Excel Keyboard Shortcuts: 20 Spreadsheet Shortcuts for Beginners (Windows and Mac)

Let’s look at 20 keyboard shortcuts that help Excel beginners work more efficiently in spreadsheets. Learning these shortcuts can reduce mouse clicks and improve speed and accuracy.

Spreadsheet Shortcuts for Excel Beginners

The shortcuts are explained separately for Windows and Mac.

Excel Shortcuts for Windows

Here are 20 commonly used Windows shortcuts in Excel spreadsheets.

1. Ctrl + C : Copies the selected cell or range.
2. Ctrl + V : Pastes the copied cell or range.
3. Ctrl + X : Cuts the selected cell or range and stores it on the Clipboard.
4. Ctrl + Z : Undoes the most recently performed action.
5. Ctrl + Y : Redoes the most recently undone action.
6. Ctrl + B : Applies bold formatting to the selected cell or range.
7. Ctrl + I : Applies italic formatting to the selected cell or range.
8. Ctrl + U : Underlines the selected cell or range.
9. Ctrl + F : Finds a specific value in the worksheet.
10. Ctrl + H : Replaces a specific value with another value in the worksheet.
11. Ctrl + A : Selects all cells in the current worksheet.
12. Ctrl + S : Saves the current worksheet.
13. Alt + = : Calculates the sum of the selected cells.
14. F2 : Switches the selected cell to edit mode.
15. F4 : Changes a cell reference from a relative reference to an absolute reference.
16. F7 : Performs a spelling and grammar check.
17. F11 : Creates a chart on a new worksheet.
18. Shift + F3 : Opens the Insert Function dialog box.
19. Shift + F5 : Moves to the previously edited location.
20. Shift + F11 : Inserts a new worksheet into the current workbook.
    

Excel Shortcuts for Mac

1. Command + C : Copies the selected cell or range.
2. Command + V : Pastes the copied cell or range.
3. Command + X : Cuts the selected cell or range and stores it on the Clipboard.
4. Command + Z : Undoes the most recently performed action.
5. Command + Y : Redoes the most recently undone action.
6. Command + B : Applies bold formatting to the selected cell or range.
7. Command + I : Applies italic formatting to the selected cell or range.
8. Command + U : Underlines the selected cell or range.
9. Command + F : Finds a specific value in the worksheet.
10. Command + H : Replaces a specific value with another value in the worksheet.
11. Command + A : Selects all cells in the current worksheet.
12. Command + S : Saves the current worksheet.
13. Option + Command + = : Calculates the sum of the selected cells.
14. F2 : Switches the selected cell to edit mode.
15. F4 : Changes a cell reference from a relative reference to an absolute reference.
16. F7 : Performs a spelling and grammar check.
17. F11 : Creates a chart on a new worksheet.
18. Shift + F3 : Opens the Insert Function dialog box.
19. Shift + F5 : Moves to the previously edited location.
20. Shift + F11 : Inserts a new worksheet into the current workbook.
    

Conclusion

First, using Excel keyboard shortcuts lets you work faster and more efficiently than using the mouse. This is especially helpful when performing repetitive tasks. Shortcuts can also help you perform the desired task more accurately than using the mouse. Future articles will explain Excel shortcuts according to their uses.