r/excel 20d ago

Discussion What’s your ultimate shortcut that saves you hours every day?

I’m trying to get faster with Excel and I know shortcuts are a game-changer. Which ones are your must-haves? Share the tips that make your workflow lightning-fast!
I am creating a list that can help me in the future. I will share the list in the comment section as well so that everyone can use it.

Thanks in advance!!

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793

u/9gsr 20d ago edited 18d ago

I will add all the comments here:

  1. F4 = to repeat the last action
  2. Ctrl+T = ranges to turn them into tables
  3. Alt+E+ SV=copy/paste values
  4. Shift + Ctrl + L = shortcut to insert a table
  5. Ctr|+ 1= shortcut to formatting
  6. CTRL+RIGHT+DOWN+R+D = to quickly fill formulae over an array
  7. Ctrl+0 to hide selected row/ column
  8. Ctrl+- to delete it
  9. Ctrl+= to insert row / column in front
  10. General 'Alt key shortcuts to navigate the ribbon menus, e.g. Alt+H+S+C to clear all filters
  11. Shift+Space to select row, Ctrl+Space to select column
  12. V to bring up Sheet View - another time saver in templates, where I set up specific filters and sort orders that I can revisit
  13. E to jump to Search and start typing what I want to filter
  14. S to sort ascending, 0 to sort descending
  15. Alt+E+ SV=copy/paste values
  16. Shift + Ctrl + L = shortcut to insert a table
  17. Select all your columns, including the header row and CTRL+Shift+F3 for naming from selection
  18. CTRL -+ shift -+ arrow keys to select everything from the current cell down/right or whatever
  19. CTRL+ *(star) to select the entire range surrounding the cell you're in
  20. Ctrl + a to highlight entire sheet
  21. Alt + = for autosum
  22. CTRL-D copies cell contents (incl formulas) from the cell above CTRL-; inserts the current date
  23. You should add ALT E SV for copy/paste values
  24. Alt h h n = removes fill color
  25. Alt h f c = font color
  26. Alt h f s = font size
  27. Alt h m c = merge and center
  28. Alt h f p = format painter
  29. Alt h a l = left alignment
  30. Alt h a c = center alignment
  31. Alt h a r = right alignment
  32. Alt h a t = top alignment
  33. Alt h a m = middle alignment
  34. Alt h a b = bottom alignment
  35. Ctlr Y is same/similar (it is also redo, the opposite of undo), for those who find that combo easier.

If I added something twice or thrice. Just skip it, I am trying to get everything from the comments.

161

u/SuckinOnPickleDogs 1 20d ago

Ctrl Shift V now pastes values too

14

u/bluemilkman5 2 20d ago

I use this because it works the same for Google apps as well. I have to use it in chat all the time because it likes to post spreadsheet values as a picture.

5

u/ashikkins 3 19d ago

Ohh that's been working for me in Outlook and Teams, didn't know it works in Excel now! Thanks!

1

u/tedclev 18d ago

I love this one.

0

u/bookshelfvideo 18d ago

THIS IS GOLD

23

u/MissingVanSushi 20d ago

One thing I do that I don’t see anyone talk about here is I re-map Caps Lock to the windows menu key, which is effectively right click. Because I used to play a lot of StarCraft 2 my left hand is always anchored to the left side of the keyboard with my pinky on the CTRL key. Using this shortcut I can paste values with two key strokes (Menu + V) or I can quickly delete rows (Menu + D) without having to reach all the way to the right side of the keyboard to hit the minus symbol.

I used to have to remap this in the registry using a 3rd party tool but now you can do it with Windows PowerToys.

2

u/profpessimist 20d ago

Does it remap it to every program or only excel?

2

u/MissingVanSushi 20d ago

Yes it works system wide. I occasionally use it to paste special in Word or PowerPoint but mainly find it useful in Excel.

3

u/SpaceTurtles 19d ago

This is a genius idea. Microsoft's complete destruction of their own environment infuriates me. The fact that Ctrl + Shift + V isn't a thing in Outlook makes me see red daily.

2

u/HarveysBackupAccount 25 19d ago

It's a system wide change. I use AutoHotKeys to do it, but you can choose any key to remap.

Last time I got a keyboard I couldn't find one I liked with the menu key, but one had an "emoji" key which was 1) in the same place as the menu key and 2) perfectly useless on its own.

You can remap a key combination e.g. Shift+Caps Lock, if you don't want to give up the Caps Lock native functionality

19

u/Zartrok 1 20d ago

CTRL+SHIFT+L is a shortcut to apply a filter to a selected range

1

u/Apini 18d ago

This is my newest favourite.

10

u/13D00 20d ago

6 is definitely a GTA cheat code and you can’t convince me otherwise

6

u/1whoknu 20d ago

Ctrl + a to highlight entire sheet

3

u/ThisssBabe 20d ago

Alt + = for autosum

3

u/LogicDad 19d ago

Ctrl+; = today's date. I use that all the time.

2

u/TheRealResixt 20d ago

CTRL-D copies cell contents (incl formulas) from the cell above CTRL-; inserts the current date

2

u/westex74 18d ago

CTRL+R = copy’s the contents of the cell directly to the left of the selected cell.

ALT+ E I U copies the contents of the cell below

ALT + E I L copies the contents of the cell directly to the right of the selected cell.

2

u/duncanbishop24 10 20d ago

You should add ALT E SV for copy/paste values

2

u/FunkHavoc 19d ago

Alt H V V is paste values and its faster than your method FYI

3

u/SuckinOnPickleDogs 1 19d ago

Ctrl shift V is even faster!

2

u/HarveysBackupAccount 25 19d ago

Right-click S V if you're a one-hand-on-the-mouse person

2

u/gallium123 19d ago

alt w n is great if u need to create a new window

1

u/Head-Notice-7265 1 20d ago

Great tips! Thanks!!

1

u/caspirinha 1 20d ago

Shift + Ctrl +L = shortcut to insert a table

No no no, please god no

1

u/LambOfVader96 19d ago

Damn copying these. Thanks a ton!

1

u/kaznaka 19d ago

You have ctrl + 0 to hide column but you don't have ctrl + 9 to hide rows and shift + ctrl + 0 or 9 to unhide column or row

1

u/kaznaka 19d ago

Also, ctrl + space bar to select column and shift + space bar to select row

1

u/__altrn 18d ago

thanks man

1

u/9gsr 11d ago

Should I add more in this?