Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`PgUp`	MS Excel	Selects the active worksheet and the one before it
`Ctrl`+`/`	MS Excel	Selects the array containing the active cell ??
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\`	MS Excel	Selects the cells in a selected column that do not match the value in the active cell
`Ctrl`+`\`	MS Excel	Selects the cells in a selected row that do not match the value in the active cell
`Ctrl`+`Space`	MS Excel	Selects the current column
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8`	MS Excel	Selects the current region (surrounded by blank rows and columns)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`8`or`*`	MS Excel	Selects the current region (surrounded by blank rows and columns)
`Ctrl`+`*`	MS Excel	Selects the current region (using the * on the number keyboard)
`Shift`+`Space`	MS Excel	Selects the current row
`Alt`+`;`	MS Excel	Selects the visible cells in the current selection
`=`	MS Excel	Starts a Formula
`Ctrl`+`6`	MS Excel	Toggles between hiding, displaying symbols on the active worksheet
`Shift`+`F8`	MS Excel	Toggles between switching Add Mode on or off*
`Ctrl`+`	MS Excel	Toggles between the value layer and the formula layer
`Alt`+`F11`	MS Excel	Toggles between the Visual Basic Editor window and the Excel window
`Ctrl`+`2`	MS Excel	Toggles bold on the current selection
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS Excel	Toggles bold on the current selection
`Ctrl`+`3`	MS Excel	Toggles italics on the current selection
`Ctrl`+`I`	MS Excel	Toggles italics on the current selection
`F10`	MS Excel	Toggles the activation of the Menu Bar
`Ctrl`+`8`	MS Excel	Toggles the display of Outline
`Ctrl`+`5`	MS Excel	Toggles the strikethrough of text on the current selection
`Ctrl`+`4`	MS Excel	Toggles underlining on the current selection
`Ctrl`+`U`	MS Excel	Toggles underlining on the current selection
`F8`	MS Excel	Toggles whether to extend a selection with the arrow keys
`Ctrl`+`Z`	MS Excel	Undo the last workbook action
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`)`	MS Excel	Unhides any hidden columns within the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`(`	MS Excel	Unhides any hidden rows within the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`0`	MS Excel	Unhides the columns in the current selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`	MS Excel	Unhides the rows in the current selection
`Space`or`Enter`	MS Powerpoint	Activate a selected button or control
`Tab`	MS Powerpoint	Add a new row at the bottom of the table with the cursor in the last cell of the last row
`Ctrl`+`M`	MS Powerpoint	Add a new slide
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS Powerpoint	Apply bold formatting
`Ctrl`+`B`	MS Powerpoint	Apply bold formatting to the selected text
`Ctrl`+`I`	MS Powerpoint	Apply italic formatting
`Ctrl`+`=`	MS Powerpoint	Apply subscript formatting (automatic spacing)
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`+`	MS Powerpoint	Apply superscript formatting (automatic spacing)
`Ctrl`+`U`	MS Powerpoint	Apply underline formatting
`Esc`	MS Powerpoint	Cancel a command, such as Save As
`Shift`+`Space`or`Shift`+`Enter`	MS Powerpoint	Cancel selection of a focused item
`Ctrl`+`E`	MS Powerpoint	Center a paragraph
`Alt`+`H`then`F`then`S`	MS Powerpoint	Change the font size for selected text
`Ctrl`+`D`	MS Powerpoint	Close a presentation
`Ctrl`+`Space`then`C`	MS Powerpoint	Close a task pane
`Ctrl`+`Q`	MS Powerpoint	Close PowerPoint
`on numeric keypad only`or`←`	MS Powerpoint	Collapse a focused group
`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`	MS Powerpoint	Collapse all groups (with the focus in the tree view of the Selection pane)
`Alt`+`Shift`+`-`	MS Powerpoint	Collapse Outline View text below a heading
`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`then(Office 2010andOffice 2007: Not available)	MS Powerpoint	Copy animation painter

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References