Google Sheets Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
A quick-reference list of 50+ Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Chromebook. Navigate, edit, format, and build formulas faster.
Sheets Bootcamp
March 15, 2026 · Updated April 2, 2026
Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts let you navigate, edit, and format your spreadsheets without reaching for the mouse. Learning even a handful of them can cut your work time significantly, especially when you repeat the same actions across large datasets.
This cheat sheet covers 50+ essential Google Sheets shortcuts organized by category. Every shortcut lists the Windows/Chromebook and Mac key combinations side by side.
How to Use This Cheat Sheet
Jump to any category using the links below. Each table shows the action, the Windows/Chromebook shortcut, and the Mac equivalent.
- Navigation Shortcuts
- Selection Shortcuts
- Editing Shortcuts
- Formatting Shortcuts
- Row and Column Shortcuts
- Formula Shortcuts
- Menu and Toolbar Shortcuts
- Tips for Learning Shortcuts
- FAQ
Press Ctrl+/ (Windows) or Cmd+/ (Mac) inside Google Sheets to open the built-in shortcuts panel at any time.
Navigation Shortcuts
These shortcuts help you move around your spreadsheet quickly without scrolling or clicking.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Move one cell up/down/left/right | Arrow keys | Arrow keys |
| Jump to edge of data region | Ctrl+Arrow key | Cmd+Arrow key |
| Move to beginning of row | Home | Fn+Left arrow |
| Move to cell A1 | Ctrl+Home | Cmd+Fn+Left arrow |
| Move to last cell with data | Ctrl+End | Cmd+Fn+Right arrow |
| Move to next sheet tab | Ctrl+Shift+Page Down | Cmd+Shift+Page Down |
| Move to previous sheet tab | Ctrl+Shift+Page Up | Cmd+Shift+Page Up |
| Go to a specific cell | Ctrl+G or F5 | Cmd+G |
| Scroll down one screen | Page Down | Page Down |
| Scroll up one screen | Page Up | Page Up |
Ctrl+Arrow is one of the most useful navigation shortcuts. It jumps to the last filled cell in a direction, letting you skip over hundreds of rows in one keystroke.
Selection Shortcuts
Select cells, rows, columns, and ranges without dragging.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select entire row | Shift+Space | Shift+Space |
| Select entire column | Ctrl+Space | Ctrl+Space |
| Select all cells | Ctrl+A | Cmd+A |
| Extend selection one cell | Shift+Arrow key | Shift+Arrow key |
| Extend selection to edge of data | Ctrl+Shift+Arrow key | Cmd+Shift+Arrow key |
| Select from current cell to beginning of row | Shift+Home | Shift+Fn+Left arrow |
| Select all cells above | Ctrl+Shift+Home | Cmd+Shift+Fn+Left arrow |
| Select all cells below | Ctrl+Shift+End | Cmd+Shift+Fn+Right arrow |
| Select non-adjacent cells | Hold Ctrl and click | Hold Cmd and click |
Combine Ctrl+Shift+Arrow to select large ranges instantly. For example, if you are in cell A1 with data down to A500, press Ctrl+Shift+Down to select the entire column of data in one keystroke.
Editing Shortcuts
Core editing shortcuts for entering data, copying, and undoing changes.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Edit active cell (enter edit mode) | F2 | F2 |
| Confirm entry and move down | Enter | Enter |
| Confirm entry and move up | Shift+Enter | Shift+Enter |
| Confirm entry and move right | Tab | Tab |
| Cancel entry | Escape | Escape |
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C |
| Cut | Ctrl+X | Cmd+X |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V |
| Paste values only | Ctrl+Shift+V | Cmd+Shift+V |
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Redo | Ctrl+Y | Cmd+Y |
| Find | Ctrl+F | Cmd+F |
| Find and replace | Ctrl+H | Cmd+H |
| Delete cell contents | Delete or Backspace | Delete or Fn+Delete |
| Fill down | Ctrl+D | Cmd+D |
| Fill right | Ctrl+R | Cmd+R |
| Insert link | Ctrl+K | Cmd+K |
Ctrl+Shift+V (paste values only) is essential when you want to paste results without carrying over formulas or formatting. This is one of the most frequently used shortcuts for data cleanup.
Formatting Shortcuts
Apply formatting without opening menus.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl+B | Cmd+B |
| Italic | Ctrl+I | Cmd+I |
| Underline | Ctrl+U | Cmd+U |
| Strikethrough | Alt+Shift+5 | Cmd+Shift+X |
| Align center | Ctrl+Shift+E | Cmd+Shift+E |
| Align left | Ctrl+Shift+L | Cmd+Shift+L |
| Align right | Ctrl+Shift+R | Cmd+Shift+R |
| Apply currency format | Ctrl+Shift+4 | Ctrl+Shift+4 |
| Apply percentage format | Ctrl+Shift+5 | Ctrl+Shift+5 |
| Apply date format | Ctrl+Shift+3 | Ctrl+Shift+3 |
| Apply decimal format | Ctrl+Shift+1 | Ctrl+Shift+1 |
| Increase decimal places | Alt+Shift+Right arrow | Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow |
| Decrease decimal places | Alt+Shift+Left arrow | Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl+\ | Cmd+\ |
Ctrl+\ (clear formatting) is your reset button. If a cell has inherited formatting you do not want, select it and press this shortcut to strip everything back to the default style.
Row and Column Shortcuts
Insert, delete, and manage rows and columns from the keyboard.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Insert row above | Ctrl+Alt+= (with row selected) | Cmd+Option+= (with row selected) |
| Insert row below | Select row, then Ctrl+Alt+= with Shift | Ctrl+Option+I, then R |
| Insert column left | Ctrl+Alt+= (with column selected) | Cmd+Option+= (with column selected) |
| Delete row | Ctrl+Alt+- (with row selected) | Cmd+Option+- (with row selected) |
| Delete column | Ctrl+Alt+- (with column selected) | Cmd+Option+- (with column selected) |
| Hide row | Ctrl+Alt+9 | Cmd+Option+9 |
| Unhide row | Ctrl+Shift+9 | Cmd+Shift+9 |
| Hide column | Ctrl+Alt+0 | Cmd+Option+0 |
| Unhide column | Ctrl+Shift+0 | Cmd+Shift+0 |
| Group rows or columns | Alt+Shift+Right arrow | Option+Shift+Right arrow |
| Ungroup rows or columns | Alt+Shift+Left arrow | Option+Shift+Left arrow |
Formula Shortcuts
Speed up formula entry and editing.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Start a formula | Type = | Type = |
| Toggle absolute/relative reference | F4 | F4 |
| Insert SUM function | Alt+= | Cmd+Shift+T |
| Show all formulas | Ctrl+` | Ctrl+` |
| Accept autocomplete suggestion | Tab | Tab |
| Insert array formula | Ctrl+Shift+Enter | Cmd+Shift+Enter |
| Insert a note | Shift+F2 | Shift+F2 |
| Insert a comment | Ctrl+Alt+M | Cmd+Option+M |
The F4 shortcut is particularly useful when building formulas with absolute and relative references. Each press cycles through the four reference types: A1 → $A$1 → A$1 → $A1 → back to A1.
Ctrl+` (show all formulas) toggles every cell between showing its formula and showing its result. This is helpful for auditing a sheet to see where formulas live versus hardcoded values.
When you are entering a formula like VLOOKUP or QUERY, you can click cells or ranges to insert their references instead of typing them manually. Press Escape to cancel the formula entry without changing the cell.
Menu and Toolbar Shortcuts
Access menus and tools without clicking.
| Action | Windows / Chromebook | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open File menu | Alt+F | Ctrl+Option+F |
| Open Edit menu | Alt+E | Ctrl+Option+E |
| Open View menu | Alt+V | Ctrl+Option+V |
| Open Insert menu | Alt+I | Ctrl+Option+I |
| Open Format menu | Alt+O | Ctrl+Option+O |
| Open Data menu | Alt+D | Ctrl+Option+D |
| Open Tools menu | Alt+T | Ctrl+Option+T |
| Open Help menu | Alt+H | Ctrl+Option+H |
| Open keyboard shortcuts panel | Ctrl+/ | Cmd+/ |
| Toggle full screen | Ctrl+Shift+F | Cmd+Shift+F |
| Open search menus | Alt+/ | Option+/ |
Alt+/ (search menus) is a hidden gem. It opens a search bar where you can type any menu action by name. If you cannot remember a shortcut, type what you want to do and Google Sheets will find the menu item for you.
Tips for Learning Shortcuts
Memorizing a long list of shortcuts is impractical. Here is how to build the habit effectively.
Start with five. Pick the five shortcuts you would use most based on what you do every day. For most people, that means Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Shift+V, and Ctrl+Arrow. Use only those for a week before adding more.
Print or bookmark this page. Keep this cheat sheet open in a browser tab or print it and pin it next to your monitor. Glancing at a reference is faster than searching every time.
Use Ctrl+/ as your safety net. Whenever you forget a shortcut, press Ctrl+/ to open the built-in panel. Over time, you will need it less.
Replace one mouse action per day. Each day, identify one action you do with the mouse (like selecting a column or inserting a row) and force yourself to use the keyboard shortcut instead. After a month, 30 shortcuts become automatic.
Practice on real work. Shortcuts stick when you use them on actual tasks, not practice exercises. The next time you open a spreadsheet, challenge yourself to keep your hands on the keyboard for as long as possible.
Related Google Sheets Tutorials
- Google Sheets Formulas Cheat Sheet — 100+ formulas organized by category
- VLOOKUP: The Complete Guide — look up data across your spreadsheet
- Absolute vs Relative References — understand when to lock cell references with F4
- IF Function Guide — build logical formulas that make decisions
- Function Reference — syntax and examples for every major Google Sheets function
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets?
Press Ctrl+/ on Windows or Cmd+/ on Mac to open the built-in keyboard shortcuts panel. This overlay shows every available shortcut grouped by category. You can browse it without leaving your spreadsheet.
What is the shortcut to select all cells in Google Sheets?
Press Ctrl+A on Windows or Cmd+A on Mac. Pressing it once selects the current data region around your active cell. Pressing it a second time selects the entire sheet, including empty cells.
How do I switch between sheets using a keyboard shortcut?
Press Ctrl+Shift+Page Down to move to the next sheet tab, or Ctrl+Shift+Page Up to move to the previous one. On Mac, use Cmd+Shift+Page Down and Cmd+Shift+Page Up.
Are Google Sheets shortcuts the same as Excel?
Many core shortcuts overlap, including Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, and Ctrl+B. However, several differ between the two applications. Google Sheets uses Ctrl+/ to view shortcuts (Excel uses Alt). Some formatting shortcuts and menu access keys also work differently. If you are switching from Excel, the biggest adjustments are menu navigation and a few formatting shortcuts.
Can I create custom keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets does not support custom keyboard shortcuts natively. You can use browser extensions or your operating system’s accessibility tools to remap keys, but there is no built-in way to assign custom shortcuts within Sheets itself.