Save time with computer shortcuts in Microsoft Office programs
If you’re like most people, you’re always looking for ways to save time, even when using Microsoft Office software. Keyboard shortcuts could be your new best friend when it comes to time management.
Ready-made Microsoft Office tools
If the thought of memorizing key combinations makes you wince, you can still save time and effort while working in all Office programs by using these built-in tools.
General keyboard shortcuts
To... |
Use this shortcut |
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Open Help |
Press F1. |
Select all content in a document, window, or text box |
Press Ctrl+A. |
Search for a file or folder |
Press F3. In Windows 7, you can also press the Windows logo key to open theStart menu and then type in the Searchbox. |
Rename a file or folder |
Select the file or folder, press F2, and then retype the name. |
Find out when the file or folder was created, by whom, and how big it is |
Select the file, and then press Alt+Enter. |
Display the Start menu |
Press Ctrl+Esc. In Windows 7, you can also press the Windows logo key. |
Scroll between open windows |
Press Alt+Tab, and then hold down Alt while pressing Tab to reach the desired file or program. |
Undo an action |
Press Ctrl+Z. |
Redo an action |
Press Ctrl+Y. |
Check the spelling of titles or words in any Office application with the Spelling & Grammar checker |
Press F7. |
Create a shortcut on your desktop to your favorite file or folder |
In Windows 7: Right-click the file or folder. On the shortcut menu, clickSend to, and then click Desktop (Create shortcut). In Windows Vista: Right-click the file or folder. On the shortcut menu, clickCreate Shortcut. Drag the new shortcut to your desktop. |
Capture a screen shot |
Press Alt+Print Screen, and then press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. |
Lock the computer, switch users, log off the computer, change a password, start Task Manager |
In Windows 7, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. |
Lock the computer |
Press the Windows logo key+L. |
Quit program |
Press Alt+F4. |
Working with Microsoft Word
To... |
Use this shortcut |
---|---|
Select text |
Press Shift+Right Arrow, Left Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow to highlight text. To select one word at a time, press Shift+Ctrl+Arrow. To select to the end of the line, press Shift+End. |
Copy selected text |
Press Ctrl+C. |
Cut selected text |
Press Ctrl+X. |
Paste selected text |
Press Ctrl+V. |
Bold text |
Press Ctrl+B. |
Search for text in a document |
Press Ctrl+F. |
Find and replace text in a document |
Press Ctrl+H. |
Got to a page, line, or bookmark in a document |
Press Ctrl+G. |
Italicize text |
Press Ctrl+I. |
Underline text |
Press Ctrl+U. |
Subscriptt text |
Press Ctrl+equal sign (=). |
Superscriptt text |
Press Ctrl+plus sign (+). |
Center text |
Press Ctrl+E. |
Align text left |
Press Ctrl+L. |
Align text right |
Press Ctrl+R. |
Justify text |
Press Ctrl+J. |
Decrease the font size |
Press Ctrl+Shift+less than sign (<). If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can also press Ctrl and scroll down. |
Increase the font size |
Press Ctrl+Shift+greater than sign (>). If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can also press Ctrl and scroll up. |
Change the font |
Press CTRL+SHIFT+F, and then use the arrow keys to reach the new font. |
Change font size |
Press Ctrl+Shift+P, and then use the arrow keys to reach the new font size. If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can also press Ctrl and scroll up or down. |
Create a page break |
Press Ctrl+Enter. |
Create a new document |
Press Ctrl+N. |
Open the My Documents window |
Press Ctrl+O. |
Close a document |
Press Ctrl+W. |
Save a document |
Press Ctrl+S. |
Print a document |
Press CTRL+P. |
Preview what you're about to print |
Press ALT+Ctrl+I. In Windows 7, this keyboard shortcut opens the integrated Print and Preview window, which you can also access by pressing Ctrl+P. |
Resize a shape (Office 2010) |
Select the shape, and then press Shift+Arrow. |
Rotate a shape (Office 2010) |
Select the shape, and then hold the Alt key while you press the Left Arrow key or the Right Arrow key. |
Accelerating Microsoft Excel
To... |
Use this shortcut |
---|---|
Open a new workbook |
Press Ctrl+N. |
Move left to right, cell by cell |
Press Tab, or press the Right Arrow key. |
Move right to left, cell by cell |
Press Shift+Tab, or press the Left Arrow key. |
Move down, cell by cell |
Press Enter, or press the Down Arrow key. |
Move up, cell by cell |
Press Shift+Enter, or press the Up Arrow key. |
Move down or up to the last empty or non-empty cell |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Down Arrow or Up Arrow. |
Move to the last empty or non-empty cell to the right or left |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Right Arrow or Left Arrow. |
Erase data in the current cell |
Press Backspace. |
Insert a return within a cell |
Press Alt+Enter. |
Return to the beginning of the row |
Press HOME. |
Advance to the next worksheet |
Ctrl+Page Down |
Go to the previous worksheet |
Ctrl+Page Up |
Enter the date |
Press Ctrl+Semicolon (;). |
Enter the time |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Colon (:). |
Find out about the style within the cell |
Press Alt+Apostrophe (‘). |
Display the Format Cells dialog box |
Press Ctrl+1. |
Apply the general number format |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Tilde (~). |
Apply the currency number format |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Dollar Sign ($). |
Apply the percentage number format |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Percent (%). |
Apply a border |
Press Ctrl+Shift+Ampersand (&). |
Remove a border |
Press Ctrl+Shift+ underscore (_). |
Hide the selected columns |
Press Ctrl+0 (zero). |
Hide the selected rows |
Press Ctrl+9. |
Unhide hidden rows within a selection |
Press Ctrl+Shift+opening parenthesis. |
Expediting Internet Explorer
To... |
Use this shortcut |
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Add sites to your Favorites |
|
Select a home page |
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Use the History function if you visit a few select sites constantly |
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Customize your toolbar to the tools you use most frequently |
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Go to your home page |
Press Alt+Home. |
Switch between tabs |
Press Ctrl+Tab. |
Move forward through the items on a webpage or the Address bar |
Press Tab. |
Move back through the items on a webpage or the Address bar |
Press Shift+Tab. |
Find on this page |
Press Ctrl+F. |
Stop downloading a page |
Press Esc. |
Use zoom on a webpage |
Increase zoom (+ 10%): Press Ctrl+plus sign (+). Decrease zoom (- 10%): Press Ctrl+minus sign (-). Increase to 100%: Press Ctrl+0. |