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`+`Insert`	MS Excel	Copies the current selection to the clipboard
`Ctrl`+`D`	MS Excel	Copies the first cell in the selection downwards
`Ctrl`+`R`	MS Excel	Copies the leftmost cell in the selection to the right
`Alt`+`F1`	MS Excel	Creates a chart (on a chart sheet) using the highlighted range
`Ctrl`+`N`	MS Excel	Creates a new workbook
`Ctrl`+`X`	MS Excel	Cuts the current selection to the clipboard
`Shift`+`Del`	MS Excel	Cuts the selection to the clipboard
`Ctrl`+`Del`	MS Excel	Deletes text to the end of the line
`Backspace`	MS Excel	Deletes the selection or one character to the left
`Del`	MS Excel	Deletes the selection or one character to the right
`Ctrl`+`A`	MS Excel	Displays formula palette given a function name or selects the whole worksheet or current date
`Shift`+`F5`	MS Excel	Displays the (Edit > Find) dialog box
`F5`	MS Excel	Displays the (Edit > GoTo) dialog box
`Ctrl`+`F12`	MS Excel	Displays the (File > Open) dialog box
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F12`	MS Excel	Displays the (File > Print) dialog box
`F12`	MS Excel	Displays the (File > Save As) dialog box
`Alt`+`F2`	MS Excel	Displays the (File > Save As) dialog box
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F2`	MS Excel	Displays the (File > Save As) dialog box
`F11`	MS Excel	Displays the (Insert > Chart) dialog box that creates a chart (on a chart sheet) using the highlighted range
`Shift`+`F3`	MS Excel	Displays the (Insert > Function) dialog box
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F3`	MS Excel	Displays the (Insert > Name > Create) dialog box
`Ctrl`+`F3`	MS Excel	Displays the (Insert > Name > Define) dialog box
`F3`	MS Excel	Displays the (Insert > Name > Paste) dialog box
`Shift`+`F10`	MS Excel	Displays the (Shortcut) menu for the selected item
`Alt`+`F8`	MS Excel	Displays the (Tools > Macro > Macros) dialog box
`F7`	MS Excel	Displays the (Tools > Spelling) dialog box
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`	MS Excel	Displays the Cells dialog box
`Ctrl`+`L`	MS Excel	Displays the Create Table dialog box
`Ctrl`+`-`	MS Excel	Displays the Delete dialog box
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F10`	MS Excel	Displays the drop-down menu for the corresponding smart tag
`Ctrl`+`F`	MS Excel	Displays the Find dialog box
`Ctrl`+`1`	MS Excel	Displays the formatting dialog box
`Ctrl`+`G`	MS Excel	Displays the GoTo dialog box
`Ctrl`+`K`	MS Excel	Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box
`F1`	MS Excel	Displays the Office Assistant or (Help > Microsoft Excel Help)
`Ctrl`+`O`	MS Excel	Displays the Open dialog box
`Alt`+`↓`	MS Excel	Displays the Pick From List drop-down list
`Ctrl`+`P`	MS Excel	Displays the Print dialog box
`Ctrl`+`H`	MS Excel	Displays the Replace dialog box
`Alt`+`'`	MS Excel	Displays the Style dialog box
`F2`	MS Excel	Edits the active cell, putting the cursor at the end
`Alt`+`Enter`	MS Excel	Enters a new line (or carriage return) into a cell
`Alt`+`0162`	MS Excel	Enters the cent symbol (¢) (using Number keypad)
`Ctrl`+`'`	MS Excel	Enters the contents from the cell directly above into the active cell
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Enters the contents of the active cell and moves one cell to the left
`Tab`	MS Excel	Enters the contents of the active cell and moves one cell to the right
`Shift`+`Enter`	MS Excel	Enters the contents of the active cell and moves to the cell above (by default)
`Enter`	MS Excel	Enters the contents of the active cell and moves to the cell below (by default)
`Ctrl`+`;`	MS Excel	Enters the current date into the active cell
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;`	MS Excel	Enters the current time into the active cell

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References