Mac Excel Shortcuts: Cheat Sheet of 120 Commands
Excel for Mac has more than one efficient way to run a command. You can choose it visually in the Ribbon, point and click with the mouse, use a native Mac keyboard shortcut where Excel provides one, or use a Windows-style command sequence through Mac Excel Shortcuts app. This reference puts those approaches in one place.
Quick answer: For a one-off task, use the Ribbon: select your data, open the relevant tab, and choose the command. For mouse-first work, right-click the selection and use the contextual menu where the command is available. For repeat work, use a native shortcut such as ⌘C, ⌘V, ⌘B, ⌘F, or ⌘⇧F; use the listed Alt sequence with Mac Excel Shortcuts app when you want the Windows Excel-style command path on a Mac.
How to read this Mac Excel cheat sheet
The command sequences below come from the supplied Excel workbook and use Windows-style Ribbon letters, for example Alt H V V for Paste Values. They are Mac Excel Shortcuts app sequences, not built-in single-key Mac shortcuts. Press the keys in order after enabling the Mac Excel Shortcuts app workflow.
Native shortcuts are shown separately when they are common and useful. Excel’s menu labels can vary slightly by version, so use the command name as the anchor when following the Ribbon or mouse route.
Three ways to use almost every Excel command on Mac
1. Ribbon method
Select the cell, range, table, chart, or worksheet first. Then open the named Ribbon tab—such as Home, Data, Formulas, or View—and choose the command. This is the best method when you are learning or need to see related options.
2. Mouse method
Click the target, then right-click it to check the contextual menu. Common actions such as cut, copy, paste, insert, delete, format cells, sort, filter, and table actions are often available there. When an action is not in the right-click menu, use the Ribbon; the command names in the table tell you where to look.
3. Mac Excel Shortcuts app method
Use the sequence in the final column. The verified list of every supported sequence is in What Shortcuts Does the Mac Excel Shortcuts app Cover?. For example, Alt H A C maps to Home → Alignment → Center. This approach is ideal for people moving from Windows Excel or anyone who wants repeatable, keyboard-led Ribbon navigation on a Mac.
Essential native Mac Excel shortcuts (the 30 you use most)
These are Excel's built-in keyboard shortcuts, not Mac Excel Shortcuts app sequences. Most Windows shortcuts convert by swapping Ctrl for ⌘. The exceptions keep Control; the reason is explained below the tables.
Navigation
Jump to cell A1: Control+Home (Windows: Ctrl+Home)
Jump to last used cell: Control+End (Windows: Ctrl+End)
Jump to edge of data region: ⌘+Arrow (Windows: Ctrl+Arrow)
Extend selection to edge of data region: ⌘⇧+Arrow (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+Arrow)
Extend selection to last used cell: Control+Shift+End (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+End)
Go To dialog: Control+G (or F5) (Windows: Ctrl+G / F5)
Next / previous worksheet tab: Control+Page Down / Page Up (Windows: Ctrl+Page Down / Page Up)
Select entire row: Shift+Space (Windows: Shift+Space)
Select entire column: Control+Space (Windows: Ctrl+Space)
Select all: ⌘A (Windows: Ctrl+A)
Switch between open windows (macOS): ⌘` (Windows: Alt+Tab)
Editing
Copy / Cut / Paste: ⌘C / ⌘X / ⌘V (Windows: Ctrl+C / X / V)
Paste Special dialog: ⌃⌘V (Windows: Ctrl+Alt+V)
Undo / Redo: ⌘Z / ⌘Y (Windows: Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y)
Edit active cell: F2 (Fn+F2 on most MacBooks) (Windows: F2)
Clear cell contents: Delete (Windows: Delete)
Fill down / right: ⌘D / ⌘R (Windows: Ctrl+D / Ctrl+R)
Insert cells: Control+Shift+= (Windows: Ctrl+Shift++)
Delete cells: ⌘- (or Control+-) (Windows: Ctrl+-)
New line inside a cell: ⌘⌥Return (or Control+Option+Return) (Windows: Alt+Enter)
Find / Replace: ⌘F / Control+H (or ⌘⇧H) (Windows: Ctrl+F / Ctrl+H)
Formatting
Format Cells dialog: ⌘1 (Windows: Ctrl+1)
Bold / Italic / Underline: ⌘B / ⌘I / ⌘U (Windows: Ctrl+B / I / U)
Currency / Percentage format: Control+Shift+$ / Control+Shift+% (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+$ / %)
General number format: Control+Shift+~ (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+~)
Comma (thousands) format: Control+Shift+! (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+!)
Outside border: ⌘⌥0 (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+&)
Toggle AutoFilter: ⌘⇧F (or Control+Shift+L) (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+L)
Formulas
AutoSum: ⇧⌘T (Windows: Alt+=)
Insert Function / Formula Builder: ⇧F3 (Fn+Shift+F3) (Windows: Shift+F3)
Toggle absolute / relative reference: ⌘T (or F4) (Windows: F4)
Show formulas: Control+` (Windows: Ctrl+`)
Recalculate all open workbooks: ⌘= (or F9) (Windows: F9)
Recalculate active sheet: ⇧F9 (Windows: Shift+F9)
Why the modifier key sometimes stays Control
macOS reserves several ⌘ combinations for system functions (⌘Space opens Spotlight, for example), so Excel cannot safely move every shortcut to ⌘. Number-format shortcuts also keep Control because they follow the symbol on the key (Shift+4 is $), which only works if the modifier pattern matches Windows. It is the single biggest source of "muscle memory failure" for people moving from Windows.
Complete Mac Excel Shortcuts cheat sheet
Clipboard and Home commands
| Command | Ribbon location | Mac Excel Shortcuts sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Paste | Home → Clipboard | Alt H V P |
| Paste Special | Home → Clipboard | Alt H V S |
| Paste Values | Home → Clipboard | Alt H V V |
| Paste Formulas | Home → Clipboard | Alt H V F |
| Paste Formatting | Home → Clipboard | Alt H V R |
| Cut | Home → Clipboard | Alt H X |
| Copy | Home → Clipboard | Alt H C |
| Format Painter | Home → Clipboard | Alt H F P |
| Font dialog | Home → Font | Alt H F F |
| Font Size | Home → Font | Alt H F S |
| Increase Font Size | Home → Font | Alt H F G |
| Decrease Font Size | Home → Font | Alt H F K |
| Bold | Home → Font | Alt H 1 |
| Italic | Home → Font | Alt H 2 |
| Underline | Home → Font | Alt H 4 |
| All Borders | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B A |
| Bottom Border | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B B |
| Top Border | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B T |
| Left Border | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B L |
| Right Border | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B R |
| Outside Borders | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B O |
| No Border | Home → Font → Borders | Alt H B N |
| Fill Color | Home → Font | Alt H H |
| Font Color | Home → Font | Alt H F C |
| Top Align | Home → Alignment | Alt H A T |
| Middle Align | Home → Alignment | Alt H A M |
| Bottom Align | Home → Alignment | Alt H A B |
| Left Align | Home → Alignment | Alt H A L |
| Center | Home → Alignment | Alt H A C |
| Right Align | Home → Alignment | Alt H A R |
| Wrap Text | Home → Alignment | Alt H W |
| Merge & Center | Home → Alignment | Alt H M C |
| Merge Across | Home → Alignment | Alt H M A |
| Merge Cells | Home → Alignment | Alt H M M |
| Unmerge Cells | Home → Alignment | Alt H M U |
| Currency | Home → Number | Alt H K |
| Percent Style | Home → Number | Alt H L |
| Conditional Formatting | Home → Styles | Alt H L |
| Insert Row | Home → Cells | Alt H I R |
| Insert Column | Home → Cells | Alt H I C |
| Delete Row | Home → Cells | Alt H D R |
| Delete Column | Home → Cells | Alt H D C |
| AutoFit Column Width | Home → Cells → Format | Alt H O I |
| AutoFit Row Height | Home → Cells → Format | Alt H O A |
| AutoSum | Home → Editing | Alt = |
| Flash Fill | Home → Editing | Ctrl+E |
| Fill Down | Home → Editing | Ctrl+D |
| Fill Right | Home → Editing | Ctrl+R |
| Find | Home → Editing → Find & Select | Ctrl+F |
| Replace | Home → Editing → Find & Select | Ctrl+H |
| Go To | Home → Editing → Find & Select | F5 |
Sort, filter and data commands
| Command | Ribbon location | Mac Excel Shortcuts sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Sort A to Z | Data → Sort & Filter | Alt A S A |
| Sort Z to A | Data → Sort & Filter | Alt A S D |
| Custom Sort | Data → Sort & Filter | Alt A S S |
| Filter | Data → Sort & Filter | Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Reapply Filter | Data → Sort & Filter | Alt A Y 3 |
| Clear Filter | Data → Sort & Filter | Alt A C |
| Text to Columns | Data → Data Tools | Alt A E |
| Remove Duplicates | Data → Data Tools | Alt A M |
| Data Validation | Data → Data Tools | Alt A V V |
| Consolidate | Data → Data Tools | Alt A N |
| What-If Analysis | Data → Forecast | Alt A W |
| Group | Data → Outline | Alt A G G |
| Ungroup | Data → Outline | Alt A G U |
| Subtotal | Data → Outline | Alt A B |
| Refresh All | Data → Get & Transform | Ctrl+Alt+F5 |
Insert and page layout commands
| Command | Ribbon location | Mac Excel Shortcuts sequence |
|---|---|---|
| PivotTable | Insert → Tables | Alt N V |
| Recommended PivotTables | Insert → Tables | Alt N S |
| Table | Insert → Tables | Ctrl+T or Alt N T |
| Pictures | Insert → Illustrations | Alt N P |
| Shapes | Insert → Illustrations | Alt N SH |
| SmartArt | Insert → Illustrations | Alt N M |
| Link | Insert → Links | Ctrl+K |
| Equation | Insert → Symbols | Alt = |
| Slicer | Insert → Filters | Alt N S F |
| Margins | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P M |
| Orientation | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P O |
| Size | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P S |
| Print Area | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P R |
| Breaks | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P B |
| Print Titles | Page Layout → Page Setup | Alt P I |
Formula and calculation commands
| Command | Ribbon location | Mac Excel Shortcuts sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Insert Function | Formulas → Function Library | Shift+F3 |
| AutoSum | Formulas → Function Library | Alt M U |
| Name Manager | Formulas → Defined Names | Ctrl+F3 |
| Define Name | Formulas → Defined Names | Alt M M D |
| Create from Selection | Formulas → Defined Names | Ctrl+Shift+F3 |
| Trace Precedents | Formulas → Formula Auditing | Alt M P |
| Trace Dependents | Formulas → Formula Auditing | Alt M D |
| Remove Arrows | Formulas → Formula Auditing | Alt M A A |
| Show Formulas | Formulas → Formula Auditing | Ctrl+` |
| Error Checking | Formulas → Formula Auditing | Alt M X |
| Calculate Now | Formulas → Calculation | F9 |
| Calculate Sheet | Formulas → Calculation | Shift+F9 |
View and review commands
| Command | Ribbon location | Mac Excel Shortcuts sequence |
|---|---|---|
| Normal view | View → Workbook Views | Alt W L |
| Page Break Preview | View → Workbook Views | Alt W I |
| Page Layout view | View → Workbook Views | Alt W P |
| Gridlines | View → Show | Alt W V G |
| Formula Bar | View → Show | Alt W V F |
| Headings | View → Show | Alt W V H |
| Zoom | View → Zoom | Alt W Q |
| 100% Zoom | View → Zoom | Alt W J |
| New Window | View → Window | Alt W N |
| Freeze Panes | View → Window | Alt W F F |
| Freeze Top Row | View → Window | Alt W R |
| Freeze First Column | View → Window | Alt W C |
| Split | View → Window | Alt W S |
| Hide Workbook | View → Window | Alt W H |
| Unhide Workbook | View → Window | Alt W U |
| View Macros | View → Macros | Alt W M |
| Record Macro | View → Macros | Alt W R |
| Spelling | Review → Proofing | F7 |
| Thesaurus | Review → Proofing | Shift+F7 |
| New Comment | Review → Comments | Ctrl+Alt+M |
| New Note | Review → Notes | Shift+F2 |
| Protect Sheet | Review → Protect | Alt R P S |
| Protect Workbook | Review → Protect | Alt R P W |
Which method should you choose?
| Situation | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You are learning a command | Ribbon | The label and nearby options make the command easy to verify. |
| You are already pointing at a cell or table | Mouse | A right-click menu is quick for local actions such as formatting, sorting, and inserting. |
| You repeat a command all day | Native shortcut or Mac Excel Shortcuts | It removes pointer travel and makes the action consistent. |
| You are moving from Windows Excel | Mac Excel Shortcuts | The Alt sequences retain familiar Ribbon-navigation muscle memory. |
| You need an option not shown in a contextual menu | Ribbon | The complete command set lives in the Ribbon and its dialogs. |
Important notes before relying on shortcut sequences
Start with the correct selection. A cell, range, table, chart, or sheet selection changes which commands Excel makes available.
Some commands open a dialog or menu; choose the needed option and press Return to confirm.
Commands with the same sequence in the source list can be context dependent. For example, Alt H L is listed for both Percent Style and Conditional Formatting, so verify the command in your current Mac Excel Shortcuts app configuration before automating a workflow.
Function keys may require holding fn on Mac keyboards, depending on your macOS keyboard settings.
Summary: the fastest way to work in Excel on Mac
Use the Ribbon when you need clarity, the mouse when the command is local to your selection, and keyboard workflows when repetition matters. The cheat sheet above gives you a practical map of the workbook’s Mac Excel Shortcuts app sequences across Home, Data, Insert, Formulas, View, and Review. Learn five commands you use every day first—then add the next five from the same section.
FAQs
Do these shortcuts work in older versions of Excel for Mac?
Most do. A few, such as XLOOKUP-related and some Data tab shortcuts, need Excel 365 or 2021 or later.
What if a shortcut doesn't work on my Mac?
Check whether macOS has claimed the same combination: System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts. Function-key shortcuts may also need Fn. See Why Excel Keyboard Shortcuts Don't Work on Mac.
Can I use Windows shortcuts on a Mac without relearning them?
Native Excel keeps the Ctrl-to-⌘ swap, but Windows Alt sequences have no native equivalent. The Mac Excel Shortcuts app adds the Windows-style sequences listed in the tables below.
Related guides
Is There a Merge Cells Shortcut in Excel for Mac? (Merge & Center, Unmerge and Better Options)
How to Insert and Delete Rows and Columns in Excel on Mac with the Keyboard
Alt+Enter on Mac: How to Add a New Line and Wrap Text in an Excel Cell
How to Make Excel Shortcuts Work on Mac (Without Relearning Them)