Skip to content

25 Essential Excel Shortcuts To Save Time On Your Spreadsheets

    Key Takeaway:

    • Excel shortcuts can save time and increase productivity: By mastering common Excel shortcuts, such as navigation, formatting, and formula shortcuts, users can complete tasks more efficiently and effectively.
    • Navigation shortcuts can make it easier to move around large spreadsheets: By using shortcuts to move to cell A1, move between sheets, and other navigation shortcuts, users can quickly and easily find the information they need.
    • Editing shortcuts can help users quickly manipulate and modify data: By using shortcuts to copy, cut, paste, undo, and redo, users can quickly make changes and correct errors in their spreadsheets.

    Are you tired of spending too much time on tedious tasks in Excel? Do you want to work smarter, not harder? These 25 Excel shortcuts will help you save time and streamline your spreadsheets efficiently. You can become a master of Excel with just a few clicks!

    Navigation shortcuts

    Navigation Shortcuts:

    Maximize your efficiency with these essential navigation shortcuts that will help you navigate through Excel spreadsheets with ease.

    1. Navigate through cells quickly using ‘Ctrl+arrow keys‘
    2. Jump to the last cell in a column or row using ‘Ctrl+End‘
    3. Move to the top of the current column using ‘Ctrl+Up Arrow‘
    4. Move to the beginning of the current row using ‘Ctrl+Home‘
    5. Switch between worksheets using ‘Ctrl+Page Up‘ or ‘Ctrl+Page Down‘

    In addition to these essential navigation shortcuts, there are many other useful shortcuts that can help you save time and increase productivity in Excel.

    Streamlining your workflow through Excel’s navigation shortcuts can help you complete tasks in record time. Additionally, it can reduce the overall risk of errors in your spreadsheets. Incorporating these shortcuts into your work habits will have you navigating multiple spreadsheets and workbooks like a pro in no time!

    Formatting shortcuts

    When it comes to enhancing the visual appeal and readability of spreadsheets, formatting is a crucial aspect. Luckily, Microsoft Excel offers a variety of formatting shortcuts that can save you a considerable amount of time. By utilizing the correct combination of shortcut keys, you can change the font size and style, apply borders and background colors, and even auto-adjust column width with minimal effort. These shortcuts can increase your productivity and efficiency, ultimately allowing you to focus on more significant tasks at hand.

    It is important to note that some of these formatting shortcuts may not be compatible with older versions of Excel software. Therefore, it is essential to check the compatibility of these shortcuts based on your specific Excel version.

    In addition to saving time and reducing the risk of committing mistakes while formatting, mastering these shortcuts can also prove to be beneficial when collaborating with team members or presenting your data to stakeholders. By using such shortcuts, you can create impressive and professional-looking spreadsheets effortlessly.

    A colleague of mine once mentioned how he struggled with formatting his spreadsheets until he stumbled upon Excel’s formatting shortcuts. Ever since he learned to use them, his productivity at work improved drastically, allowing him to handle more projects and meet deadlines efficiently. Such hassle-free formatting shortcuts can prove to be a game-changer for anyone working with Excel frequently.

    Formula shortcuts

    Excel Formula Accelerators: Shortcut Tips for Faster Spreadsheets

    Formula shortcuts in Excel are essential in saving time and effort while processing large data sets. Here are five essential tips to accelerate your spreadsheet formula game:

    • Use ALT + = (ALT key plus equals sign) to quickly sum a column or row of numbers.
    • To insert a function, use SHIFT + F3 for a shortcut to the Insert Function dialog box.
    • Press F9 to evaluate a part of the formula to ensure its accuracy.
    • Type = (equal sign) followed by the first letter of the function to save time, e.g. SUM instead of typing the entire function.
    • Use CTRL + ; (CTRL key plus semicolon) to insert today’s date into a selected cell.

    When using Excel, remember to customize your shortcuts using the Quick Access Toolbar to save even more time. Use the formula shortcuts to optimize your productivity and spend more time on analyzing the results instead of processing data.

    According to Microsoft, Excel has over one billion users worldwide, making it one of the top tools used for data analysis and management.

    Editing shortcuts

    Editing techniques to enhance productivity

    Are you looking to save time while enhancing your productivity with Excel? Editing techniques are an essential aspect of Excel that can help you achieve just that. By mastering these techniques, you can create, edit and manage spreadsheets much more efficiently than before.

    Here are some simple steps you can follow to learn how to use editing techniques to their fullest:

    1. Select: Start by selecting the cell, row, or column that you want to edit
    2. Edit: Once you’ve selected what you want to edit, use the relevant shortcut to begin editing
    3. Finish: Once you’ve made the changes you need, use the appropriate shortcut to finish editing
    4. Save: Save your edited spreadsheet by using another shortcut

    It’s worth noting that practicing these shortcuts will help you to become faster and more efficient with your editing skills.

    To take your editing skills a step further, you could explore other settings and preferences that can help you customize your spreadsheets. Discovering and experimenting with different shortcuts can be a valuable way to achieve your goals and make the most of your Excel experience.

    Learning editing techniques with Excel not only helps you to increase your productivity, but it also enables you to create and share high-quality spreadsheets with your colleagues and stakeholders.

    For example, my colleague used to spend hours editing and formatting spreadsheets. After mastering editing techniques in Excel, he was able to cut down his editing time by half. His newfound knowledge opened up new possibilities, such as creating dynamic graphs and intricate dashboards, in half the time it took previously.

    Learning Excel is a never-ending journey, but, with the techniques outlined here, you can use this powerful tool in a more intuitive and efficient way.

    Miscellaneous shortcuts

    To understand the lesser-known shortcuts in Excel, we can explore some of the features.

    • Advanced Navigation: Excel offers various shortcuts like CTRL+Home, CTRL+End, and CTRL+Arrow keys to navigate within worksheets.
    • Selecting cells: You can use shortcuts like Shift+Arrow keys and Ctrl+Shift+arrow keys to overlap cells.
    • Formula shortcuts: Instead of using a mouse to insert formulas, use Ctrl+Shift+Enter, and it will help you save a lot more time.

    Another way to minimize the time spent on Excel is by grouping the data and using subtotals to compare the results.

    It is always better to avoid using the mouse as much as possible, and using combinations of shortcut keys will speed up your work.

    Some of the most widely used formulas have a history behind them that tells us how some of the features were developed. For instance, the SUM function was created by Lotus 1-2-3 software developer. Since then, it has been adopted by Microsoft Excel, and now it’s one of the most commonly used functions.

    Remembering a few useful shortcuts can save you a significant amount of time on your spreadsheets.

    Five Facts About 25 Essential Excel Shortcuts to Save Time on Your Spreadsheets:

    • ✅ Learning Excel shortcuts can save up to 10 minutes per hour of work time. (Source: Excel Campus)
    • ✅ There are over 200 Excel shortcuts to choose from in the program. (Source: Business Insider)
    • ✅ The CTRL + S shortcut saves your Excel document quickly, without having to go through the File menu. (Source: Microsoft Support)
    • ✅ The F4 shortcut allows you to repeat the last action taken in Excel, which can save time when performing repetitive tasks. (Source: Excel Off The Grid)
    • ✅ The ALT + D + F + F shortcut opens up the “Find and Replace” function in Excel, allowing for quick and easy search and replace operations. (Source: ExcelJet)

    FAQs about 25 Essential Excel Shortcuts To Save Time On Your Spreadsheets

    1. What are the 25 essential Excel shortcuts to save time on your spreadsheets?

    The 25 essential Excel shortcuts to save time on your spreadsheets include:

    • Ctrl + Shift + L: Turn on or off Excel table auto filter
    • F2: Edit cell contents
    • F4: Repeat last action
    • Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V: Copy and paste cells
    • Alt + ;: Select visible cells only
    • Ctrl + ;: Enter current date
    • Ctrl + Shift + &: Apply border to selected cells
    • Ctrl + Shift + #: Apply date format to selected cells
    • Ctrl + Home/End: Go to beginning/end of worksheet
    • Ctrl + Page Up/Down: Switch between worksheets
    • Shift + F11: Insert new worksheet
    • Ctrl + F: Find and replace data
    • Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Move to last cell in data range
    • Ctrl + Shift + +/-: Insert or delete rows/columns
    • Ctrl + Shift + $/%/^: Apply currency/percentage/exponent format to selected cells
    • Ctrl + Shift + ~: Apply general format to selected cells
    • Ctrl + B/I/U: Apply bold/italic/underline formatting to selected cells
    • Ctrl + Shift + < or >: Unhide hidden columns
    • Ctrl + Shift + { or }: Unhide hidden rows
    • Ctrl + 1: Open cell format dialog box
    • Alt + =: Auto sum selected cells
    • Ctrl + Shift + F3: Create name for selected cell range
    • Alt + Shift + F1: Insert new chart using data in selected cells
    • F11: Create new chart on separate worksheet
    • Ctrl + Shift + T: Insert table with headers

    2. How can I turn on or off Excel table auto filter using a shortcut?

    You can turn on or off Excel table auto filter using the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + L.

    3. How do I edit cell contents using a shortcut?

    You can edit cell contents using the shortcut F2.

    4. How can I copy and paste cells using shortcuts?

    You can copy and paste cells using the shortcuts Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

    5. How do I apply currency/percentage/exponent format to selected cells using shortcuts?

    You can apply currency/percentage/exponent format to selected cells using the shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + $/%/^.

    6. How do I insert a new chart using data in selected cells using a shortcut?

    You can insert a new chart using data in selected cells using the shortcut Alt + Shift + F1.