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
Scroll Lock+`End`	MS Excel	Moves to the last cell in the current window
`Ctrl`+`→`	MS Excel	Moves to the last column in the current region
`Ctrl`+`↓`	MS Excel	Moves to the last row in the current region
`End`+`Home`	MS Excel	Moves to the last used cell on the active worksheet*
`Ctrl`+`End`	MS Excel	Moves to the last used cell on the active worksheet*
`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`←`	MS Excel	Moves to the left between nonadjacent cells in a selection
`Alt`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the next application open on your computer
Arrow Keys	MS Excel	Moves to the next cell in that direction
`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the next cell on the right (or unprotected cell)
`End`+Arrow Keys	MS Excel	Moves to the next non-empty cell in that direction
`Ctrl`+`F6`	MS Excel	Moves to the next open workbook or window
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the next open workbook or window
`F6`	MS Excel	Moves to the next pane in a workbook (if the window is split)
`PgDn`	MS Excel	Moves to the next screen of rows down
`Ctrl`+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Moves to the next worksheet in the workbook
`Alt`+`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous application open on your computer
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F6`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous open workbook or window
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous open workbook or window
`Shift`+`F6`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous pane in a workbook (if the window is split)
`PgUp`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous screen of rows up
`Ctrl`+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Moves to the previous worksheet in the workbook
`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`→`	MS Excel	Moves to the right between nonadjacent cells in a selection
Scroll Lock+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Moves you down one screen (current selection unchanged)
`Alt`+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Moves you one screen of columns to the left
`Alt`+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Moves you one screen of columns to the right
Scroll Lock+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Moves you up one screen (current selection unchanged)
`Ctrl`+`V`	MS Excel	Pastes the entry from the clipboard
`Ctrl`+`F2`	MS Excel	Print Preview
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`or`_`	MS Excel	Removes all the borders from the selection
`Shift`+`F4`	MS Excel	Repeats the last Find, the same as (Edit > Find Next)
`Ctrl`+`Y`	MS Excel	Repeats the last workbook action
`F4`	MS Excel	Repeats the last worksheet action (Edit > Repeat)
`Ctrl`+`F5`	MS Excel	Restores the size of the active workbook or window
`Shift`+`F12`	MS Excel	Saves, Displays the (File > Save As) dialog box if a new workbook
`Ctrl`+`S`	MS Excel	Saves, Displays the Save As dialog box if a new workbook
Select the toporbottom cell of the columnthenandthenpress Shift+`Up`orDown arrow key	MS Excel	Select a column.
Select the firstorlast cell in the rowthenandthenpress Shift+`Alt`+`End`or`Home.`	MS Excel	Select a row.
`Tab`	MS Excel	Select the content in the next cell.
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Excel	Select the content in the previous cell.
`Alt`+5 on the numeric keypadthenwith Num Lock switched off	MS Excel	Select the whole table.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\`	MS Excel	Select unequal cells
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[`	MS Excel	Selects all the cells that are directly (or indirectly) referred to by the formula in the active cell
`Ctrl`+`[`	MS Excel	Selects all the cells that are directly referred to by the formula in the active cell (precedents)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	MS Excel	Selects all the cells that directly (or indirectly) refer to the active cell
`Ctrl`+`]`	MS Excel	Selects all the cells that directly refer to the active cell (dependents)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`O`	MS Excel	Selects all the cells with comments
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	MS Excel	Selects all the objects on the worksheet when an object is selected or selects the whole worksheet
`Shift`+`Arrow Keys`	MS Excel	Selects the active cell and the cell in the given direction
`Shift`+`Backspace`	MS Excel	Selects the active cell when multiple cells are selected
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`PgDn`	MS Excel	Selects the active worksheet and the one after it

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References