The one Google Sheets keyboard shortcut to learn first is Ctrl + / on Windows and Chrome OS, or ⌘ + / on a Mac, because it opens the full shortcut list inside Sheets itself. The second is Alt + /, or Option + / on a Mac, which opens Tool finder, the box that used to be called search the menus.
Here's the catch. Google's own list warns that some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards, and the Mac keys aren't always the PC keys with ⌘ swapped in. Find and replace is Ctrl + h on a PC but ⌘ + Shift + h on a Mac, and the number formats on a Mac use Ctrl, not ⌘. So below, every table puts the PC and Mac keys next to each other, as of October 2026.
Everyday actions
| Action | PC (Windows) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Select column | Ctrl + Space | Ctrl + Space |
| Select row | Shift + Space | Shift + Space |
| Select all | Ctrl + a | ⌘ + a |
| Undo | Ctrl + z | ⌘ + z |
| Redo | Ctrl + y | ⌘ + y |
| Find | Ctrl + f | ⌘ + f |
| Find and replace | Ctrl + h | ⌘ + Shift + h |
| Fill range | Ctrl + Enter | ⌘ + Enter |
| Fill down | Ctrl + d | ⌘ + d |
| Fill right | Ctrl + r | ⌘ + r |
| Paste values only | Ctrl + Shift + v | ⌘ + Shift + v |
| Insert new sheet | Shift + F11 | Shift + Fn + F11 |
| Convert range to table | Ctrl + Alt + T | ⌘ + Option + T |
| Compact controls | Ctrl + Shift + f | Ctrl + Shift + f |
You'll also see Ctrl + s for Save in Google's list, but you don't need it: every change is saved automatically in Drive. Paste values only is the one I'd drill into muscle memory, because it drops the formatting and formulas from whatever you copied.
Moving around a big sheet
| Go to | PC (Windows) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of row | Home | Fn + Left Arrow |
| Beginning of sheet | Ctrl + Home | ⌘ + Fn + Left Arrow |
| End of row | End | Fn + Right Arrow |
| End of sheet | Ctrl + End | ⌘ + Fn + Right Arrow |
| Back to the active cell | Ctrl + Backspace | ⌘ + Backspace |
| Next sheet | Alt + Down Arrow | Option + Down Arrow, or Option + Right Arrow on a MacBook |
| Previous sheet | Alt + Up Arrow | Option + Up Arrow, or Option + Left Arrow on a MacBook |
| List of sheets | Alt + Shift + k | Option + Shift + k |
| Open a hyperlink | Alt + Enter | Option + Enter |
| Quicksum, with a range selected | Alt + Shift + q | Option + Shift + q |
| Revision history | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + h | ⌘ + Option + Shift + h |
Mac users get two extras that aren't in the PC table: Ctrl + G opens the Go to range dialog, and Ctrl + F opens find and replace with the Find tab selected.
Formatting cells without the toolbar
| Format | PC (Windows) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + b | ⌘ + b |
| Italic | Ctrl + i | ⌘ + i |
| Underline | Ctrl + u | ⌘ + u |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 | ⌘ + Shift + x |
| Center align | Ctrl + Shift + e | ⌘ + Shift + e |
| Left align | Ctrl + Shift + l | ⌘ + Shift + l |
| Right align | Ctrl + Shift + r | ⌘ + Shift + r |
| Outer border | Alt + Shift + 7 | Option + Shift + 7 |
| Remove borders | Alt + Shift + 6 | Option + Shift + 6 |
| Insert link | Ctrl + k | ⌘ + k |
| Insert date | Ctrl + ; | ⌘ + ; |
| Insert time | Ctrl + Shift + ; | ⌘ + Shift + ; |
| Format as date | Ctrl + Shift + 3 | Ctrl + Shift + 3 |
| Format as decimal | Ctrl + Shift + 1 | Ctrl + Shift + 1 |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl + \ | ⌘ + \ |
The date and time keys change in some countries. In Portugal, Italy, Germany and Spain, insert date is Ctrl + Shift + D and insert time is Ctrl + Shift + H, which is a good example of that language and keyboard warning in action.
Shortcuts for writing formulas
| Formula job | PC (Windows) | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Show all formulas | Ctrl + ~ | Ctrl + ~ |
| Insert array formula | Ctrl + Shift + Enter | ⌘ + Shift + Enter |
| Collapse an expanded array formula | Ctrl + e | ⌘ + e |
| Switch absolute and relative references | F4 | Fn + F4 |
| Show or hide formula help | Shift + F1 | Shift + Fn + F1 |
| Toggle formula result previews | F9 | Fn + F9 |
| Toggle formula range selection | F2 or Ctrl + e | F2 or Ctrl + e |
The last four only work while you're typing a formula. F4 does double duty on a PC: outside a formula it's one of the redo keys, and inside one it flips a cell reference between absolute and relative.
Rows, columns, comments and menus
- Hide a row with Ctrl + Alt + 9 and unhide it with Ctrl + Shift + 9. On a Mac, it's ⌘ + Option + 9 and ⌘ + Shift + 9.
- Hide a column with Ctrl + Alt + 0 and unhide it with Ctrl + Shift + 0. On a Mac, it's ⌘ + Option + 0 and ⌘ + Shift + 0.
- Group rows or columns with Alt + Shift + Right Arrow and ungroup them with Alt + Shift + Left Arrow, using Option in place of Alt on a Mac.
- Add or edit a note with Shift + F2 on both. Add a comment with Ctrl + Alt + m, or ⌘ + Option + m on a Mac.
- Open a menu in Google Chrome with Alt plus its letter, such as Alt + d for Data or Alt + t for Tools. Other browsers use Alt + Shift plus the letter, and a Mac uses Ctrl + Option plus the letter.
With a comment selected, single letters take over: R replies, J moves to the next comment, K to the previous one, E resolves it and U exits. If you're tidying a layout, these pair well with my guides to freezing rows in Google Sheets and merging cells.
Switching on Excel-style shortcuts
Coming from another spreadsheet app? You can use shortcuts for spreadsheets made by other companies inside Sheets.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet at sheets.google.com.
- At the top, click Help, then Keyboard shortcuts.
- At the bottom of the window, turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts.
There's a step by step guide on how to delete rows in Google Sheets.
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The five I'd learn this week
I wouldn't try to memorise all of this. I'd start with Ctrl + / so you can look anything up, Alt + / for Tool finder, Ctrl + Shift + v to paste values only, Ctrl + Enter to fill a range, and F4 while you're writing formulas. Once those stick, add the navigation keys, because jumping to the end of a long sheet with Ctrl + End saves far more time than any formatting shortcut. If you're newer to Sheets, my Google Sheets tutorial covers the basics these shortcuts sit on top of.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets?
Press Ctrl + / on Windows or Chrome OS, or ⌘ + / on a Mac, to open the list of keyboard shortcuts inside Google Sheets.
What is the shortcut for find and replace in Google Sheets?
Ctrl + h on Windows and ⌘ + Shift + h on a Mac.
How do I paste values only in Google Sheets?
Press Ctrl + Shift + v on Windows, or ⌘ + Shift + v on a Mac.
Can I use Excel shortcuts in Google Sheets?
Yes. Click Help, then Keyboard shortcuts, and turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts at the bottom of the window.
Why isn't a Google Sheets shortcut working?
Google notes that some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards. In Portugal, Italy, Germany and Spain, for example, the insert date and time shortcuts are different.
