Adding Content to Cells

200 Excel Shortcuts for PC and Mac

So you think you’re fancy, huh? Just because you know how to copy and paste without the click of the mouse in Excel. Well, get ready to be even fancier (and more productive) because we’ve curated 200 of the best Excel keyboard shortcuts.

Start for free Download PDF

These shortcuts are the perfect tools for entering Excel content efficiently and accurately, down to the last character.

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Begin edit on selected cell Simple shortcut to open up a selected cell for edits. You will see the flashing space bar appear instantly.	`F2`	`Control` `U`
Insert or edit a comment You can use this shortcut to create a comment on a selected cell or edit one that has already been created.	`Shift` `F2`	`Fn` `Shift` `F2`
Delete entry Quickly cancel any entry you have made within a selected cell.	`Esc`	`Esc`
Select next character While editing the data or text within a cell, this shortcut allows you to select the next character to the right.	`Shift` `→`	`Shift` `►`
Select previous character While editing the data or text within a cell, this shortcut allows you to select the previous character to the left.	`Shift` `←`	`Shift` `◄`
Move to next word Jump with ease to the next word or data number (with a space between) in an active cell.	`Ctrl` `→`	`Option` `►`
Move to previous word Jump with ease to the previous word or data number (with a space between) in an active cell.	`Ctrl` `←`	`Option` `◄`
Select next word This shortcut selects the next word after your cursor to be edited or deleted as a whole.	`Ctrl` `Shift` `→`	`Option` `Shift` `►`
Select previous word This shortcut selects the previous word before your cursor to be edited or deleted as a whole.	`Ctrl` `Shift` `←`	`Option` `Shift` `◄`
Select to the start of cell Grab control of all data or words within a cell you have selected from your cursor to the beginning of the cell.	`Shift` `Home`	`Fn` `Shift` `◄`
Select to the end of cell Grab control of all data or words within a cell you have selected from your cursor to the end of the cell.	`Shift` `End`	`Fn` `Shift` `Red-Arrow`
Delete to end of line Delete all text or data from your cursor to end of a line within the cell.	`Ctrl` `Delete`	`Control` `Delete`
Delete previous character This most simple shortcut of them all! Simply delete one character or hold down to delete many.	`Backspace`	`Delete`
Delete next character Delete the character that follows your cursor. Again, you can hold down this shortcut to delete multiple characters.	`Delete`	`Fn` `Delete`
Insert new line within cell Use this shortcut to create a completely new line within the cell you are operating. Unlike traditionally pressing return/enter, this shortcut inserts the new line above your cursor instead of below.	`Alt` `Enter`	`Control` `Option` `Return`