Excel shortcuts

General Program Shortcuts

First, let’s take a look at some general keyboard shortcuts for manipulating workbooks, getting help, and a few other interface-related actions.

• Ctrl+N: Create a new workbook
• Ctrl+O: Open an existing workbook
• Ctrl+S: Save a workbook
• F12: Open the Save As dialog box
• Ctrl+W: Close a workbook
• Ctrl+F4: Close Excel
• F4: Repeat the last command or action. For example, if the last thing you typed in a cell is “hello,” or if you change the font color, clicking another cell and pressing F4 repeats that action in the new cell.
• Shift+F11: Insert a new worksheet
• Ctrl+Z: Undo an action
• Ctrl+Y: Redo an action
• Ctrl+F2: Switch to Print Preview
• F1: Open the Help pane
• Alt+Q: Go to the “Tell me what you want to do” box
• F7: Check spelling
• F9: Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks
• Shift+F9: Calculate active worksheets
• Alt or F10: Turn key tips on or off
• Ctrl+F1: Show or hide the ribbon
• Ctrl+Shift+U: Expand or collapse the formula bar
• Ctrl+F9: Minimize the workbook window
• F11: Create a bar chart based on selected data (on a separate sheet)
• Alt+F1: Create an embedded bar chart based on select data (same sheet)
• Ctrl+F: Search in a spreadsheet, or use Find and Replace
• Alt+F: Open the File tab menu
• Alt+H: Go to the Home tab
• Alt+N: Open the Insert tab
• Alt+P: Go to the Page Layout tab
• Alt+M: Go to the Formulas tab
• Alt+A: Go to the Data tab
• Alt+R: Go to the Review tab
• Alt+W: Go to the View tab
• Alt+X: Go to the Add-ins tab
• Alt+Y: Go to the Help tab
• Ctrl+Tab: Switch between open workbooks
• Shift+F3: Insert a function
• Alt+F8: Create, run, edit, or delete a macro
• Alt+F11: Open the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications Editor