Top Excel Shortcuts You Should Know in 2025
Boost Your Productivity with These Keyboard Hacks
Microsoft Excel is packed with powerful features, but using your mouse for every task can slow you down. Mastering Excel shortcuts will save you hours of work each week. Here are the top Excel keyboard shortcuts used by professionals around the world.
📋 1. Copy, Cut, and Paste
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + C → Copy
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Ctrl + X → Cut
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Ctrl + V → Paste
📸 Image suggestion: Screenshot of Excel with selected cells and the "Copy" action in progress.
📄 2. Save and Open Files
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + S → Save the current workbook
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Ctrl + O → Open an existing workbook
🔁 These are essential for keeping your work secure and accessing files quickly.
📸 Image suggestion: Save and open dialog boxes in Excel.
📊 3. Insert and Delete Rows or Columns
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + Shift + "+" → Insert row/column
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Ctrl + "-" → Delete row/column
🔧 This is a big time-saver when editing large spreadsheets.
📸 Image suggestion: Before and after inserting a row with a keyboard shortcut.
🔍 4. Find and Replace
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + F → Find
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Ctrl + H → Replace
🔎 Helps you quickly locate data and make mass edits.
📸 Image suggestion: The Find and Replace dialog box open in Excel.
📅 5. Enter Current Date or Time
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + ; → Enter current date
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Ctrl + Shift + ; → Enter current time
🕒 Perfect for time-stamping entries or tracking deadlines.
📸 Image suggestion: Cell showing date inserted using the shortcut.
📌 6. AutoSum and Formula Bar
Shortcuts:
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Alt + = → AutoSum selected cells
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F2 → Edit the active cell
⚡ These two are vital for quick calculations and editing.
📸 Image suggestion: AutoSum in action or formula bar highlighted.
↔ 7. Move Between Sheets or Cells
Shortcuts:
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Ctrl + Arrow Keys → Jump to edges of data
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Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down → Switch between sheets
🚀 Navigate large datasets with ease.
📸 Image suggestion: Highlighted sheet tab switching or jumping cells.
📁 8. Create a New Workbook
Shortcut:
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Ctrl + N → Open a new workbook
🆕 Great for starting a fresh spreadsheet without reaching for the mouse.
📸 Image suggestion: New blank Excel workbook screen.
⏹ 9. Select Entire Rows/Columns
Shortcuts:
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Shift + Space → Select row
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Ctrl + Space → Select column
💡 Perfect for formatting or applying functions across rows/columns.
📸 Image suggestion: Row and column highlighted using shortcuts.
❌ 10. Exit Excel
Shortcut:
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Alt + F4 → Close Excel
🧯 Make sure to save before using this one!
📸 Image suggestion: "Do you want to save changes?" dialog.
📚 Bonus: Open Shortcut Help in Excel
Shortcut:
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Alt + Q → Tell Me/Help box
Use this to quickly find commands and features using keywords.
📸 Image suggestion: Tell Me bar active in the Excel ribbon.
🏁 Conclusion
Learning these shortcuts can dramatically increase your efficiency in Excel. Start with a few, and soon they’ll become second nature.
💾 Pro Tip: Create a cheat sheet or print out this list for quick reference!
