20 Advanced Excel Shortcuts That Will Supercharge Your Workflow

Master Excel Like a Pro

If you've mastered the basics of Excel and want to take your productivity to the next level, it's time to go beyond copy-paste and Cmd + Z. Excel is a powerhouse of hidden shortcuts designed for speed, precision, and efficiency. Whether you're managing data, building dashboards, or preparing reports for clients, these 20 advanced keyboard shortcuts will save you hours and seriously impress your team.

Let's jump in.

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Ctrl + Shift + L

Toggle Filters On/Off

Quickly enable or disable filters on a dataset with a single stroke. Perfect for when you're analysing columns on the fly.

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Ctrl + ;

Insert Today's Date

Speed up your data entry. Hit this combo in a cell to timestamp your work instantly.

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Ctrl + Shift + "

Copy Value From Above

Need to duplicate a value down a column? This shortcut pulls the cell above into your current selection.

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Alt + =

AutoSum Selected Range

Select a group of numbers, press this shortcut, and Excel will insert a SUM formula immediately.

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Ctrl + Shift + $

Format as Currency

Apply currency formatting without lifting your hands off the keyboard.

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Ctrl + Shift + %

Format as Percentage

Apply percentage formatting instantly.

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Ctrl + *

Select Current Region

Automatically selects the current data block you're working in. Great for structured datasets.

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F4

Repeat Last Action

Just inserted a row? Changed formatting? Press F4 to do it again instantly. A serious time-saver.

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Ctrl + 1

Open Format Cells Dialog

Gives you full control over number formats, alignment, borders, and more — instantly.

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Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Key

Select to End of Data

Holding Shift and an arrow key selects one cell at a time. Add command, and you'll jump to the last filled cell in that direction. Perfect for large datasets.

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Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar

Select Entire Table

One of the most underused power moves. With one click, highlight the entire table — headers and all.

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Alt + Down Arrow

Open Data Validation Dropdown

If you've used dropdown lists in your sheet, this shortcut opens them without needing the mouse.

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Ctrl + `

Toggle Formula View

Want to audit your spreadsheet? This toggles between showing values and formulas in one go.

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Alt + Enter

New Line in the Same Cell

Insert line breaks within a single cell — ideal for multi-line notes or addresses.

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Ctrl + Page Up

Switch Worksheets Left

Effortlessly move between tabs without touching your mouse.

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Ctrl + Page Down

Switch Worksheets Right

Move to the next worksheet tab quickly.

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Ctrl + F3

Define Named Ranges

Take control of complex formulas by creating named ranges from selected cells.

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Ctrl + Backspace

Return to Active Cell

Ever scrolled away and lost track of your cursor? This shortcut jumps you back instantly.

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Alt + F1

Create Chart from Selection

Select a range of data and instantly create a chart on the same sheet.

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Ctrl + Alt + V

Paste Special

From values-only to transposed formats, this shortcut opens the powerful Paste Special dialog in a flash.

Wrapping Up

Mastering these advanced Excel shortcuts isn't just about speed — it's about working smarter. If you find yourself repeating the same actions or fumbling through menus, chances are there's a shortcut that can help.

About the Author

Daniel is a developer at Excel Experts, a curious mind into the world of programming, design and SEO. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in contact via the form below.