Microsoft Excel Shortcuts — Essential Keyboard Shortcuts to Work Faster & Save Time
Microsoft Excel is one of the most powerful tools for data entry, reporting, finance, analytics and office productivity. Whether you’re a student, accountant, data analyst or office employee, knowing Excel keyboard shortcuts can dramatically improve your speed and accuracy.
In this guide, you will learn the most useful Excel shortcuts for Windows — organised by purpose — so you can work smarter and complete tasks faster.
- Why You Should Learn Excel Shortcuts
Using the mouse for every action slows down productivity. Shortcuts allow you to:
- Work faster with data and spreadsheets
- Reduce mistakes during editing and formatting
- Improve workflow in professional reporting
- Save time in repetitive tasks
Once you start using shortcuts daily, they become natural — and your efficiency increases immediately.
- Most Useful Microsoft Excel Shortcuts (Windows)
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | New workbook |
| Ctrl + O | Open workbook |
| Ctrl + S | Save workbook |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Find & Replace |
| Ctrl + B | Bold |
| Ctrl + I | Italic |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + 5 | Strikethrough |
| Ctrl + Arrow Keys | Jump to edge of data region |
| Ctrl + Space | Select entire column |
| Shift + Space | Select entire row |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Toggle filters |
| Ctrl + Shift + Plus (+) | Insert row/column |
| Ctrl + Minus (-) | Delete row/column |
| Alt + = | AutoSum |
| Ctrl + ; | Insert today's date |
| Ctrl + Shift + : | Insert current time |
| F2 | Edit selected cell |
| F4 | Repeat last action |
Pro Tips to Learn Shortcuts Faster
- Start with basic shortcuts — copy, paste, save, undo, filters
- Print shortcuts list and keep beside your desk temporarily
- Challenge yourself to avoid mouse while editing tables
- Master navigation shortcuts first — they save the most time
- Practice daily — consistent use builds memory quickly
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Conclusion — Work Smarter, Not Harder in Excel
You don’t need to memorize every Excel shortcut at once — even 10–15 shortcuts can make your spreadsheet work dramatically faster. With practice, you’ll spend less time formatting and more time focusing on meaningful work like analysis and reporting.

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