Excel Shortcut Keys Guide 2026 | UniAthena
Introduction Drowning in spreadsheets? Still clicking through endless Excel menus to get simple tasks done? If Microsoft Excel is part of your daily work routine, learning Excel Shortcut Keys is no longer optional; it's essential. Whether you’re handling sales reports, financial data, or performance dashboards, Excel shortcuts help you work faster, smarter, and with fewer errors. Why spend hours scrolling through rows and columns when the same work can be completed in seconds using the right key combinations? In today’s fast-paced, data-driven workplaces, efficiency is everything and Excel shortcuts give you a serious productivity edge.
Key Takeaways ● Excel is a must-have skill for professionals across industries from accountants and marketers to data analysts and operations teams. ● Mastering excel shortcut keys can dramatically reduce manual effort and improve accuracy.
● Common shortcuts like Ctrl + N, Ctrl + O, Ctrl + S, and Ctrl + W form the foundation of faster Excel usage. ● New Excel functions such as GROUPBY, PIVOTBY, PERCENTOF, BYCOL, and BYROW help you analyze data without complex Pivot Tables. ● Enrolling in excel courses online, including a Short Course on UniAthena, can accelerate your learning and career growth.
The Growing Importance of Excel in Data Management Microsoft Excel has evolved far beyond a basic spreadsheet tool. Today, it plays a critical role in data analysis, reporting, forecasting, and decision-making across industries. With the integration of cloud-based platforms like Microsoft 365 and OneDrive, Excel now supports real-time collaboration, automatic saving, and seamless sharing. According to recent workforce trends, Excel remains one of the top five most in-demand digital skills globally especially for business and Data analytics roles. From startups to large enterprises, professionals rely on Excel to manage and interpret data quickly. That’s why learning shortcuts and advanced functions is a smart investment in your career.
Top Excel Workbook Shortcut Keys Let’s start with the most frequently used Excel quick keys for managing workbooks. These shortcuts form the backbone of everyday Excel productivity. Sr. No
Function
Shortcut
1
Create a new workbook
Ctrl + N
2
Open an existing workbook
Ctrl + O
3
Save a workbook
Ctrl + S
4
Close the current workbook Ctrl + W
5
Move to the next sheet
Ctrl + Page Down
6
Move to the previous sheet
Ctrl + Page Up
If you want to explore workbook shortcuts in depth, UniAthena offers a free Short Course on Mastering Excel Spreadsheet & Workbook - Formulas And Functions perfect for beginners and professionals alike.
Excel Shortcut Keys for Formatting Data in Cells Data accuracy and presentation matter. These Excel shortcut keys help you edit, format, and clean up your data without breaking your workflow. Sr. No
Function
Shortcut
7
Edit a cell
F2
8
Remove cell outline border
Ctrl + Shift + _
9
Center align content
Alt + H + A + C
10
Apply fill color
Alt + H + H
Using these shortcuts consistently can save hours of formatting time, especially when working with large datasets.
Advanced MS Excel Shortcut Commands Once you’re comfortable with the basics, advanced Excel shortcut keys can significantly boost your efficiency especially when working with large reports or dashboards. Sr. No
Function
Shortcut
11
Add a comment
Shift + F2
12
Delete a comment
Shift + F10 + D
13
Find and replace
Ctrl + H
14
Activate filter
Ctrl + Shift + L / Alt + Down Arrow
15
Expand or collapse formula bar Ctrl + Shift + U
16
Select entire column
Ctrl + Space
17
Select entire row
Shift + Space
18
Copy value from above cell
Ctrl + Shift + "
19
Copy formula from above cell
Ctrl + '
20
Open Excel formula window
Shift + F3
To master these shortcuts along with advanced formulas, enrolling in a Essentials Of MS Excel - Formulas And Functions course can make a big difference.
Microsoft Excel Shortcut Keys for Pivot Tables If Pivot Tables are part of your daily work, these shortcuts will save you significant time while analyzing data. Sr. No
Function
Shortcut
21
Create a Pivot Table
Alt + N + V
22
Hide a Pivot item
Ctrl + -
23
Unhide a Pivot item
Alt + H + S + C
24
Group Pivot items
Alt + Shift + Right Arrow
25
Ungroup Pivot items
Alt + Shift + Left Arrow
Ribbon Keyboard Shortcut Keys for Excel Pressing Alt activates Excel’s Ribbon shortcuts, allowing you to navigate tabs without touching your mouse. Sr. No
Function
Shortcut
26
Save file
Alt + 1
27
Undo
Alt + 2
28
Redo
Alt + 3
29
Open File menu
Alt + F
30
Open Home tab
Alt + H
31
Open Insert tab
Alt + N
32
Open Draw tab
Alt + JI
33
Open Page Layout tab
Alt + P
34
Open Formulas tab
Alt + M
35
Open Data tab
Alt + A
36
Open Review tab
Alt + R
37
Open View tab
Alt + W
38
Open Help tab
Alt + Y
39
Open Search field
Alt + Q
40
Microsoft Account info
Alt + ZP
41
Share document
Alt + ZS
5 New Excel Functions to Elevate Your Skills Modern Excel comes packed with powerful functions that reduce dependency on complex Pivot Tables. 1. GROUPBY – Quickly group data and perform calculations like sum or average with automatic updates. 2. PIVOTBY – Combines formulas and Pivot Tables to summarize data by rows and columns. 3. PERCENTOF – Instantly calculate percentages without manual formulas. 4. BYCOL – Apply a formula to every column at once. 5. BYROW – Perform calculations across rows efficiently. These functions are especially valuable for professionals working with large datasets.
Excel Skills in the United States Job Market In the United States, Excel remains one of the most in-demand workplace skills. From finance and healthcare to marketing and tech startups, employers expect candidates to be proficient in Excel. According to job market data, roles such as Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Operations Manager, and Data Coordinator frequently list Excel expertise as a core requirement. Professionals who combine shortcut mastery with structured learning through excel Short courses online often progress faster in their careers. Short, flexible learning options like a Short Course from UniAthena are particularly popular in the U.S. for upskilling without career breaks.
Conclusion Work smarter, not harder. Learning excel shortcut keys can transform how you work—saving time, reducing errors, and boosting productivity. While this guide covers essential shortcuts, there’s much more to explore. Platforms like UniAthena offer free Excel resources, Short Courses, and even certification programs such as a Diploma in Microsoft Excel helping you gain practical skills in less time. If you want to upskill quickly and stay competitive, explore Diploma in Microsoft Excel, practice these shortcuts daily, and turn Excel into one of your strongest professional assets.
