Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working in Excel, Word, PowerPoint or Outlook on Mac? Fixes That Work
Quick answer: When a keyboard shortcut does nothing in Microsoft Office for Mac, the cause is usually one of three things: the function keys need Fn, a macOS system shortcut has claimed the same keys, or the shortcut is a Windows one that does not exist on Mac. Check those three first, then your keyboard layout, remapping tools and Office updates. Alternatively, use apps like Mac Excel Shortcuts to keep your shortcut muscle memory for Mac.
This applies to Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook for Mac. For Excel-specific causes, see Why Excel Keyboard Shortcuts Don't Work on Mac (and How to Fix Them).
Symptoms
A shortcut that worked on Windows does nothing
Function keys change brightness or volume instead of acting in Office
A shortcut works in one Office app but not another
A shortcut that used to work stopped after an update
Diagnostic table
| What you see | Most likely cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|
| F-keys change volume or brightness | Function key setting | Hold Fn, or enable standard function keys |
| Nothing happens, or another app reacts | macOS shortcut conflict | Clear the conflicting shortcut in System Settings |
| Windows shortcut does nothing | No Mac equivalent | Look up the Mac shortcut |
| Wrong characters or modifier order | Keyboard layout or Windows keyboard | Check layout and swap Option and Command |
| Works in one app only | App-specific shortcut | Check that app shortcut list |
| Stopped after an update | Settings reset or old Office build | Re-check settings, update Office |
Fixes, in order of probability
1. Use Fn with function keys, or change the setting
Microsoft's guidance for Excel for Mac is to use the Apple keyboard setting that makes F1, F2 and the other top-row keys act as standard function keys. After that change, the printed features (volume, brightness) need Fn. See Why Doesn't F4 Work in Excel on Mac? for a worked example.
2. Clear a macOS shortcut conflict
Microsoft notes that some shortcuts conflict with default macOS shortcuts. Open System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts, find the shortcut that uses the same keys, and clear its checkbox. A common example is Ctrl+Space (select a column in Excel), which macOS can use to switch input sources.
3. Check that the shortcut exists on Mac
Many Windows shortcuts are different on a Mac. Alt-based Ribbon sequences, for example, do not exist natively. Look the task up in Windows to Mac Excel Shortcut Cheat Sheet (Free Reference) before assuming the keyboard is broken.
4. Check the keyboard layout and external keyboard
If symbols or modifier keys are in the wrong place, the keyboard layout may not match the physical keyboard. A Windows keyboard also swaps the position of Option and Command. See Windows Keyboard on Mac: Where Every Key Went (Ctrl, Alt, Windows, Delete, Home, End, Print Screen).
5. Turn off remapping tools to test
Utilities that remap keys can swallow a shortcut before Office sees it. Quit them, restart the Office app, and test again.
6. Update Office
In any Office app, choose Help ▸ Check for Updates to open Microsoft AutoUpdate. Install updates, then restart the app.
7. Restart the Mac
A restart clears stuck modifier keys and stale keyboard state. It is quick, so try it if nothing above fixed the problem.
Prevention
Decide once whether you want standard function keys, and set it.
Keep a list of shortcuts you have cleared in System Settings so you can undo them.
Learn the Mac version of your top ten shortcuts instead of relying on Windows habits.
FAQs
Why do shortcuts work in Notes but not in Excel?
Notes uses macOS shortcuts. Excel has its own shortcuts, and some are different or use different modifier keys. Check the Excel version of the shortcut.
Do Office shortcuts work on a Windows keyboard connected to a Mac?
Yes, with the Alt key acting as Option and the Windows key acting as Command. If the order feels wrong, swap them in System Settings.
Can I get Windows Alt sequences back in Excel for Mac?
Not natively. The Mac Excel Shortcuts app adds Windows-style Alt sequences to Excel for Mac.