Change Case Keyboard Shortcut
Select text and press Shift+F3 to cycle UPPERCASE, lowercase, and Capitalized Case.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle case (Word & Outlook) | fn+⇧F3 | Shift+F3 | |
| ALL CAPS (Word, Windows) | ⌃⌘K is small caps | Ctrl+Shift+A | |
| Change Case menu (Word ribbon) | Home tab › Aa button | Home tab › Aa button | |
| Capitalization (Google Docs) | Format › Text › Capitalization | Format › Text › Capitalization | |
| Transform case (macOS apps) | Edit › Transformations | — | |
| UPPER / LOWER / PROPER (Excel) | =UPPER(A1) / =LOWER(A1) / =PROPER(A1) | =UPPER(A1) / =LOWER(A1) / =PROPER(A1) |
Fix the caps without retyping
Select the text, then press Shift+F3 (Windows) or fn+⇧F3 (Mac) in Microsoft Word. Each press cycles the selection through UPPERCASE, lowercase, and Capitalize Each Word — no retyping. The same key works in Outlook, because the message body uses the Word editor.
The Change Case button (5 modes)
If you forget the key, the Word ribbon has it visually: Home tab › the Aa button (next to the font size). It offers five options: Sentence case, lowercase, UPPERCASE, Capitalize Each Word, and tOGGLE cASE. Shift+F3 only cycles the middle three; the button is the only way to reach Sentence case and tOGGLE cASE directly.
Google Docs, macOS and Excel
Google Docs has no cycle key — use Format > Text > Capitalization (lowercase / UPPERCASE / Title Case). On the Mac, most native apps (TextEdit, Mail, Notes) expose Edit > Transformations > Make Upper Case / Make Lower Case / Capitalize — also on the right-click menu. Excel has no case shortcut at all: use the formulas =UPPER(A1), =LOWER(A1), or =PROPER(A1) in a helper column, then paste the result back as values.
Windows all-caps direct
In Word on Windows, Ctrl+Shift+A forces ALL CAPS on the selection directly — handy when you only ever want uppercase and don't want to cycle through the other states.
FAQ
How do I change case in Word?
Select the text and press Shift+F3 (fn+⇧F3 on Mac) to cycle UPPERCASE, lowercase, and Capitalized Case. Or use the Aa 'Change Case' button on the Home tab for all five modes.
What is the all-caps shortcut in Word?
Ctrl+Shift+A applies ALL CAPS to the selected text on Windows. On Mac, cycle with fn+⇧F3 or use the Change Case button.
Does Shift+F3 work in Google Docs?
No — Shift+F3 is a Microsoft Word feature. In Google Docs use Format > Text > Capitalization (lowercase, UPPERCASE, or Title Case).
How do I change case in Excel?
Excel has no case shortcut. Use the formulas =UPPER(A1), =LOWER(A1), or =PROPER(A1) in a helper column, then paste the results back as values.
Is there a change case shortcut on Mac outside Word?
Yes — in most native macOS apps (TextEdit, Mail, Notes) select the text and use Edit > Transformations > Make Upper Case / Make Lower Case / Capitalize, also available on the right-click menu.
What are the five Change Case options in Word?
Sentence case, lowercase, UPPERCASE, Capitalize Each Word, and tOGGLE cASE. Shift+F3 only cycles the middle three; the Aa button reaches all five.