Excel is amazing, but let’s be real—clicking around too much can slow you down. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, learning a few lesser-known keyboard shortcuts can seriously speed up your work. In this article, we’ll cover shortcuts that work for both Windows and Mac, so get ready to take your Excel game to the next level!
1. Ctrl + Shift + L (Windows & Mac): Apply or Remove Filters
- Need to filter data fast? This shortcut toggles filters on or off without you needing to dig through menus. Super handy when working with large datasets and wanting to quickly find specific information.
2. Ctrl + ; (Windows & Mac): Insert Current Date
- No more manually typing the date! Just press Ctrl + ; on Windows or Command + ; on Mac, and Excel will automatically insert today’s date into the selected cell. Perfect for keeping your data fresh without the hassle.
3. Ctrl + Shift + ” (Windows & Mac): Copy Value from Cell Above
- Need to quickly copy the value from the cell above? Instead of the usual copy-paste routine, just hit Ctrl + Shift + “, and the value will be copied down instantly. Great for repetitive tasks.
4. Alt + Enter (Windows) / Option + Enter (Mac): Add a New Line in the Same Cell
- Tired of cramming everything into one line in a cell? Use Alt + Enter on Windows or Option + Enter on Mac to add a line break within the same cell. Perfect for making your data look neat and organized, especially for comments or multi-line information.
5. Ctrl + Shift + $ (Windows & Mac): Apply Currency Format
- Working with financial data? You can quickly format numbers as currency by using Ctrl + Shift + $. No need to open formatting options—just a quick shortcut, and your numbers are money-ready.
6. Ctrl + Shift + _ (Windows & Mac): Remove Borders
- Got too many borders cluttering up your sheet? Hit Ctrl + Shift + _, and Excel will remove all borders from the selected cells. Quick, clean, and it saves you from manually adjusting cell borders.
7. Ctrl + Shift + + (Plus) (Windows) / Command + Shift + + (Plus) (Mac): Insert New Cells, Rows, or Columns
- Need to add a new row, column, or block of cells? Use Ctrl + Shift + + (Plus) on Windows or Command + Shift + + (Plus) on Mac to instantly insert new space where you need it. Way faster than right-clicking and navigating through the insert menu.
8. Ctrl + (Grave Accent) (Windows & Mac): Show Formulas
- Want to quickly see all the formulas in your sheet without clicking each cell? Ctrl +
(Grave Accent)** on Windowsor Mac toggles the view between values and formulas, so you can check your work easily.
9. Ctrl + Shift + # (Windows) / Command + Shift + # (Mac): Apply Date Format
- Formatting dates just got easier. Highlight your data and press Ctrl + Shift + # on Windows or Command + Shift + # on Mac to instantly apply a standard date format (e.g., 01-Jan-2024). No more manual date formatting needed!
10. Ctrl + Space (Windows & Mac): Select Entire Column / Shift + Space (Windows & Mac): Select Entire Row
- Quickly select an entire column or row with Ctrl + Space (Windows) or Command + Space (Mac) for columns, and Shift + Space (on both systems) for rows. Super useful when working with large datasets and needing to apply formatting or changes to a whole row or column at once.
Bonus: F4 (Windows) / Command + Y (Mac): Repeat Last Action
- Just performed an action and need to do it again? Press F4 on Windows or Command + Y on Mac, and Excel will repeat the last thing you did—whether it’s formatting, inserting cells, or something else. This one can save you tons of clicks!
Why These Shortcuts Matter
Mastering these shortcuts will make you way faster in Excel, whether you’re using Windows or Mac. Whether you’re crunching numbers, organizing data, or just trying to streamline your workflow, these little tricks can make a big difference. And of course, impressing your coworkers with your Excel wizardry is always a bonus.
Try these shortcuts out, and watch your productivity skyrocket!
Besides mastering shortcuts, you should also learn the basic formulas to get even more productive with Excel. One of the must-know basic formulas is VLOOKUP. Check out this post to learn more: Excel : Using VlookUp Formula to Perform Data Comparison.
