Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts
This searchable reference collects the Google Sheets shortcuts that spreadsheet users rely on, with the correct keys for Windows, ChromeOS and macOS. It covers common edit actions, navigation, selection, row and column operations, formatting and formula entry — the keys that keep you off the mouse while building a sheet.
How it works
Sheets combines Ctrl (Windows and ChromeOS) or Command (macOS) with Shift and
Alt/Option for most commands, and runs entirely in the browser. Number formatting
uses Ctrl/Command Shift plus a number, in-cell line breaks use Alt/Control Enter,
and F4 cycles a reference between absolute and relative. Pick your operating
system, search for an action, and each row shows the exact keys for that
platform.
A curated shortcut table
| Action | Windows / ChromeOS | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Show all shortcuts | Ctrl / | ⌘ / |
| Format as currency | Ctrl Shift 4 | ⌃ ⇧ 4 |
| Format as percentage | Ctrl Shift 5 | ⌃ ⇧ 5 |
| Format as date | Ctrl Shift 3 | ⌃ ⇧ 3 |
| New line in a cell | Alt Enter | ⌃ Return |
| Insert today’s date | Ctrl ; | ⌘ ; |
| Insert current time | Ctrl Shift ; | ⌘ ⇧ ; |
| Find and replace | Ctrl H | ⌘ ⇧ H |
| Fill down | Ctrl D | ⌘ D |
| Fill right | Ctrl R | ⌘ R |
| Cycle reference type (A1 → $A$1 etc.) | F4 | F4 |
| Toggle formula bar | Ctrl Shift U | ⌘ ⇧ U |
| Select column | Ctrl Space | ⌃ Space |
| Select row | Shift Space | ⇧ Space |
| Select all | Ctrl A | ⌘ A |
| Undo | Ctrl Z | ⌘ Z |
| Redo | Ctrl Y | ⌘ Y |
| Comment on cell | Ctrl Alt M | ⌘ ⌥ M |
The shortcuts that save the most time
F4 for reference locking is the single highest-leverage shortcut for formula writers. While your cursor is inside a cell reference in the formula bar, pressing F4 cycles through four states: A1 (fully relative), $A$1 (fully absolute), A$1 (row locked), $A1 (column locked). Being able to do this without typing $ signs manually speeds up formula construction enormously.
Ctrl Shift 4 / ⌃ ⇧ 4 for currency formats the selected cells with the local currency symbol in one keystroke rather than opening the Format menu. The numeric shortcuts follow a pattern: 1 = plain number, 2 = no formatting, 3 = date, 4 = currency, 5 = percentage, 6 = scientific notation.
Alt Enter / ⌃ Return inserts a line break inside the current cell. Without it, pressing Enter moves to the next cell. This is essential for multi-line labels, address fields, or bullet-point notes you want to keep inside a single cell.
Ctrl D / ⌘ D fills a formula down from the cell above into a selected range in one step. Select the cell above and the cells below you want to fill, then press Ctrl D and the formula copies down with relative references adjusted. The equivalent for copying rightward is Ctrl R / ⌘ R.
Using the search
Type any action keyword into the search box — “currency”, “filter”, “insert row” — and the shortcut list filters in real time across every category. This is faster than scanning the built-in Sheets shortcut overlay for a specific command. All filtering runs in your browser with nothing uploaded.