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Excel shortcuts / Excel selection shortcuts

Excel selection shortcuts

Almost every format, copy or delete starts with a selection, so a slow selection makes everything after it slow. The shortcuts here select exactly the cells that hold data, which the mouse rarely does on the first drag.

The pattern is simple: Shift extends, Ctrl jumps, and Space with a modifier takes the whole row or column.

ActionWindowsMacPractice
Select a column of dataCtrl+Shift+Down arrowCmd+Shift+Down arrowFree drill
Select across a rowCtrl+Shift+Right arrowCmd+Shift+Right arrowPro drill
Select the whole rowShift+SpaceShift+SpaceFree drill
Select the whole columnCtrl+SpaceControl+SpacePro drill
Select the current tableCtrl+ACmd+APro drill
Select to the last used cellCtrl+Shift+EndFn+Cmd+Shift+Right arrowPro drill
Select back to A1Ctrl+Shift+HomeFn+Cmd+Shift+Left arrowPro drill
Select to the start of the rowShift+HomeFn+Shift+Left arrowPro drill
Select the region without the mouseCtrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+8Cmd+AFree drill
Select to the end of the columnCtrl+Shift+Down arrowCmd+Shift+Down arrowFree drill
Select a block from its top-left cellCtrl+Shift+Right arrow, Ctrl+Shift+Down arrowCmd+Shift+Right arrow, Cmd+Shift+Down arrowFree drill

Select a column of data Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow

Ctrl+Shift+Down selects from the active cell to the last filled cell below. It is the shortcut behind most formatting and copying: select the column, then act on it. Practice: Select a column of numbers.

Select across a row Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow

Ctrl+Shift+Right selects from the active cell to the last filled cell on the right. It selects the header row of a table in one press, ready for bold or a border. Practice: Select across a row.

Select the whole row Shift+Space

Shift+Space selects the entire row of the active cell, across every column. It is the first step before inserting, deleting, hiding or grouping rows from the keyboard. Practice: Select a whole row.

Select the whole column Ctrl+Space

Ctrl+Space selects the entire column, including empty cells below the data. Use it before hiding, inserting or deleting columns, or to format a column for data that is still coming. Practice: Select a whole column.

Select the current table Ctrl+A

Inside a block of data, Ctrl+A selects the block: the current region bounded by blank rows and columns. A second Ctrl+A selects the whole sheet. Ctrl+Shift+8 selects the region without the second step. Practice: Select the whole table.

Select to the last used cell Ctrl+Shift+End

Ctrl+Shift+End selects from the active cell to the last used cell of the sheet. From the first data cell it selects the whole table, even with gaps inside it. Practice: Select to the last cell.

Select back to A1 Ctrl+Shift+Home

Ctrl+Shift+Home selects from the active cell back to A1. From the bottom-right corner of a table it selects the whole table, headers included. Practice: Select back to A1.

Select to the start of the row Shift+Home

Shift+Home selects from the active cell to column A of the same row. Combined with Shift+Down it builds a block that starts at the left edge. Practice: Select to the start of the row.

Select the region without the mouse Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Shift+8

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. Practice: Select the current region.

Select to the end of the column Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow

From any data cell, Ctrl+Shift+Down grabs everything to the last filled cell below. It is how you select 5,000 values in one press for a format, a copy or a delete. Practice: Select to the end of the column.

Select a block from its top-left cell Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow, Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow

From the top-left cell of a table, Ctrl+Shift+Right extends to the last column and Ctrl+Shift+Down to the last row. Two presses select any rectangular block, headers included. Practice: Extend across the row and down.

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