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Excel 2016 Shortcuts

This is a major rework compared to previous versions. This should be one of the most complete Shortcut
References for Excel updated to the latest versions. Most all shortcuts are most likely to work exactly the same
on previous versions. Overall if you are a legacy Excel user, try to get used to the Ribbon Shortcuts; they seem
cumbersome at first; but worth the effort learning.
1. Navigate Worksheets
Arrow Keys

Navigate by one cell at a time in any direction

Page Down / Page Up

Move one screen down / up

Alt + Page Down / Page Up

Move one screen right / left

Tab / Shift + Tab

Move one cell to the right/ to the left in a worksheet

Ctrl + Arrow Keys

Move to the edge of next data region (cells that contains data)

Home

Move to the beginning of row

Ctrl + Home

Move to the beginning of worksheet

Ctrl + End

Move to the last cell with content of worksheet

Ctrl + G

Display the G o To dialog box

Ctrl + G then type e.g. A50

Go to line 50, Column A

Ctrl + G then type e.g. G1

Go to column G, Line 1

2. Select Cells
Basic Selects
Shift + Arrow Keys

Extend selection by one cell

Shift + Page Down / Page Up

Extend selection one screen down/ up

Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys

Extend selection to next non-blank cell

Shift + Home

Extend selection to beginning of the row (unfortunately, there is

no Shift + End equivalent)

Ctrl + A with no data nearby current

cell

Select a ll

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Ctrl + A with data nearby current cell

Select a ll cells in data-containing area. Press twice to select

everything

Ctrl + Shift + Home

Extend selection to first cell of the worksheet

Ctrl + Shift + End

Extend selection to last used cell on the worksheet (lower-right corner)

Shift + F8

Lock Selection Extend Mode - Select Cell Range, press Shift + F8 ,

move around, add to selection with Shift + Arrow Keys , etc.

Ctrl + G

Manual selection by row/ column via G o To menu.

A:B selects column A thru C,
1:3 selects row 1 thru 3 ,
A1:B3 select cells A1 thru B3, etc.

Column and Row Selection

Shift + Space

Select current row

Shift + Space , then

Shift + Arrow Down / Arrow Up

Select current row, then expand selection by one row down/ up

Shift + Space , then

Shift + Page Down / Page Up

Select current row, then expand selection by one page down/ up

Ctrl + Space

Select current column

Shift + Space , then

Shift + Arrow Right / Arrow Left

Select current column, then expand selection by one column right/ left

Shift + Space , then

Shift + Alt + Page Down / Page Up

Select current column, then expand selection by one screen right/ left

3. Juggle Rows, Columns, and Cells

Shift + Space , then Ctrl + -

Select single row; then delete

Shift + Space , Shift + Arrow Up / Arrow Down , then Ctrl + -

Select multiple rows; then delete

Shift + Space , Ctrl + Shift + +

Select single row; then insert one row

above

Shift + Space , Shift + Arrow Up / Arrow Down ,

then Ctrl + Shift + +

Select multiple rows; then insert the

same number rows below

Ctrl + Space , then Ctrl + -

Select single (or multiple) columns, then

delete

Ctrl + Space , then Ctrl + Shift + +

Select single row, then insert row below.

Select multiple rows to insert multiple
rows

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Ctrl + Shift + + with row(s) in clipboard and a row selected

Paste Insert - paste row(s) from clipboard

and shift existing content downward

Ctrl + Shift + + with column(s) in clipboard and column selected

Paste Insert - paste column(s) from

clipboard and shift existing content to the
right

Ctrl + Shift + +

With cells that are not complete

rows/columns - Open insert cell/ row/
column menu

Ctrl + -

With cells that are not complete

rows/columns - Open delete cell/ row/
column menu

Shift + Arrow Down , F2 , then Ctrl + Enter

Fill single cell content down to all cells

selected with Shift + Arrow Down

Shift + Arrow Up , F2 , then Ctrl + Enter

Fill single cell content up to all cells

selected with Shift + Arrow Down

4. Edit Cell Content

These assume you are inside a cell.
F2

Edit cell. Press Escape to cancel

Home / End

Jump to beginning/ end of cell

Arrow Keys

Navigate by one character left/ right or one line up/ down

Ctrl + Arrow Left / Arrow Right

Navigate by one word left/ right

Shift + Arrow Keys

Select one character to the left/ right (or one line up/down)

Shift + Home / End

Select from the insertion point to beginning/ end of cell

Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Left / Arrow

Right

Select or unselect one word to the left/ right

Delete / Backspace

Delete one character to the right/ left of cursor

Ctrl + Delete

Delete from cursor to end of cell

Alt + Enter

Start a new line inside cell

Enter / Shift + Enter

Complete cell entry and move one cell down/ up

Tab / Shift + Tab

Complete cell entry and move one cell right/ left

Ctrl + Enter

Complete cell entry and don't move selection

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Ctrl + '

Duplicate value from Cell above into current cell at cursor position

Ctrl + ;

Insert current date at cursor position

Ctrl + Shift + ;

Insert current time at cursor position

5. Duplicate Cells, Rows, and Columns

Ctrl + D

Fill D own from cell(s) above into current cell(s)

Ctrl + D with a row selected

Duplicate row via fill down - Fill current row with content from row
above.

Ctrl + D with multiple empty cells

selected

Duplicate content of first cell(s) in first row to all cells in selection

downward.

Ctrl + R

Fill R right from cell(s) on the left into current cell(s)

Ctrl + R with a column selected

Duplicate column via fill right - Fill current column with content from
column on the left.

Ctrl + D with multiple empty cells

selected

Duplicate content first cell(s) in first column to all cells in selection to

the right.

Ctrl + '

Duplicate formula from cell above

6. Undo, Redo, and Repeat Action

With Excel 2016 'redo' (undo an undo) and 'repeat' (repeat last action) became a bit confused. Ctrl + Y is a
repeat if no undo is present.
Ctrl + Z

Undo

Ctrl + Y

Redo (after undo) or Repeat (e.g. when applying formats)

Alt + 2

Undo list (via quick access). Use Arrow Down to extend undo range.

Alt + 3

Redo list (via quick access). Use Arrow Down to extend redo range.

Alt + Enter outside edit cell mode

Repeat last action. E.g. try to set a cell bold with Ctrl + B , then go to
a different cell and press Alt + Enter ; great to cascade formatting
across multiple cells

7. Cut, Copy, Paste, and Paste Special

Ctrl + X

Cut cell(s) to clipboard

Ctrl + C

Copy cell(s) to clipboard

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Ctrl + V

Paste cell(s) from clipboard

Ctrl + +

Insert Paste - Paste cell and push content downward or rightward.

Works great for entire rows and columns.

Ctrl + Alt + V

Open Paste Special Menu (requires a prior copy to Clipboard)

Ctrl + Alt + V , then V , Enter

Paste V alues

Ctrl + Alt + V , then T , Enter

Paste Forma t s

Ctrl + Alt + V , then E , Enter

Paste Transpos e d

Ctrl + Alt + V , then W , Enter

Paste Column W idth

Ctrl + Alt + V , then U , Enter

Paste Values and N u mber Formats

F3

Paste a defined name into a formula

8. Format Cells
General Cell Format
Ctrl + Alt + V , then T and Enter

Copy a cell via Ctrl + C , then via Paste Special, paste forma t of that
cell to current cell

Alt + Enter

Repeat a previous cell format action on current cell

Ctrl + 1

Open Format Cells dialog with last selection active

Ctrl + Shift + F

Open Format Cells dialog with F ont Tab active

Font Face, Font Decoration, and Cell Color

Ctrl + B

Apply/ remove b old format

Ctrl + I

Apply/ remove i talic format

Ctrl + U

Apply/ remove u nderline format

Ctrl + 5

Apply/ remove strikethrough formatting

Alt + H , FF

H ome select F ont F ace; type font name supported by autocomplete, or use Arrow Down to select.

Alt + H , FS

H ome select F ont S ize; use Arrow Key , then Enter to change
size

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Alt + H , FC , Escape , Enter

Assign current font color to selection via H ome F ont C olor. While
escaping the font-color drop-down, the focus stays on the icon; simply
press Enter to assign the current color.

Alt + HH , Escape , Enter

Assign current fill color to selected cell color via H ome H iglight Cell.
While escaping the highlight drop-down, the focus stays on the icon;
simply press Enter to assign the current color.

Alt + HH , then N

Set to N o fill color

Number Formats
Ctrl + Shift + ~

Apply the general number format (e.g. 1000)

Ctrl + Shift + 1

Apply the number format with two decimal places, thousands

separator (e.g. 1,000.00)

Ctrl + Shift + 2

Apply the time format with the hour and minute, and indicate AM or
PM

Ctrl + Shift + 3

Apply the date format with the day, month, and year

Ctrl + Shift + 4

Apply the currency format with two decimal places (e.g. $1,000.00)

Ctrl + Shift + 5

Apply the percentage format with no decimal places (e.g. 10%)

Ctrl + Shift + 6

Apply the scientific number format

Alignments
Alt + H , AL

A lign L eft

Alt + H , AR

A lign R ight

Alt + H , AC

A lign C ight

Alt + H , AT

A lign T op

Alt + H , AM

A lign M iddle

Alt + H , AB

A lign B ottom

Wrap and Merge

Alt + H , W

Wrap or unwrap text ( H ome - W rap Text)

Alt + H , MM

M erge cells - M erge

Alt + H , MU

M erge - U nmerge

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Alt + H , MC

M erge and C enter

Alt + H , MA

M erge A cross (merge all columns, but not rows in selection)

Border Shortcuts
There are only two direct shortcuts which apply or remove the complete outline. It seems the easiest to enter
the border menu, and then apply the shortcuts in the border menu.
Alt + H , BM

H ome - B order - M enu; technically it says 'more'.

Alt + T (in border menu)

Toggle T op border

Alt + B

Toggle B ottom border

Alt + R

Toggle R ight border

Alt + L

Toggle L eft border

Alt + H

Toggle H orizontal interior border

Alt + V

Toggle V ertical interior border

Alt + U

Toggle U pwards diagonal border

Alt + D

Toggle D ownwards diagonal border

Ctrl + Shift + &

Add outline borders from cell or selection

Ctrl + Shift + -

Remove outline borders from cell or selection

9. Find and Replace

Ctrl + F

Display the F ind and Replace dialog box (with find selected)

Ctrl + H

Display the find and replace dialog box (with replace selected)

Escape

Close the find and replace dialog Box (with focus on dialog box)

Shift + F4

Find bext (with search box closed)

Ctrl + Shift + F4

Find previous (with search box closed)

Alt + Tab , or Ctrl + F / H when

losing focus

Toggle focus between find/ replace dialog box and worksheet

Alt + F

F ind next with find dialog box active

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Alt + I

F i nd all with find dialog box active

* in search option

Use as asterix for searching multiple characters

? in search options

Use as wildcard for searching any single character, Use '~' before '?'
when searching special characters.
~* searches for *
~~ searches for ~
~? searches for ?

10. Formulas
Basics
=

Start a formula

Alt + =

Insert the AutoSum formula

Ctrl + A with formula present

Edit formula in formula B a r

Ctrl + Shift + U

Expand/ collapse formula bar

F4

After typing cell reference (e.g. =E4) makes reference absolute (=$E$4).
Repeat if you want to toggle from absolute reference to partial or
complete removal ($E$4 -> E$4 -> $E4 -> returning to E4.

Shift + F3 with empty cell

Display the 'insert function; dialog box

Shift + F3 with formula present

Edit arguments of formula at cursor position

Alt + H , FD , U

Select all Formulas ( H ome - F in d - Form u las

Ctrl + Shift + Enter with array

formula

Enter a formula as an array formula. Formula bar will show this as e.g.
{=SUM(A1:A3*B1:B3)} which is the sum of A1*B2+A2*B2+A3+B3. This
is an easy and concise method. Remember that each time editing the
formula will require the Ctrl + Shift + Enter . Some keyboards seem to
distinguish between left and right Shift key

Ctrl + ~

Show/ hide all formulas. This will automatically extend all column
widths which reverses when pressed again

Ctrl + '

Duplicate formula from cell above

F3

Paste named range in formula

Ctrl + Backspace

When navigated away while editing formula; jump back to active cell
while keeping formula intact.

Trace Dependents and Precedents

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Ctrl + [

Select direct precedents

Ctrl + Shift + [

Select all precedents

Ctrl + ]

Select direct dependents

Ctrl + Shift + ]

Select all dependents

Manual Calculation
F9

Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks

Shift + F9

Calculate the active worksheet

Ctrl + Alt + F9

Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks, regardless of whether

they have changed since the last calculation

Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9

Recheck dependent formulas, and then calculates all cells in all open
workbooks, including cells not marked as needing to be calculated

11. Manage Workbooks

Open and Save Workbooks
Ctrl + O

O pen file via standard open dialog box

Alt + F , O

F ile O pen via Excel file manager

Alt + F , O + 1 ... 9

Open recent file (1 thru 9)

Alt + F , O , Y , 1 ... Z

Open recent file (10 upwards)

Alt + F , O , K

F ile O pen from OneDrive Lin k

Ctrl + S

S ave File with current file name

F12

Save file as via standard save dialog box

Alt + F , A

F ile S a ve as via Excel file manager

Alt + F , A , K

F ile S a ve to OneDrive Lin k

Escape

Exit open/ save menu

Print Workbooks
Ctrl + P

Print. This won't offer Key Tips/ Options. To continue with shortcuts,
use the new Key Options below.

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Alt + F , P

Open F ile P rint menu

I in Print Menu

Select pr i nter

Alt + P if Key Tips disappear

Return P rint key tips/ options

V in Print Menu

Focus on V iew pane; use arrow keys to forward/ backward preview

pages

G in Print Menu

Pa g e setup

N in Print Menu

Set N umber of copies

12. Manage Worksheet Tabs

Ctrl + Page Down / Page Up

Move to the next/ previous worksheet in current workbook

Alt + H , IS

Insert worksheet ( H ome - I nsert S heet)

Alt + H , DS

Delete worksheet H ome - D elete S heet

Alt + H , OR

Rename worksheet ( H ome - F o rmat - R ename worksheet)

Alt + H , OM

Move worksheet ( H ome - F o rmat - M ove worksheet)

Alt + H , OT

Worksheet tab color, continue with mouse or arrow keys ( H ome F o rmat - T ab color)

13. Freeze, Split, and Hide

Alt + W + FF

Vie w - F reeze or un f reeze; unfreeze works for any Freeze Setting

Alt + W + R

Vie w - F reeze first visible R ow on screen

Alt + W + C

Vie w - F reeze first C olumn on screen

Ctrl + 9

Hide selected rows

Ctrl + Shift + 9

Unhide hidden rows within the selection

Ctrl + 0

Hide selected columns

Shift + F10 , then U

U nhide selected columns ( Ctrl + Shift + 0 not working in Excel

2010, 2013, or 2016)

Alt + WS

S plit or unsplit Worksheet at current position

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14. Auto Filter

Ctrl + Shift + L

Turn Autofi l ter on or off. Select table as necessary but many times
Excel figures out what you want.

Alt + Arrow Down

On the field with column head, display the AutoFilter list for the
current column. Press Escape to cancel

Arrow Down / Arrow Up and S ace

Select the next/ previous item in the AutoFilter list

Alt + Arrow Up

Close the AutoFilter list for the current column

Home / End

Select the first item/ last item in the AutoFilter list

15. Column Width and Row Height

It takes only a little bit patience to get used to set row-height and column-width using the pixels instead of the
mouse; but only after a short while getting used to the keyboard shortcuts, you won't go back. It can't get any
easier to exactly double or triple the row height by working with the values given.
Alt + HO

H ome - F o rmat Worksheet

H (in Format Worksheet Menu)

Set row H eight

A utofit row height

Set column W idth

Autof i t column width (Based on current cell; mark column if you

want to auto fit column based on widest cell)

Set D efault width (for all columns that haven't been changed yet)

16. Navigate Multi-Cell Selections

All these shortcuts assume multiple cells have been selected. Try with at least 2-3 columns and rows.
Tab / Shift + Tab

Move active cell right/ left in selection

Enter / Shift + Enter

Move active cell down/ up in selection

Shift + Backspace

Select only the active cell when multiple cells are selected

Ctrl + Backspace

Show active cell within selection; helps with large selections when
active cell is off screen

Ctrl + .

Move clockwise between the four corners of a selection

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Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Right / Arrow Left

Move to the right/ to the left between non-adjacent selections (with

multiple ranges selected)

Arrow Keys with active Selection

Cancel Selection

17. Comments and Hyperlinks

Ctrl + K

Insert or edit hyperlin K (for complete cell only)

Shift + F10 , then R

R emove one or multiple hyperlink(s)

Shift + F10 , then 2x O , then Enter

O pen hyperlink (In the Excel 2016 Context menu, 'O' is doubleassigned which require the extra keys)

Shift + F2

Insert/ edit a cell comment

1x Escape when in Comment,

then Arrow Keys

Move comment

2x Escape when in Comment

Escape comment editing and return to cell

Ctrl + Shift + O

Select all cells with c o mments

Shift + F10 , then M

Delete single co m ment (or multiple with multiple comments

selected)

18. Pivot Tables

Creating Pivot Tables with Shortcuts only seems to be nearly impossible; managing existing tables is doable.
Alt + NV

I n sert Pi v otTable after selecting data range. Follow up

with Alt + E for e xisting worksheet if desired, Tab , and type the
cell reference where it should go (e.g. C1)

F10 + R

R efresh PivotTable

Ctrl + -

Hide selected item

Alt + Arrow Down in header

Unhide item(s) by opening header drop-down and using Arrow

Keys and Space to unhide item

Type over any field with the value

hidden

Unhide item(s) (assume you have two fields 'color', and 'size' and you
hid 'color'. Go into 'size' field and type 'color' - this will unhide the
'color' field

Type over any field with another field in

same table

Flip current field value with the value typed

Ctrl + Shift + *

Select the entire PivotTable report

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Alt + Shift + Arrow Right

Group selected PivotTable items

Alt + Shift + Arrow Left

Ungroup selected PivotTable items when on group header

ALT + JTX

E x and all fields

ALT + JTP

Colla p se all fields

Ctrl + Shift + +

Insert pivot formula/ calculated field

Alt + F1

Create Pivot Chart in same Worksheet

F1

Create Pivot Chart in new Worksheet

19. Excel Auto Tables and Data Forms

Auto Tables
Ctrl + T

Create auto T able from selection

Shift + Space

Select table column

Ctrl + Space

Select table row

Data Forms
Tab / Shift + Tab

Move to the next/ previous field which can be edited

Enter / Shift + Enter

Move to the first field in the next/ previous record

Page Down / Page Up

Move to the same field 10 records forward/ back

Ctrl + Page Down

Move to a new record

Ctrl + Page Up

Move to the first record

Home / End

Move to the beginning/ end of a field

20. Group Rows and Columns

Alt + Shift + Arrow Right

Group rows or columns

Alt + Shift + Arrow Left

Ungroup rows or columns

Alt + AH

D a ta H ide detail

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Alt + AJ

D a ta Show Detail ( j is next to h on keyboard thats probably why

they picked 'J' instead of something else)

Ctrl + 8

Display or hides the outline symbols

Alt +ASCII Code

Enter ASCII code, e.g. Alt +0169 inserts Symbol

21. The Rest

Ctrl + F1

Minimize/ restore Excel ribbons

Ctrl after selecting at least 2 rows and

2 columns

Display format, chart, totals, tables, and spark lines menus

Shift + F7

Display the thesaurus dialog box

F7

Display the spelling dialog box

Alt + F , IE

Enable Editing for protected view ( F ile I nfo E nable Editing)

Alt + F4

Close Excel

F1

Help

Alt + '

Style dialog box

Ctrl + F3

Define a name or dialog

Ctrl + Shift + F3

Create names from row and column labels

Alt + F1

Create and insert chart with data in current range as embedded Chart
Object

F11

Create and insert chart with data in current range in a separate Chart
Sheet

Alt + F11

Open VBA editor window

Ctrl + F6

Scroll between open workbooks

Alt + F8

Display macro dialog box