ShortcutdrillExcel shortcuts / grouping and structure / Insert a pivot table
Insert a pivot table in Excel: Alt, N, V (Windows only)
| Windows | Alt, N, V |
|---|---|
| Mac | No key sequence. Excel for Mac has no ribbon key tips; use the menu or the nearest shortcut noted below. |
| Group | grouping and structure |
Drill: Insert a pivot. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.
What it does and when to use it
From inside a table, Alt, N, V (then Enter in newer versions) creates a PivotTable from the current region on a new sheet. Fields are then dragged, or added from the field list with the keyboard.
The common mistake
Starting from a cell outside the table, which gives an empty source range.
On a Mac
Excel for Mac does not show key tips when you press Option, so this ribbon sequence has no direct equivalent. The same command is in the menu bar, and many of the menus accept the keyboard once open. If you work on a Mac but your team is on Windows, learn the sequence anyway: it is what you will need on a Windows machine, and the Shortcutdrill sheet accepts Option in place of Alt so you can practice it.
Related shortcuts
- Insert a column Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+Shift+=
- Delete a blank row Shift+Space, Ctrl+-
- Group rows Alt+Shift+Right arrow
- Ungroup rows Alt+Shift+Left arrow
- Collapse the groups Alt, A, H
- The printable cheat sheet
Questions
What is the pivot table shortcut on a Mac?
There is no key sequence. Insert, PivotTable from the menu.
Learn it by pressing it
Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.
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