Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
The Excel shortcuts that save the most time — Mac and Windows keys side by side, ready to copy.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit active cell | ⌃U or F2 | F2 | |
| Enter same value in all selected cells | ⌃⏎ | Ctrl+Enter | |
| Insert current date | ⌃; | Ctrl+; | |
| AutoSum | ⌘⇧T | Alt+= | |
| Select entire column / row | ⌃Space / ⇧Space | Ctrl+Space / Shift+Space | |
| Go to edge of data region | ⌘Arrow | Ctrl+Arrow | |
| Select to edge of data | ⌘⇧Arrow | Ctrl+Shift+Arrow | |
| Fill down / right | ⌃D / ⌃R | Ctrl+D / Ctrl+R | |
| Toggle absolute reference | ⌘T | F4 | |
| Format as currency | ⌃⇧$ | Ctrl+Shift+$ | |
| Format as percent | ⌃⇧% | Ctrl+Shift+% | |
| Open Format Cells | ⌘1 | Ctrl+1 | |
| Create table | ⌘T | Ctrl+T | |
| Insert / delete rows | ⌘⇧+ / ⌘- | Ctrl+Shift++ / Ctrl+- |
The two that matter most
Two shortcuts do most of the heavy lifting in Excel. ⌘/Ctrl + Arrow jumps to the last non-empty cell in that direction — instantly get to the bottom of a 50,000-row column without scrolling. Add Shift to select everything on the way. And F4 (⌘T on Mac) cycles a cell reference through absolute and mixed forms ($A$1 → A$1 → $A1 → A1) while you edit a formula, so you never retype dollar signs.
Fill without dragging
Select a range that starts with your source cell and press Ctrl+D (down) or Ctrl+R (right) to copy the formula into the rest — faster and more precise than dragging the fill handle.
FAQ
Do Excel shortcuts differ between Mac and Windows?
Yes for the modifier keys — Windows uses Ctrl and Alt where the Mac uses ⌘ and ⌥ — but the letter keys are almost identical. This page lists both. A few Windows keys (like Alt+= for AutoSum) map to different combos on the Mac.
What is the shortcut to enter a formula in every selected cell at once?
Type the formula, then press Ctrl+Enter (⌃⏎ on Mac) instead of Enter. Excel fills the whole selection, adjusting relative references per cell.
How do I toggle absolute references quickly?
While editing a formula, put the cursor in the reference and press F4 on Windows (⌘T on Mac). Repeat to cycle through $A$1, A$1, $A1, A1.