Reference · Updated 2026-10-17

Google Sheets Shortcuts List: Windows, Mac and Excel Equivalents

The built-in Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts, grouped by task, with the Excel shortcut you already know next to each one. Plus the Excel habits Sheets doesn't support, and how to get them back.

How to use this list

This is a reference of Google Sheets' built-in keyboard shortcuts, grouped by task, with the Mac version and the Excel shortcut you already know in the last column, so you can see at a glance what carries over and what doesn't.

The Windows/ChromeOS and Mac columns come from Google's own Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets help page (checked 2026-10-17). Some shortcuts vary by language and keyboard layout.
The Excel column shows default shortcuts in Excel for Windows. "—" means there's no direct equivalent.
Ctrl+C means hold both keys. Alt, E, S, V means press and release each key in turn.
In Sheets, press Ctrl+/ (⌘+/ on Mac) to search every shortcut, and Alt+/ to search the menus.

We make SheetSpeed, a Chrome extension that adds Excel-style shortcuts to Google Sheets. Everything in the first six tables works without it.

Jump to: Common actions · Format cells · Navigate · Rows and columns · Formulas · Notes and comments · Excel habits Sheets lacks · Mac notes · FAQ

Common actions

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Select column	`Ctrl`+`Space`	`Ctrl`+`Space`	`Ctrl`+`Space`
Select row	`Shift`+`Space`	`Shift`+`Space`	`Shift`+`Space`
Select all	`Ctrl`+`A` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Space`	`⌘`+`A` or `⌘`+`Shift`+`Space`	`Ctrl`+`A`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`Z`	`⌘`+`Z`	`Ctrl`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Y` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Z` or `F4`	`⌘`+`Y` or `⌘`+`Shift`+`Z` or `Fn`+`F4`	`Ctrl`+`Y` or `F4`
Find	`Ctrl`+`F`	`⌘`+`F`	`Ctrl`+`F`
Find and replace	`Ctrl`+`H`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`H`	`Ctrl`+`H`
Fill range (enter in all selected cells)	`Ctrl`+`Enter`	`⌘`+`Enter`	`Ctrl`+`Enter`
Fill down	`Ctrl`+`D`	`⌘`+`D`	`Ctrl`+`D`
Fill right	`Ctrl`+`R`	`⌘`+`R`	`Ctrl`+`R`
Copy / cut / paste	`Ctrl`+`C` or `Ctrl`+`X` or `Ctrl`+`V`	`⌘`+`C` or `⌘`+`X` or `⌘`+`V`	`Ctrl`+`C` or `Ctrl`+`X` or `Ctrl`+`V`
Paste values only	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`V`	`Alt`, `E`, `S`, `V` or `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V`
Insert new sheet	`Shift`+`F11`	`Shift`+`Fn`+`F11`	`Shift`+`F11`
Rename sheet	`Alt`+`1`	—	`Alt`, `H`, `O`, `R`
Convert range to table	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`T`	`⌘`+`Option`+`T`	`Ctrl`+`T`
Tool finder (search the menus)	`Alt`+`/`	`Option`+`/`	`Alt`+`Q`
Show keyboard shortcuts	`Ctrl`+`/`	`⌘`+`/`	—

Good news for Excel users: most clipboard, undo, fill and selection shortcuts are identical.

Format cells

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Bold / italic / underline	`Ctrl`+`B` or `Ctrl`+`I` or `Ctrl`+`U`	`⌘`+`B` or `⌘`+`I` or `⌘`+`U`	`Ctrl`+`B` or `Ctrl`+`I` or `Ctrl`+`U`
Strikethrough	`Alt`+`Shift`+`5`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`5`
Align left	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`L`	`Alt`, `H`, `A`, `L`
Align center	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`E`	`Alt`, `H`, `A`, `C`
Align right	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`R`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`R`	`Alt`, `H`, `A`, `R`
Top border	`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`	`Option`+`Shift`+`1`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `P`
Right border	`Alt`+`Shift`+`2`	`Option`+`Shift`+`2`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `R`
Bottom border	`Alt`+`Shift`+`3`	`Option`+`Shift`+`3`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `O`
Left border	`Alt`+`Shift`+`4`	`Option`+`Shift`+`4`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `L`
Remove borders	`Alt`+`Shift`+`6`	`Option`+`Shift`+`6`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `N`
Outer border	`Alt`+`Shift`+`7` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`	`Option`+`Shift`+`7` or `⌘`+`Shift`+`7`	`Alt`, `H`, `B`, `S` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`&`
Format as number (decimal)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`!`
Format as time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`2`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`@`
Format as date	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`3`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`#`
Format as currency	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`$`
Format as percentage	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`%`
Format as exponent (scientific)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`^`
Clear formatting	`Ctrl`+`\`	`⌘`+`\`	`Alt`, `H`, `E`, `F`
Insert link	`Ctrl`+`K`	`⌘`+`K`	`Ctrl`+`K`
Insert date	`Ctrl`+`;`	`⌘`+`;`	`Ctrl`+`;`
Insert time	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`;`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`;`
Insert date and time	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`;`	`⌘`+`Option`+`Shift`+`;`	—

On a US keyboard the number-format shortcuts are the same physical keys as Excel's (Ctrl+Shift+! is Ctrl+Shift+1), but the exact formats Sheets applies can differ from Excel's. Borders and alignment are where Excel's Alt, H ribbon sequences are missed most.

Navigate the spreadsheet

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Beginning of row	`Home`	`Fn`+`Left Arrow`	`Home`
Beginning of sheet	`Ctrl`+`Home`	`⌘`+`Fn`+`Left Arrow`	`Ctrl`+`Home`
End of sheet	`Ctrl`+`End`	`⌘`+`Fn`+`Right Arrow`	`Ctrl`+`End`
Scroll to active cell	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	`⌘`+`Backspace`	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`
Next sheet	`Alt`+`Down Arrow`	`Option`+`Down Arrow`	`Ctrl`+`Page Down`
Previous sheet	`Alt`+`Up Arrow`	`Option`+`Up Arrow`	`Ctrl`+`Page Up`
List of sheets	`Alt`+`Shift`+`K`	`Option`+`Shift`+`K`	—
Open hyperlink	`Alt`+`Enter`	`Option`+`Enter`	—
Open filter drop-down on a filtered cell	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`R`	`Ctrl`+`⌘`+`R`	`Alt`+`Down Arrow`
Version history	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`H`	`⌘`+`Option`+`Shift`+`H`	—
Context menu	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\` or `Shift`+`F10`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`\` or `Shift`+`F10`	`Shift`+`F10`

Watch out: Excel switches sheets with Ctrl+Page Down / Page Up; Sheets lists Alt+Down / Alt+Up (Google's help also lists the menu-opening Alt keys, such as Alt+F for File in Chrome).

Rows and columns

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Insert rows / columns (with rows or columns selected)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`=`	`⌘`+`Option`+`=`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=`
Delete rows / columns (with rows or columns selected)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`-`	`⌘`+`Option`+`-`	`Ctrl`+`-`
Insert row below (menu path)	`Alt`, `I`, `R`, `B`	`Ctrl`+`Option`+`I, R, B`	—
Hide rows	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`9`	`⌘`+`Option`+`9`	`Ctrl`+`9`
Unhide rows	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`9`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`9`
Hide columns	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`0`	`⌘`+`Option`+`0`	`Ctrl`+`0`
Unhide columns	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`0`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`0`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`0`
Group rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right Arrow`	`Option`+`Shift`+`Right Arrow`	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Right Arrow`
Ungroup rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left Arrow`	`Option`+`Shift`+`Left Arrow`	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Left Arrow`
Expand grouped rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Down Arrow`	`Option`+`Shift`+`Down Arrow`	—
Collapse grouped rows or columns	`Alt`+`Shift`+`Up Arrow`	`Option`+`Shift`+`Up Arrow`	—

Insert, delete and hide use Ctrl+Alt in Sheets where Excel uses Ctrl or Ctrl+Shift. That single difference trips up most switchers; Google's compatible-shortcuts setting or an extension can restore the Excel keys.

Formulas

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Show all formulas	`Ctrl`+`~`	`Ctrl`+`~`	`Ctrl`+`
Absolute / relative reference (while editing)	`F4`	`Fn`+`F4`	`F4`
Insert array formula	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`	`⌘`+`Shift`+`Enter`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Enter`
Formula help (while editing)	`Shift`+`F1` or `F1`	`Shift`+`Fn`+`F1` or `Fn`+`F1`	—
Toggle formula result previews (while editing)	`F9`	`Fn`+`F9`	—
Toggle range selection (while editing)	`F2` or `Ctrl`+`E`	`F2` or `Ctrl`+`E`	`F2`
Trace precedents	—	—	`Alt`, `M`, `P` or `Ctrl`+`[`

F9 in Excel recalculates; in Sheets (while editing a formula) it toggles result previews. Google Sheets has no built-in formula tracing; see how to trace precedents in Google Sheets.

Notes and comments

Action	Windows / ChromeOS	Mac	Excel (Windows)
Insert / edit note	`Shift`+`F2`	`Shift`+`F2`	`Shift`+`F2`
Insert / edit comment	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`	`⌘`+`Option`+`M`	`Alt`, `R`, `C`
Open comment discussion thread	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`A`	`⌘`+`Option`+`Shift`+`A`	—

Excel habits Google Sheets doesn't support natively, and how to get them

Two free layers fill most gaps. First, open Help → Keyboard shortcuts and turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts (step-by-step guide). Then, for press-and-release Alt sequences and formula tracing, add a Chrome extension. Here is what SheetSpeed covers:

Excel habit	Closest native Google Sheets option	With SheetSpeed	SheetSpeed tier
Alt, E, S, V (paste values)	Use Ctrl+Shift+V instead	`Alt`, `E`, `S`, `V`	Core (free)
Alt, E, S, F / T (paste formulas / formats)	Edit → Paste special menu	`Alt`, `E`, `S`, `F` / `Alt`, `E`, `S`, `T`	Core (free)
Alt, H, B, … (borders)	Alt+Shift+1–7 (held), or toolbar	`Alt`, `H`, `B + letter`	Core (free)
Alt, H, A, … (alignment)	Ctrl+Shift+L / E / R	`Alt`, `H`, `A + letter`	Core (free)
Alt, H, O, I (autofit column width)	Double-click the column edge	`Alt`, `H`, `O`, `I`	Core (free)
Ctrl+Shift+= / Ctrl+- (insert / delete)	Ctrl+Alt+= / Ctrl+Alt+-	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`=` / `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`-`	Core (free)
Ctrl+Shift+L (filter on/off)	Data → Create a filter (natively, Ctrl+Shift+L left-aligns)	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`L`	Core (free)
Ctrl+[ / Alt, M, P (trace precedents)	Not available	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`[` (panel; ↑↓ to move, Enter to drill)	Core (free)
Ctrl+] (trace dependents)	Not available	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`]`	Pro (launching soon)
Alt, W, F, F (freeze panes)	View → Freeze menu	`Alt`, `W`, `F`, `F`	Pro (launching soon)
Paste formulas without shifting references (Paste Exact)	Not available; Ctrl+V shifts relative references	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`C`, then `Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Shift`+`V`	Pro (launching soon)
Alt, A, W, G (goal seek)	Not built in; separate add-on	`Alt`, `A`, `W`, `G`	Pro (launching soon)

Core is free. Pro is launching soon and isn't on sale yet (see pricing). Every SheetSpeed key is listed on the SheetSpeed shortcut list. Other extensions such as SheetWhiz, ShortieCuts, XLKeys and Spex cover similar ground with different free/paid splits; see the options compared.

Add SheetSpeed to Chrome (free)

Mac notes

Use ⌘ where Windows uses Ctrl for most shortcuts, and Option where Windows uses Alt.
Number formats (Ctrl+Shift+1–6), select column (Ctrl+Space) and show formulas (Ctrl+~) keep Ctrl on Mac.
Menus open with Ctrl+Option+letter (for example Ctrl+Option+I for Insert).
On laptop keyboards, Home/End and the F-keys need Fn.
Extensions like SheetSpeed map Excel's Alt sequences to Option. More: Excel Alt shortcuts on a Mac in Google Sheets.

FAQ

Where can I see every keyboard shortcut in Google Sheets?

Inside any spreadsheet, press Ctrl+/ on Windows or ChromeOS (⌘+/ on Mac) to open the Keyboard shortcuts dialog, which is searchable. Google also publishes the full list on its "Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets" help page. This page reproduces the main ones for Windows and Mac next to their Excel equivalents.

What is the Google Sheets shortcut for paste values?

Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows and ChromeOS, ⌘+Shift+V on Mac. Excel's Alt, E, S, V sequence doesn't work natively in Sheets; a Chrome extension such as SheetSpeed (free Core) adds it.

What is the shortcut to insert a row in Google Sheets?

Select one or more rows and press Ctrl+Alt+= (⌘+Option+= on Mac) to insert rows above. Ctrl+Alt+- deletes them. Excel's Ctrl+Shift+= and Ctrl+- work after you turn on "Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts" or install an extension like SheetSpeed.

Do Excel shortcuts work in Google Sheets?

Many basics are identical (Ctrl+C/V/Z/Y, Ctrl+D, Ctrl+R, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+H, Ctrl+Space, Shift+Space, F4). Others differ: insert/delete rows, hide rows and columns, sheet navigation and most of Excel's press-and-release Alt ribbon sequences. Turn on Help → Keyboard shortcuts → "Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts" for more Excel-style keys, and use an extension for Alt sequences and trace precedents.

Is there a trace precedents shortcut in Google Sheets?

Not natively; Google Sheets has no formula auditing tools like Excel's Trace Precedents. SheetSpeed adds a precedents panel on Ctrl+Shift+[ in its free Core.

Are Google Sheets shortcuts different on a Mac?

Yes. Most Ctrl shortcuts use ⌘ on a Mac, Alt becomes Option, and keys like Home, End and F4 need Fn on laptop keyboards. Number-format shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+1 to 6) keep Ctrl on Mac.