Select the region without the mouse in Excel

Select the region without the mouse in Excel: Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+8 (Mac: Cmd+A)

Windows	`Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+8`
Mac	`Cmd+A`
Group	selection

Practice this shortcut

Drill: Select the current region. Free, no sign-up.

What it does and when to use it

Ctrl+Shift+8 (that is, Ctrl+*) selects the current region in one press and never expands to the whole sheet. Ctrl+A does the same on the first press inside data.

The common mistake

Selecting a table by dragging from the corner and missing the last row.

Related shortcuts

Select a column of data Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow
Select across a row Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow
Select the whole row Shift+Space
Select the whole column Ctrl+Space
Select the current table Ctrl+A
The printable cheat sheet

Questions

What is the current region?

The block of filled cells around the active cell, bounded by empty rows and columns. Pivot tables and sorts use it by default.

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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