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
`Shift`+`Insert`	MS Excel	Enters the data from the clipboard
`Alt`+`0128`	MS Excel	Enters the euro symbol (€) (using Number keypad)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	MS Excel	Enters the formula as an Array Formula
`Alt`+`0163`	MS Excel	Enters the pound sign symbol (£) (using Number keypad)
`Alt`+`=`	MS Excel	Enters the SUM() function (AutoSum) to sum the adjacent block of cells
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`	MS Excel	Enters the value from the cell directly above into the active cell
`Shift`+`Arrow Keys`	MS Excel	Extend a selection to adjacent cells.
`Shift`+Arrow Keys	MS Excel	Extends the selection by one cell in that direction
`Shift`+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Extends the selection down one screen
`End`+`Shift`+`Home`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to last used cell on the worksheet
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Home`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the beginning of the worksheet
`Shift`+`Home`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the first column
`End`+`Shift`+`End`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the last cell in the current row*
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`End`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the last used cell on the worksheet
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Arrow`	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the next cell adjacent to a blank cell in that direction
`End`+`Shift`+Arrow Keys	MS Excel	Extends the selection to the next non-blank cell in that direction
`Shift`+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Extends the selection up one screen
`Ctrl`+`0`	MS Excel	Hides the columns in the current selection
`Ctrl`+`9`	MS Excel	Hides the rows in the current selection (Format > Row > Hide)
`Enter`	MS Excel	Insert a new paragraph in a cell.
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Insert a tab character in a cell.
`Shift`+`F11`	MS Excel	Inserts a new worksheet (before the active sheet) into the active workbook (Insert > Worksheet)
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F1`	MS Excel	Inserts a new worksheet (before the active sheet) into the active workbook (Insert > Worksheet)
`Shift`+`F2`	MS Excel	Inserts or edits a cell comment (Insert > Comment)
`Ctrl`+`F10`	MS Excel	Maximises the size of the active workbook or window
`Ctrl`+`F9`	MS Excel	Minimises the size of the active workbook or window
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`	MS Excel	Move one row down.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`	MS Excel	Move one row up.
`Alt`+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Move to the first cell in the column.
`Alt`+`Home`	MS Excel	Move to the first cell in the row.
`Alt`+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Move to the last cell in the column.
`Alt`+`End`	MS Excel	Move to the last cell in the row.
`Tab`	MS Excel	Move to the next cell in the row and select its content.
`↓`	MS Excel	Move to the next row.
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Move to the previous cell in the row and select its content.
`↑`	MS Excel	Move to the previous row.
`Ctrl`+`.`	MS Excel	Moves clockwise to the next corner within a selection
`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves from left to right within a selection
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves from right to left within a selection (opposite direction to Tab)
`Enter`	MS Excel	Moves from top to bottom within a selection
Scroll Lock+Arrow Keys	MS Excel	Moves the workbook or window one cell the corresponding direction
`Ctrl`+`Home`	MS Excel	Moves to cell "A1" on the active sheet
`Shift`+`Enter`	MS Excel	Moves to the cell directly above (opposite direction to Enter)
`Enter`	MS Excel	Moves to the cell directly below
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the cell directly to the left (opposite direction to Tab)
Scroll Lock+`Home`	MS Excel	Moves to the first cell in the current window
`Ctrl`+`←`	MS Excel	Moves to the first column in the current region
`Home`	MS Excel	Moves to the first column in the current row
`Ctrl`+`↑`	MS Excel	Moves to the first row in the current region
`End`+`Enter`	MS Excel	Moves to the last cell in the current row that is not blank

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References