Notebooks
Excel keyboard shortcuts for Mac
Why you may not want to use this: It's ChatGPT-generated content!
I am not a fan of Excel, but also can't avoid it at work. So, I made this cheat-sheet of sorts using ChatGPT. I haven't tested most of them. I plan to use and edit it as needed. (Last updated: 2025-08-25, Monday)
Editing & Entering
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Control + U |
Edit the active cell without overwriting |
| Type directly |
Replace cell contents |
| Return |
Enter and move down |
| Shift + Return |
Enter and move up |
| Tab |
Enter and move right |
| Shift + Tab |
Enter and move left |
| Control + Return |
Enter without moving |
| Escape |
Cancel editing |
| Control + Option + Return |
Insert line break inside a cell (sometimes Option + Command + Return) |
Navigation
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Arrow keys |
Move one cell |
| Control + Arrow |
Jump to edge of current data region |
| Command + Arrow |
Jump to beginning/end of row or column |
| Fn + Left / Right |
Home / End |
| Fn + Up / Down |
Page Up / Page Down |
| Control + G or F5 |
Go To (jump to cell) |
| Command + [ |
Navigate to precedent cell |
| Command + ] |
Navigate to dependent cell |
Selection
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Shift + Arrow |
Extend selection by one cell |
| Control + Shift + Arrow |
Select to edge of data region |
| Command + A |
Select current region; press again to select entire sheet |
| Shift + Space |
Select entire row |
| Command + Space |
Select entire column |
| Command + Shift + Space |
Select entire worksheet |
Editing Aids
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Command + Z |
Undo |
| Command + Y or Shift + Command + Z |
Redo |
| Command + C |
Copy |
| Command + X |
Cut |
| Command + V |
Paste |
| Command + Option + V |
Paste Special |
| Delete |
Clear contents |
Formatting
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Command + 1 |
Format cells dialog |
| Command + B |
Bold |
| Command + I |
Italic |
| Command + U |
Underline |
Other Useful Shortcuts
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Command + T |
Create table |
| Shift + F11 |
Insert new worksheet |
| Command + Option + R |
Recalculate all formulas |
| Command + Arrow + Shift |
Select to beginning/end of row/column |
| Command + Tab |
Switch applications |
Function Key Shortcuts
| Shortcut |
Action |
Notes |
| F2 |
Edit active cell |
Often overridden by macOS; use Control + U in Excel instead |
| F4 |
Repeat last action |
May require Fn + F4 depending on keyboard settings |
| Shift + F2 |
Edit cell comment |
May require Fn |
| F9 |
Calculate selected cells |
May require Fn |
| Shift + F9 |
Calculate active worksheet |
May require Fn |
| Command + = |
Insert AutoSum |
No conflict |
macOS vs Excel Conflicts
| Shortcut |
macOS Action |
Excel Action |
Notes |
| Command + Space |
Spotlight search |
Select entire column |
You must disable/reassign Spotlight in System Settings |
| Control + Space |
Input source change (language) |
Select entire column in some Excel versions |
Reassign in macOS Keyboard Shortcuts |
| Fn + F-keys |
macOS features (brightness, volume) |
Excel function keys |
Change in System Settings → Keyboard: “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” |
| Command + Tab |
Switch applications |
Not used by Excel |
macOS always overrides |