast majority of shortcuts are identical across Excel versions. The main differences are in newer functions (like XLOOKUP, only available in Excel 365) and some ribbon shortcut sequences that may have different Alt key paths if Microsoft reorganized the ribbon tabs. Core shortcuts like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+1, F4, and Alt+= have remained the same for decades.

Which Excel shortcuts should beginners learn first?

Start with the "Basics" category at the top of this page: Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V), Undo (Ctrl+Z), Save (Ctrl+S), Find (Ctrl+F), and Select All (Ctrl+A). Then move to essential navigation shortcuts like Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+Arrow keys. Our beginner tutorials walk you through these step by step.