- To quickly highlight the current row, the current column or the entire spreadsheet use the following keyboard shortcuts: “Shift” + “Space”: Highlights the current row “CTRL” + “Space”: Highlights the current column “CTRL” + “A”: Highlights the entire spreadsheet if the currently sel.
- Similarly, if you want to select all the rows which are above the selected row, then we need to press the shortcut key “Shift + Ctrl + Up Arrow.” Things to Remember Here To select the row, we should have selected the cell in that particular row before pressing the shortcut key. We need to press the shortcut key in order of Shift then Space.
Excel Shortcuts for selecting Rows Columns and Cells
Select the first or any cell of the column or row, and then press the keys simultaneously. Then you can see the selection is extended to the end of current column as below screenshot shown. For extending the selection to the entire row, please select the first. Learn the Excel keyboard shortcuts (MAC and PC) to change the cell(s) fill color (highlight). Includes a full description.
Jump to: Navigation Basics, Select Basics, Select Columns and Rows, Insert Rows, Columns and Duplicate Content, Duplicate Content, Extend Selection Mode and select non-adjacent Cells, Shortcuts for Editing Cells, Edit Cells with Multiple Cells Selected
Arrow Keys | Navigate one cell at a time in any direction |
Ctrl+Arrow Keys | Move to the edge of data region (cells that contains data) |
Page Down/Page Up | Move one screen down/ up |
Alt+Page Down/Page Up | Move one screen right/ left |
Tab/Shift+Tab | Move one cell to the next/ previous cell in worksheet |
Home | Move to beginning of row |
Ctrl+Home | Move to the beginning of worksheet |
Ctrl+End | Move to the last cell with content of worksheet |
Ctrl+G | Display the GoTo dialog box |
Ctrl+G then type e.g. A50 | Go to line 50, Column A |
Ctrl+G then type e.g. G1 | Go to column G, Line 1 in Excel |
Ctrl+Backspace | Set focus back to active cell after e.g. scrolling away from it |
Shortcut For Highlighting A Row In Excel
Shift+Arrow Keys | Extend selection by one cell |
Shift+Page Down/Page Up | Extend selection one screen down/ up |
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Keys | Extend selection to next non-blank cell |
Shift+Home | Extend selection to beginning of the row (unfortunately, there is no Shift+End equivalent) |
Ctrl+A with empty cells around current cell | Select all |
Ctrl+A with filled cells around current cell | Select all cells inExtend Selection' texts at in Excel Status Bar. Press Escape to exit Extend Selection MOde |
Shift+F8 | Enter Locked Selection Extend Mode. Now you can add non-adjacent cells to a selection. There is an 'Add or Remove Selection' text at bottom of Excel Window |
Shift+F8, then click on cells or click+drag cell ranges | Add non-adjacent cells or ranges to locked selection |
Shift+F8, then Arrow Keys, then 2x Shift+F8 on a single cell | Add non-adjacent single cells to locked selection |
Shift+F8, then Arrow Keys, then Shift+Arrow Keys, then 1x Shift+F8 selected range. | Add non-adjacent cell ranges to locked selection |
These assume you are inside a cell, typically after pressing F2
F2 | Edit cell. Press Escape to cancel |
F2, then Shift+Home | Select Cell Content. Selects from current end of cursor to beginning |
Home/End | Jump to beginning/ end of cell |
Arrow Keys | Navigate by one character left/ right or one line up/ down |
Ctrl+Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Navigate by one word left/ right |
Shift+Arrow Keys | Select one character to the left/ right (or one line up/down) |
Shift+Home/End | Select from the insertion point to beginning/ end of cell |
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Select or unselect one word to the left/ right |
Delete/Backspace | Delete one character to the right/ left of cursor |
Ctrl+Delete | Delete from cursor to end of cell |
Alt+Enter | Start a new line inside cell |
Enter/Shift+Enter | Complete cell entry and move one cell down/ up |
Tab/Shift+Tab | Complete cell entry and move one cell right/ left |
Ctrl+Enter | Complete cell entry and don't move selection |
Ctrl+' | Duplicate value from Cell above into current cell at cursor position |
Ctrl+; | Insert current date at cursor position |
Ctrl+Shift+; | Insert current time at cursor position |
All these shortcuts assume multipe cells have been selected. Try with at least 2-3 columns and rows.
Microsoft Excel Highlight Shortcut
Tab/Shift+Tab | Move active cell right/ left in selection |
Enter/Shift+Enter | Move active cell down/ up in selection |
Shift+Backspace | Select only the active cell when multiple cells are selected |
Ctrl+Backspace | Show active cell within selection; helps with large selections when active cell is off screen |
Ctrl+. | Move clockwise between the four courners of a selection |
Ctrl+Alt+Arrow Right/Arrow Left | Move to the right/ to the left between non-adjacent selections (with multiple ranges selected) |
Arrow Keys with active Selection | Cancel Selection |
Created by max on 12/18/2020. Last updated by max on 1/14/2021