Microsoft Excel is a practical tool developed by Microsoft widely used by professionals, students, companies, etc., to create, manipulate, and analyze data using a grid of cells arranged in rows and columns. Whether you’re arranging data, creating charts or managing employees data MS Excel shortcuts keys, commands and array of features can help you work more efficiently. One way to be proficient in Excel skills is by mastering the various keyboard shortcuts or commands it offers.
Here you can explore a comprehensive list of MS Excel shortcuts keys especially beneficial for candidates preparing for competitive exams in Pakistan. Because testing agencies like PPSC, FPSC, KPPSC, BPSC, SPSC, NTS, OTS, CSS MPT, etc., commonly asks about Keyboard shortcuts in the form of MCQs in computer section. On the other hand, these will also help the aspirants to pass the proficiency test organized by these departments before final interview.
Need for Excel Shortcuts
MS Excel Shortcuts keys are combinations of keyboard strokes that allow you to perform tasks quickly and efficiently, often without the need to navigate through menus and ribbons. Using Excel shortcut keys not only saves your time but also enhances your productivity. Speed: Excel Keyboard shortcuts can incredibly reduce the time it takes to perform common tasks, making you more efficient in your work. Accuracy: By using Excel shortcuts, you can minimize the risk of errors that can occur when navigating through multiple menus. Ease of Use: Learning and using shortcut keys can make Excel more accessible and user-friendly, even for beginners.
Now, let’s dive into a list of essential MS Excel shortcut keys, which are particularly valuable for aspirants preparing for competitive exams.
Excel Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Ctrl + Alphabet Keys (Qwerty Alphabet Keys)
Keys
Action
Ctrl + A
Select All
Ctrl + B
Bold
Ctrl + C
Copy
Ctrl + D
Fill Down
Ctrl + E
Flash Fill
Ctrl + F
Find
Ctrl + G
Goto
Ctrl + H
Replace
Ctrl + I
Italic
Ctrl + K
Insert Hyperlink
Ctrl + N
New Workbook
Ctrl + O
Open
Ctrl + P
Print
Ctrl + R
Fill Right
Ctrl + S
Save
Ctrl + U
Underline
Ctrl + V
Paste
Ctrl + W
Close
Ctrl + X
Cut
Ctrl + Y
Repeat
Ctrl + Z
Undo
Ctrl + Symbols (Qwerty Symbols)
Keys
Action
Ctrl + :
Insert Current Time
Ctrl + ;
Insert Current Date
Ctrl + “
Copy Value from Cell Above
Ctrl + ‘
Copy Formula from Cell Above
Ctrl + `
Toggle Value/Formula display
Ctrl + +
Insert a New Row below the active cell
Ctrl + –
Delete a row or column
Ctrl + Spacebar
Select the entire column
Ctrl + Backspace
Jump back to the active cell and bring it into view
Ctrl + /
Select the array containing the active cell
Ctrl +
In a selected row, select the cells that don’t match the formula or static value in the active cell
Ctrl + [
Select all cells directly referenced by formulas in the selection.
Ctrl + ]
Select cells that contain formulas that directly reference the active cell
Ctrl + Tab
Switches between the open workbooks (left to right) if you have more than one workbook open at once.
Ctrl + Enter
Fill the selected cell range with the current entry
Ctrl + Number Keys
Keys
Action
Ctrl + 1
Format cells dialog box
Ctrl + 2
Bold
Ctrl + 3
Italic
Ctrl + 4
Underline
Ctrl + 5
Strikethrough
Ctrl + 6
Show/Hide objects
Ctrl + 7
Show/Hide Standard toolbar
Ctrl + 8
Toggle Outline symbols
Ctrl + 9
Hide rows
Ctrl + 0
Hide columns
Function Keys
Keys
Action
F1
Help
F2
Edit the Active Cell
F3
Display the Paste Name dialog box
F4
Repeat Last Command or Action
F5
Displays the Goto dialog box
F6
Next Pane/Task Pane/Zoom Control/Switch between the worksheet
F7
Spelling Dialog Box/Spell Check
F8
Turn Extend mode On or Off
F9
Recalculate all workbooks/Calculate formula in a specific cell or range of cells
F10
Activate Menubar
F11
New Chart
F12
Save As
Shift + Function Keys
Keys
Action
Shift + F1
Display “What’s This?” window in early versions of Excel
Shift + F2
Add or Edit Cell comment
Shift + F3
Insert Function Dialog Box
Shift + F4
Find Next
Shift + F5
Open Find Dialog Box
Shift + F6
Move to Previous Pane
Shift + F8
Add to selection
Shift + F9
Calculate active worksheet
Shift + F10
Display shortcut menu for selected item/Cell
Shift + F11
Insert a New Worksheet
Shift + F12
Save the open workbook
Ctrl + Function Keys
Keys
Action
Ctrl + F3
Display the Name Manager
Ctrl + F4
Close the Current workbook
Ctrl + F5
Restore Window Size
Ctrl + F6
Switch to Next Workbook
Ctrl + F7
Move command on the workbook window
Ctrl + F8
Resize Window Command
Ctrl + F9
Minimize workbook
Ctrl + F10
Maximize or restore window
Ctrl + F11
Insert a Macro Sheet
Ctrl + F12
Open a File
Alt + Function Keys
Keys
Action
Alt + F1
Insert Chart of the data in the current range
Alt + F2
Open Save As Option
Alt + F4
Close all workbooks / Exit
Alt + F8
Open Macro Dialog Box
Alt + F11
Display Microsoft Visual Basic Editor
Ctrl + Shift + Function Keys
Keys
Action
Ctrl + Shift + F3
Create name by using names of row and column labels
Ctrl + Shift + F6
Previous Window
Ctrl + Shift + F12
Print
Alt + Shift + Function Keys
Keys
Action
Alt + Shift + F1
New worksheet
Alt + Shift + F2
Save
Alt + Keys
Keys
Action
Alt
Activate the menu
Alt + =
AutoSum
Alt + Down Arrow
Display AutoFilter list for the current column/Opens a selected drop-down list
Alt + ‘
Format Style dialog box
Alt + Enter
Start a new line in the same cell
Alt + ;
Select the visible cells in the current selection
Ctrl + Alt + Keys
Keys
Action
Ctrl + Alt + F9
Calculate all worksheets in all open workbooks
Ctrl + Alt + L
Apply the filter function
Ctrl + Alt + V
Open the Paste Special dialog
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F9
Rechecks dependent formulas
Shift + Keys
Keys
Action
Shift
Hold down shift for additional functions in Excel’s menu
Shift + Spacebar
Select the entire row
Shift + Backspace
Show the active cell on worksheet
Shift + Tab
Move to the previous option or option group
Ctrl + Shift + Keys
Keys
Action
Ctrl + Shift + P
Point size Drop Down List
Ctrl+ Shift + F6
Previous workbook window
Ctrl + Shift + A
Insert argument names into formula
Ctrl + Shift + ~
General format
Ctrl + Shift + !
Comma format
Ctrl + Shift + @
Time format
Ctrl + Shift + #
Date format
Ctrl + Shift + $
Currency format
Ctrl + Shift + %
Percent format
Ctrl + Shift + ^
Exponential format
Ctrl + Shift + &
Place outline border around selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + _
Remove outline border around selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + *
Select the current region around the active cell
Ctrl + Shift + 9
Unhide Rows
Ctrl + Shift + 0
Unhide Columns
Ctrl + Shift + O
Select all cells that contain comments/notes
Ctrl + Shift + |
Select the cells that don’t match the value in the active cell
Ctrl + Shift + }
Select cells that contain formulas that directly or indirectly reference the active cell
Ctrl + Shift + {
Select all cells directly or indirectly referenced by formulas in the selection
Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar
Select the entire work sheet.
These MS Excel shortcuts Keys are not only essential for competitive exam preparation but are also help for anyone looking to learn excel sheets and enhance their spreadsheet skills. Whether you’re a student aiming for success in competitive exams or simply want to boost your Excel proficiency, integrating various excel shortcuts into your workflow can make you more productive and capable.
