(Last Updated On: October 19, 2022)

Microsoft Excel is the most widely chosen tool globally to store and analyze data for its time-saving capabilities. Because of its multiple user-friendly in-built features, it is the easiest and go-to tool to organize and access data. Over time, the Excel shortcuts developed by Microsoft have proven to improve the tool’s efficiency manifold. 

These Excel shortcut keys help you work on your data the fastest way possible. But with so many of them, it becomes difficult to remember them all. So we have curated a list of excel shortcut keys most frequently used to save you time and energy. This article will act as a one-stop guide for you to refer each time you are stuck in your work. 

Why must you use Excel Shortcuts?

Using Excel shortcut keys can save you tons of time daily. Instead of moving your hand and the mouse every time to the toolbar and clicking several times, you can just click a few function keys to get the job done. So the primary purpose of using the excel shortcut cheat sheet is to improve speed and productivity. Navigating from one cell to another, grouping data, and, most importantly, filling in formulas in just a matter of seconds. Another benefit of using excel free courses is that they allow you to complete the task accurately and precisely.

Let us explore reasons for using the excel formula cheat sheet.

Reasons to use an Excel Formula Shortcuts

The reasons why many organizations use Excel shortcuts on a day to day basis can be briefed into three points:

  1. Ergonomic: Successfully reduce the risk of Repetitive Syndrome Injury) and minimize the wear and tear of your wrists and fingers.
  2. Precision: Excel shortcut keys improve accuracy. 
  3. Facilitates multitasking: Using keyboard shortcuts, you can semi-automate your tasks by simply pressing a few keys with little effort. For example, by pressing Ctrl +A, you can select the whole document instead of dragging the entire page with a pointer and mouse.

The top excel shortcuts that one needs to know in 2022 are listed below, along with a brief description. Below they are arranged according to make it simple for you to find the keys that you require. You would probably know a few of these shortcuts, like Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, but there would be many other excel shortcut keys that you wouldn’t be aware of.

Top Excel Shortcuts in 2022

General Shortcuts- Formatting

Excel ShortcutDescription
Ctrl+ACopy the entire worksheet.
Ctrl+BBold text on the worksheet. 
Ctrl+ CCopy Cell
Ctrl+ NCreate a new workbook.
Ctrl+OOpen existing workbook
Ctrl+IFormat the text in italics.
Ctrl+UUnderline the text. 
Ctrl+ZUndo Changes
Ctrl+ FOpen find dialog box
Ctrl+HOpen the replace dialog box.
Ctrl+ SSave the workbook
Ctrl+ pg upTo move up the cell
Ctrl+PgDownTo move down the cell
Ctrl+POpen the print dialog box.
Ctrl+ YRepeat the action
Ctrl+XCut 
Ctrl+ VPaste

These are some primary keys and formatting keys that will help you navigate through the worksheet and get basic cell formatting done. Now, we will learn keys that will help you apply advanced formatting like editing a cell, adding a border, etc.

Data Shortcuts

Excel ShortcutsDescription
Ctrl+Shift+@Format time
Ctrl+Shift+!Apply comma to numbers
Ctrl+Shift+%Format number as percentage
Ctrl+Shift+$Format as currency.
Ctrl+Shift+=Insert rows, columns.
Ctrl+Shift+*Insert or remove outline borders.
Ctrl+Shift++Insert a row
Ctrl+Shift+-Delete a row
Ctrl+Shift+ #Format a number as date
Ctrl+Shift+ &Add or remove outline border to selected cell
Ctrl+Shift+^Format a number as an exponential.
TabTo move to next cell
Shift+TabMove to previous cell
Shift+F2Edit cell
Alt+ H+HTo fill color
Alt+H+F+CChange font color
Alt+H+A+CAlign text in the cell
Alt+H+BTo add a border
Alt+F+FChange font style
Alt+F+SChange font size

The following section will help you understand different Excel formulas.

Formulas and Calculations

Excel ShortcutsDescription
=Begin a formula
Alt+=Insert auto sum formula
Shift+F3Insert a function- paste a formula
Shift+F9Calculate active worksheet
F9Calculate all worksheets
Ctrl+Shift+F9Recalculate all worksheets
Alt+Ctrl+F9Forces Calculation
Ctrl+Shift+EnterEdit mode
Alt+F3Select cell
Ctrl+`Toggle formulas on and off
Ctrl+Shift+UExpand or collapse formula bar

Function Excel Shortcuts

Excel ShortcutsDescription
F1Help
F2Edit a cell
F3Paste 
F4Repeat last action
F5Display go to dialog box
F6Next Pane
F7Run a spell check.
F8Extend mode

Insert Keys

Excel ShortcutsDescription
Alt+N+PInsert picture
Alt+N+JInsert object
Alt+N+UInsert symbol
Alt+N+HInsert header and footer
Alt+N+S+HInsert shape
Alt+N+TInsert table
Alt+N+S+CInsert chart
Alt+W+F+PView page layout
Alt+W+F+IView page break
Alt+W+F+CCustom view

Microsoft Excel might seem tedious, but it can be a lot of fun once you thoroughly complete all the formatting shortcuts. Plus, you can make your worksheet look vibrant and attractive by adding colors to the sheet and paying attention to alignment. Without a doubt, shortcuts make our lives simpler. These are some of the most prominent excel shortcuts free course  to learn about and master in 2022. Hope that this article about MS excel and free online courses has helped you discover some of the most useful ones.