Excel Filter Shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+L / ⌘⇧F)
Click any cell in your data, then press Ctrl+Shift+L on Windows or ⌘⇧F (Command+Shift+F) on the Mac to switch AutoFilter drop-downs on or off in Excel.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggle AutoFilter on/off | ⌘⇧F | Ctrl+Shift+L | |
| Open filter menu on active column | ⌥↓ | Alt+↓ | |
| Clear all filters (Data tab) | — | Alt+A+C | |
| Reapply current filter | — | Ctrl+Alt+L |
Turn filtering on, then narrow the data
Select a cell inside the range first. Ctrl+Shift+L (Windows) / ⌘⇧F (Mac) adds the filter arrows to every header. With a column selected, Alt+↓ (Windows) / ⌥↓ (Mac) opens that column’s filter menu so you can pick values from the keyboard. Press the toggle again to remove all the drop-downs.
Windows vs Mac
The toggle differs by platform: Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+L, while Excel for Mac uses ⌘⇧F. To clear a filter without turning AutoFilter off, use the Data tab (Alt+A+C on Windows); Mac has no single-key clear, so use Data → Clear.
FAQ
What is the filter shortcut in Excel?
Press Ctrl+Shift+L on Windows or ⌘⇧F (Command+Shift+F) on the Mac. It toggles the AutoFilter drop-down arrows on your header row.
How do I open a column’s filter menu with the keyboard?
Select a header cell and press Alt+↓ on Windows or ⌥↓ (Option+Down) on the Mac.
Why does Ctrl+Shift+L not work on my Mac?
Excel for Mac uses ⌘⇧F instead of Ctrl+Shift+L for AutoFilter. Make sure Excel, not another app, has focus.