Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel, released in 1985, is the world’s most popular spreadsheet software, used by over 750 million people globally. Known for its powerful formulas and charts, Excel can do everything from simple budgeting to complex data analysis. Fun fact: Excel supports over 17 billion cells in a single worksheet! It even has an Easter egg—older versions hid mini-games like flight simulators. Whether you’re a student, accountant, or data wizard, Excel is where numbers come to life.

Shortcuts

Frequently used shortcuts

Window	Mac	Description
`AltHB`	❌	Add borders.
`Ctrl9`	❌	Hide the selected rows.
`AltW`	❌	Go to the View tab.
`AltHAC`	❌	Center align cell contents.
`Ctrl0`	❌	Hide the selected columns.
`AltM`	❌	Go to the Formula tab.
`AltP`	❌	Go to the Page Layout tab.
`CtrlO`	❌	Open a workbook.
`Del`	❌	Remove cell contents.
`CtrlW`	❌	Close a workbook.
`CtrlX`	❌	Cut selection.
`CtrlS`	❌	Save a workbook.
`AltHH`	❌	Choose a fill color.
`AltN`	❌	Go to the Insert tab.
`CtrlC`	❌	Copy selection.
`AltH`	❌	Go to the Home tab.
`CtrlV`	❌	Paste selection.
`AltA`	❌	Go to the Data tab.
`CtrlB`	❌	Apply bold formatting.
`AltHDC`	❌	Delete column.
`ShiftF10`	❌	Open the context menu.
`CtrlZ`	❌	Undo recent action.

Ribbon menu

Window	Mac	Description
`AltN`	❌	Open the Insert tab and insert PivotTables, charts, add-ins, Sparklines, pictures, shapes, headers, or text boxes.
`AltF`	❌	Open the File menu.
`AltH`	❌	Open the Home tab and format text and numbers and use the Find tool.
`AltM`	❌	Open the Formulas tab and insert, trace, and customize functions and calculations.
`AltA`	❌	Open the Data tab and connect to, sort, filter, analyze, and work with data.
`AltR`	❌	Open the Review tab and check spelling, add notes and threaded comments, and protect sheets and workbooks.
`AltP`	❌	Open the Page Layout tab and work with themes, page setup, scale, and alignment.
`AltW`	❌	Open the View tab and preview page breaks and layouts, show and hide gridlines and headings, set zoom magnification, manage windows and panes, and view macros.
`AltQ`	❌	Move to the Tell me or Search field on the ribbon and type a search term for assistance or Help content.

Work in the ribbon

Window	Mac	Description
`↓`	❌	Open the list for a selected command.
`Alt↓`	❌	Open the menu for a selected button.
`Tab`	❌	Move the focus to commands on the ribbon or add-in pane.
`←`	❌	Move to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected.
`CtrlF1`	❌	Expand or collapse the ribbon.
`Space`	❌	Activate a selected button.
`Alt`	❌	Select the active tab on the ribbon and activate the access keys.
`ShiftF10`	❌	Open a context menu.
`CtrlShiftF10`	❌	Show the tooltip for the ribbon element currently in focus.
`Ctrl←`	❌	Move from one group of controls to another.(or, Right arrow key)

Navigating in cells

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlAlt-`	❌	Zoom out.
`Esc`	❌	Exit the floating shape navigation and return to the normal navigation.
`CtrlShiftEnd`	❌	Extend the selection of cells to the last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner).
`CtrlPgUp`	❌	Move to the previous sheet in a workbook.
`PgDn`	❌	Move one screen down in a worksheet.
`Arrow Keys`	❌	Move one cell up, down, left, and right in a worksheet.
`AltPgUp`	❌	Move one screen to the left in a worksheet.
`Alt↓`	❌	Open the list of validation choices on a cell that has data validation option applied to it.
`Tab`	❌	Move one cell to the right in a worksheet. Or, in a protected worksheet, move between unlocked cells.
`CtrlEnd`	❌	Move to the last cell on a worksheet, to the lowest used row of the rightmost used column.
`PgUp`	❌	Move one screen up in a worksheet.
`End`	❌	Enter the End mode, move to the next nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, and turn off End mode. If the cells are blank, move to the last cell in the row or column.
`HomeScrLk`	❌	Move to the cell in the upper-left corner of the window when Scroll lock is turned on.
`AltPgDn`	❌	Move one screen to the right in a worksheet.
`ShiftTab`	❌	Move to the previous cell in a worksheet or the previous option in a dialog box.
`CtrlAlt5`	❌	Cycle through floating shapes, such as text boxes or images.
`CtrlPgDn`	❌	Move to the next sheet in a workbook.
`CtrlAlt=`	❌	Zoom in.
`CtrlArrow Keys`	❌	Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet.
`CtrlHome`	❌	Move to the beginning of a worksheet.

Formatting cells

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlShift6`	❌	Apply the Scientific number format with two decimal places.
`CtrlI`	❌	Italicize text or remove italic formatting.(or, Ctrl + 3)
`CtrlShiftG`	❌	Open the Workbook Statistics dialog box.
`Ctrl'`	❌	Copy a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the formula bar.
`Ctrl1`	❌	Open the Format Cells dialog box.
`CtrlU`	❌	Underline text or remove underline.(or, Ctrl + 4)
`CtrlK`	❌	Open the Insert hyperlink dialog box.
`Ctrl6`	❌	Switch between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects.
`CtrlShift7`	❌	Apply an outline border to the selected cells.
`Ctrl;`	❌	Enter the current date.
`F7`	❌	Check spelling in the active worksheet or selected range.
`CtrlD`	❌	Use the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below.
`CtrlShift-`	❌	Open the Delete dialog box to delete selected cells.
`CtrlShiftF`	❌	Format fonts in the Format Cells dialog box.
`CtrlAltV`	❌	Open the Paste Special dialog box.
`CtrlShift-`	❌	Remove the outline border from the selected cells.
`CtrlL`	❌	Display the Create Table dialog box.(or, Ctrl + T)
`CtrlShift3`	❌	Apply the Date format with the day, month, and year.
`CtrlShift+`	❌	Open the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells.
`CtrlShift4`	❌	Apply the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses).
`CtrlShift5`	❌	Apply the Percentage format with no decimal places.
`CtrlShift``	❌	Apply the General number format.
`Ctrl8`	❌	Display or hide the outline symbols.
`CtrlShift1`	❌	Apply the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values.
`CtrlShift2`	❌	Apply the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM.
`Ctrl5`	❌	Apply or remove strikethrough formatting.
`F2`	❌	Edit the active cell and put the insertion point at the end of its contents.
`CtrlB`	❌	Bold text or remove bold formatting.(or, Ctrl + 2)
`CtrlShift;`	❌	Enter the current time.
`Ctrl``	❌	Switch between displaying cell values or formulas in the worksheet.
`CtrlShiftF2`	❌	Insert a threaded comment. Or open and reply to a threaded comment.
`ShiftF2`	❌	Insert a note or open and edit a cell note.
`CtrlQ`	❌	Display the Quick Analysis options for selected cells that contain data.

Paste special dialog box

Window	Mac	Description
`A`	❌	Paste all cell contents and formatting.
`F`	❌	Paste only the formulas as entered in the formula bar.
`V`	❌	Paste only the values (not the formulas).
`T`	❌	Paste only the copied formatting.
`C`	❌	Paste only comments and notes attached to the cell.
`N`	❌	Paste only the data validation settings from copied cells.
`H`	❌	Paste all cell contents and formatting from copied cells.
`X`	❌	Paste all cell contents without borders.
`W`	❌	Paste only column widths from copied cells.
`R`	❌	Paste only formulas and number formats from copied cells.
`U`	❌	Paste only the values (not formulas) and number formats from copied cells.

Making selections and performing actions

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlA`	❌	Select the entire worksheet.
`CtrlShiftPgDn`	❌	Select the current and next sheet in a workbook.
`CtrlShiftPgUp`	❌	Select the current and previous sheet in a workbook.
`ShiftArrow Keys`	❌	Extend the selection of cells by one cell.
`CtrlShiftArrow Keys`	❌	Extend the selection of cells to the last nonblank cell in the same column or row as the active cell, or if the next cell is blank, to the next nonblank cell.
`F8`	❌	Turn extend mode on and use the arrow keys to extend a selection. Press again to turn off.
`ShiftF8`	❌	Add a non-adjacent cell or range to a selection of cells by using the arrow keys.
`AltEnter`	❌	Start a new line in the same cell.
`CtrlEnter`	❌	Fill the selected cell range with the current entry.
`ShiftEnter`	❌	Complete a cell entry and select the cell above.
`CtrlSpace`	❌	Select an entire column in a worksheet.
`ShiftSpace`	❌	Select an entire row in a worksheet.
`CtrlShiftSpace`	❌	Select all objects on a worksheet when an object is selected.
`CtrlShiftHome`	❌	Extend the selection of cells to the beginning of the worksheet.
`CtrlShift8`	❌	Select the current region around the active cell.
`Home`	❌	Select the first command on the menu when a menu or submenu is visible.
`CtrlY`	❌	Repeat the last command or action, if possible.

Working with data, functions, and the formula bar

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlAltP`	❌	Turn on or off tooltips for checking formulas directly in the formula bar or in the cell you’re editing.
`F2`	❌	Edit the active cell and put the insertion point at the end of its contents. Or, if editing is turned off for the cell, move the insertion point into the formula bar. If editing a formula, toggle Point mode off or on so you can use the arrow keys to create a reference.
`CtrlShiftU`	❌	Expand or collapse the formula bar.
`Esc`	❌	Cancel an entry in the cell or formula bar.
`Enter`	❌	Complete an entry in the formula bar and select the cell below.
`CtrlEnd`	❌	Move the cursor to the end of the text when in the formula bar.
`CtrlShiftEnd`	❌	Select all text in the formula bar from the cursor position to the end.
`F9`	❌	Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks.
`ShiftF9`	❌	Calculate the active worksheet.
`CtrlAltF9`	❌	Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether they have changed since the last calculation.
`CtrlAltShiftF9`	❌	Check dependent formulas, and then calculate all cells in all open workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be calculated.
`AltShiftF10`	❌	Display the menu or message for an Error Checking button.
`CtrlA`	❌	Display the Function Arguments dialog box when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
`CtrlShiftA`	❌	Insert argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
`Alt=`	❌	Insert the AutoSum formula
`CtrlE`	❌	Invoke Flash Fill to automatically recognize patterns in adjacent columns and fill the current column
`F4`	❌	Cycle through all combinations of absolute and relative references in a formula if a cell reference or range is selected.
`ShiftF3`	❌	Insert a function.
`CtrlShift'`	❌	Copy the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the formula bar.
`AltF1`	❌	Create an embedded chart of the data in the current range.
`F11`	❌	Create a chart of the data in the current range in a separate Chart sheet.
`AltMMD`	❌	Define a name to use in references.
`F3`	❌	Paste a name from the Paste Name dialog box (if names have been defined in the workbook).
`Enter`	❌	Move to the first field in the next record of a data form.
`AltF8`	❌	Create, run, edit, or delete a macro.
`AltF11`	❌	Open the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Editor.
`AltF12`	❌	Open the Power Query Editor

Refresh external data

Window	Mac	Description
`Esc`	❌	Stop a refresh operation.
`CtrlF5`	❌	Refresh data in the current worksheet.
`CtrlAltF5`	❌	Refresh all data in the workbook.

Power Pivot

Window	Mac	Description
`ShiftF10`	❌	Open the context menu for the selected cell, column, or row.
`CtrlA`	❌	Select the entire table.
`CtrlC`	❌	Copy selected data.
`CtrlD`	❌	Delete the table.
`CtrlM`	❌	Move the table.
`CtrlR`	❌	Rename the table.
`CtrlS`	❌	Save the file.
`CtrlY`	❌	Redo the last action.
`CtrlZ`	❌	Undo the last action.
`CtrlSpace`	❌	Select the current column.
`ShiftSpace`	❌	Select the current row.
`ShiftPgDn`	❌	Select all cells from the current location to the last cell of the column.
`ShiftPgUp`	❌	Select all cells from the current location to the first cell of the column.
`ShiftEnd`	❌	Select all cells from the current location to the last cell of the row.
`ShiftHome`	❌	Select all cells from the current location to the first cell of the row.
`CtrlPgUp`	❌	Move to the previous table.
`CtrlPgDn`	❌	Move to the next table.
`CtrlHome`	❌	Move to the first cell in the upper-left corner of selected table.
`CtrlEnd`	❌	Move to the last cell in the lower-right corner of selected table.
`CtrlEsc`	❌	Close a dialog box or cancel a process, such as a paste operation.
`Alt↓`	❌	Open the AutoFilter Menu dialog box.
`F5`	❌	Open the Go To dialog box.
`F9`	❌	Recalculate all formulas in the Power Pivot window. For more information, see Recalculate Formulas in Power Pivot.