Maximize Efficiency with Google Sheets Keyboard Shortcuts

Summary: Google Sheets offers a range of keyboard shortcuts designed to enhance productivity and streamline spreadsheet management. Unlike Microsoft Excel, where shortcuts may differ, mastering Google Sheets’ shortcuts can save valuable time. Key shortcuts include Ctrl + Space to select columns, Shift + Space for rows, and Ctrl + A for selecting all. Essential actions like undo (Ctrl + Z), redo (Ctrl + Y), and find (Ctrl + F) are also covered. Formatting shortcuts like Ctrl + B for bold and Ctrl + U for underline are crucial for efficient editing. Navigational shortcuts, such as Home for moving to the beginning of a row and Ctrl + End to jump to the end of a sheet, facilitate smoother spreadsheet navigation. Additionally, shortcuts for inserting rows and columns, editing notes and comments, and managing sheets and menus further optimize workflow. For those transitioning from Excel, Google Sheets also supports compatible shortcuts, accessible via Ctrl + / (Windows) or ⌘ + / (Mac). By integrating these shortcuts into daily use, users can significantly enhance their efficiency in Google Sheets, reducing reliance on the mouse and expediting tasks.

Many people are familiar with keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Excel, but when it comes to Google Sheets, confusion can arise since many shortcuts are different. Google Sheets is a powerful tool that offers a range of functionalities for data management and analysis. For those who work with spreadsheets regularly, knowing the right keyboard shortcuts can save a significant amount of time.  To help you navigate Google Sheets with ease, this article provides a comprehensive list of relevant shortcuts tailored specifically for Google’s spreadsheet tool.

Important Note:

In all the shortcuts provided below, the + sign is used to indicate that you should press all the keys simultaneously. For example, to insert a new row when rows are selected, the shortcut is Ctrl + Alt + =, meaning you should press Ctrl, Alt, and = at the same time.

These shortcuts are designed by company to help you perform tasks more efficiently and keep your hands on the keyboard, reducing the need to switch between the keyboard and mouse.

PC shortcuts

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Additional Tips

• Help menu for all shortcuts : For users who need to access the full list of shortcuts at any time, simply press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (Mac) to bring up the shortcuts menu directly in Google Sheets.
• Tool Finder (Search the Menus): Use Alt + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or Option + / (Mac) to quickly search and navigate through menus. Here you don’t have to remember the shortcuts, it will show suggestions for your intended shortcuts and moreover you can search and select the shortcut directly.
• Use other spreadsheet shortcuts : You can use shortcuts for spreadsheets made by other companies in Google Sheets.

Simply press Ctrl + / (Windows, Chrome OS) or ⌘ + / (Mac) to bring up the shortcuts menu directly in Google Sheets. At the bottom of the window, turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts.

For example: To insert a row Normal shortcut:  {Ctrl + Alt + =}  and Compatible shortcut: {Ctrl + =}

Source Credit

The table of shortcuts and additional information were sourced from the Google Help Centre.

Conclusion

By learning these Google Sheets shortcuts, you can work faster and more easily, reducing the need to use your mouse. Whether you’re switching from Excel or just want to improve your skills in Google Sheets, these shortcuts will help you manage your spreadsheets more efficiently.

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