Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Ctrl`+`R`	Google Sheets	Fill right
`Ctrl`+`F`	Google Sheets	Find
`Ctrl`+`H`	Google Sheets	Find and replace
in Google Chrome: Alt+`M`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`M`	Google Sheets	Form menu
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`	Google Sheets	Format as currency
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3`	Google Sheets	Format as date
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`	Google Sheets	Format as decimal
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`	Google Sheets	Format as exponent
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`	Google Sheets	Format as percentage
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`	Google Sheets	Format as time
in Google Chrome: Alt+`O`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`O`	Google Sheets	Format menu
`F1`	Google Sheets	Full/compact formula help (when entering a formula)
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.`	Google Sheets	Go to side panel
`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`	Google Sheets	Group rows or columns
in Google Chrome: Alt+`H`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`H`	Google Sheets	Help menu
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`0`	Google Sheets	Hide column
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`9`	Google Sheets	Hide row
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`K`	Google Sheets	Input tools on/off (available in spreadsheets in non-Latin languages)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	Google Sheets	Insert array formula
in Google Chrome: Ctrl+`Alt`+`Shift`+`=`thenother browsers: Ctrl+`Alt`+`with columns selected`	Google Sheets	Insert columns to the left
in Google Chrome: Alt+`I`thenthen Cthenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`I`thenthen C	Google Sheets	Insert columns to the right
`Ctrl`+`;`	Google Sheets	Insert date
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`;`	Google Sheets	Insert date and time
`Ctrl`+`K`	Google Sheets	Insert link
in Google Chrome: Alt+`I`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`I`	Google Sheets	Insert menu
`Shift`+`F11`	Google Sheets	Insert new sheet
in Google Chrome: Ctrl+`Alt`+`Shift`+`=`thenother browsers: Ctrl+`Alt`+`with rows selected`	Google Sheets	Insert rows above
in Google Chrome: Alt+`I`thenthen Rthenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`I`thenthen R	Google Sheets	Insert rows below
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;`	Google Sheets	Insert time
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`	Google Sheets	Insert/edit comment
`Shift`+`F2`	Google Sheets	Insert/edit note
`Ctrl`+`I`	Google Sheets	Italic
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	Google Sheets	Left align
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`M`	Google Sheets	Move focus out of spreadsheet
Holding Ctrl+`Alt`thenpress Ethen`P`	Google Sheets	Move focus to popup (for links, bookmarks, and images)
`Home`	Google Sheets	Move to beginning of row
`Ctrl`+`Home`	Google Sheets	Move to beginning of sheet
`End`	Google Sheets	Move to end of row
`Ctrl`+`End`	Google Sheets	Move to end of sheet
Holding Ctrl+`Alt`thenpress Nthen`C`	Google Sheets	Move to next comment
`J`	Google Sheets	Move to next comment
`Alt`+`↓`	Google Sheets	Move to next sheet
Holding Ctrl+`Alt`thenpress Pthen`C`	Google Sheets	Move to previous comment
`K`	Google Sheets	Move to previous comment
`Alt`+`↑`	Google Sheets	Move to previous sheet
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Q`	Google Sheets	Move to quicksum (when a range of cells is selected)
`Ctrl`+`O`	Google Sheets	Open
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`A`	Google Sheets	Open comment discussion thread
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`with cells selected`	Google Sheets	Open delete menu
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`	Google Sheets	Open drop-down menu on filtered cell

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References