Google Sheets Shortcuts: 150+ for Windows, Mac & Chrome OS

If you spend more than two hours a day in Google Sheets, you are losing roughly 64 hours a year to unnecessary mouse clicks that is eight full working days gone to menus, toolbars, and right-click dialogs that a single keyboard shortcut would replace in under a second.

This guide covers 150+ Google Sheets keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS organized into 8 categories so you can find exactly what you need without scrolling through an unstructured wall of key combinations.

Google Sheets Shortcuts PDF Free Cheat Sheet Download

If you work in Google Sheets regularly, having a quick-reference cheat sheet nearby saves time especially for shortcuts you use less often but need in a hurry.

The free Google Sheets shortcuts PDF includes:

• All 150+ keyboard shortcuts covered in this guide
• Organized into 7 categories: Navigation, Formatting, Formulas, Data Entry, Row & Column Management, Notes & Comments, and Menu Access
• Windows and Mac versions side by side
• Printable in A4 and US Letter format
• Compatible with Google Chrome, Firefox, and all major browsers

Who this is for: Students, data analysts, finance professionals, teachers, and anyone who uses Google Sheets daily and wants to stop reaching for the mouse.

⬇ Download Google Sheets Shortcuts PDF Free
Direct download – no email required

How to Enable All Keyboard Shortcuts in Google Sheets

Before using the shortcuts below, take 30 seconds to unlock the full shortcut set. By default, Google Sheets does not activate all available keyboard shortcuts particularly those compatible with Microsoft Excel. Here is how to enable them:

Step 1: Open any Google Sheets document in your browser.
Step 2: Click Help in the top menu bar.
Step 3: Select Keyboard shortcuts from the dropdown or press Ctrl + / on Windows / ⌘ + / on Mac to open it directly.
Step 4: In the Keyboard Shortcuts panel, scroll to the very bottom of the list.
Step 5: Toggle on “Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts” and close the panel.

That is it. You now have access to 150+ additional shortcuts on Windows that mirror common Excel commands making everything in this guide work exactly as listed.

Important: This setting is saved per browser and per device. If you use Google Sheets on a different browser or computer, repeat these steps to re-enable it.

Chrome OS users: All shortcuts in this guide work natively on Chromebook without any changes. The Search key (⊞) can substitute for Caps Lock in certain shortcuts.

Google Sheets by the numbers:

• Google Workspace is used by over 3 billion people across more than 9 million businesses worldwide (Google, 2024)
• Workers who use keyboard shortcuts instead of a mouse complete repetitive tasks up to 40% faster, according to productivity research cited by Brainscape
• Using keyboard shortcuts for an 8-hour workday can save up to 8 full working days per year a 3.3% productivity gain (Brainscape / ClickUp, 2024)
• Google Sheets has approximately 150+ built-in shortcuts across Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS with 130+ additional Excel-compatible shortcuts available when enabled
• The most-searched Google Sheets shortcut question globally is “how do I see all shortcuts” answer: press Ctrl + / on Windows or ⌘ + / on Mac

Quick note on shortcuts: All shortcuts below are listed for Windows / Chrome OS and Mac side by side. If you’re using Google Sheets in a browser other than Chrome on Windows, add Shift to any shortcut that uses Alt (e.g., Alt + I + R becomes Alt + Shift + I + R). On Mac, ⌘ = Command and ⌥ = Option.

Most Used Google Sheets Shortcuts

Navigation Shortcuts

Pro tip: Alt + Shift + K (Windows) opens a searchable sheet list far faster than clicking through tabs when you have 10+ sheets in a workbook. This is one of the most overlooked navigation shortcuts.

Formatting Shortcuts

Pro tip: Use Alt + Shift + 7 (Windows) or ⌥ + Shift + 7 (Mac) to instantly apply an outer border to any selected range no toolbar needed. For quick table formatting, select your data range and hit this shortcut first, then Alt + Shift + 3 for bottom borders on header rows.

Formula Shortcuts

Pro tip: F4 does double duty in Google Sheets. Outside a formula it repeats the last action. Inside a formula (while your cursor is on a cell reference), it cycles through $A$1 → A$1 → $A1 → A1. This is the fastest way to lock references without typing dollar signs manually.

Data Entry & Selection Shortcuts

Row & Column Management Shortcuts

Pro tip: To insert multiple rows at once, select the same number of rows as you want to insert, then press Ctrl + Alt + = (Windows). For example, select 3 rows and use the shortcut Google Sheets inserts exactly 3 new rows above. This is dramatically faster than right-clicking and choosing “Insert 3 rows above.”

Notes & Comments Shortcuts

Menu Access Shortcuts (Windows)

Note: On Windows in Chrome, use Alt + key. In other browsers (Firefox, Edge), use Alt + Shift + key instead. Mac users use Ctrl + ⌥ + key.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Sheets Shortcuts

How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets?

Press Ctrl + / on Windows and Chrome OS, or ⌘ + / on Mac while inside any Google Sheets document. This opens the full keyboard shortcuts panel with a searchable list of every available shortcut, organized by category. You can also go to Help → Keyboard shortcuts from the menu bar to open the same panel.

Are Google Sheets shortcuts the same as Excel shortcuts?

Not by default but Google Sheets lets you enable Excel-compatible shortcuts. To do this, open the keyboard shortcuts panel (Ctrl + /), scroll to the bottom, and toggle on “Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts.” Once enabled, many common Excel shortcuts like F2 to edit a cell, Ctrl + Shift + L for filters, and Delete to clear cell contents will work in Google Sheets. Note: the number of compatible shortcuts is higher on Windows (130+) than on Mac (around 20).

What is the shortcut to insert a row in Google Sheets?

To insert a row above the current row, press Ctrl + Alt + = (Windows) or Ctrl + Option + = (Mac) after selecting a row. If you are using a non-Chrome browser on Windows, hold Ctrl + Shift + Alt + = instead. To insert a row below, select the row below where you want the new row and use the same shortcut. You can also select multiple rows first to insert multiple rows at once.

What is the shortcut to add borders in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets has specific shortcuts for each border type:

• Outer border: Alt + Shift + 7 (Windows)
• Top border: Alt + Shift + 1
• Right border: Alt + Shift + 2
• Bottom border: Alt + Shift + 3
• Left border: Alt + Shift + 4
• Remove all borders: Alt + Shift + 6

On Mac, use Option instead of Alt for the same shortcuts. Select the cell or range first, then apply the border shortcut.

How do I switch between sheets using a keyboard shortcut in Google Sheets?

On Windows and Chrome OS, press Alt + Down Arrow to move to the next sheet and Alt + Up Arrow to move to the previous sheet. On Mac, use Option + Down Arrow and Option + Up Arrow. To see a list of all sheets in the workbook and navigate directly to one, press Alt + Shift + K (Windows) or Option + Shift + K (Mac).

Does Google Sheets have a shortcut for strikethrough?

Yes. The strikethrough shortcut in Google Sheets is Alt + Shift + 5 on Windows and Chrome OS. On Mac, use ⌘ + Shift + X. This is one of the shortcuts that differs from Excel – in Excel, strikethrough is Ctrl + 5, but that shortcut formats numbers as currency in Google Sheets instead.

What is the shortcut to insert the current date in Google Sheets?

Press Ctrl + ; (semicolon) on Windows to insert today’s date into the selected cell. To insert the current time, press Ctrl + Shift + ;. To insert both date and time together, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + ;. Note that these insert a static value the date will not update automatically when you reopen the file. If you need a date that always shows today, use the formula =TODAY() instead.

How do I use the $ symbol shortcut in Google Sheets for absolute references?

Press F4 on Windows after clicking on a cell reference inside a formula to toggle between absolute and relative references. Each press of F4 cycles through: absolute (A$1) → row absolute (A$1) → column absolute (A1) → relative (A1). On Mac, press Fn + F4. This shortcut works while you are in formula editing mode click inside the formula bar on the cell reference you want to change, then press F4.

Can I use Google Sheets shortcuts on a Mac?

Yes, Google Sheets has a full set of Mac-specific keyboard shortcuts that use the ⌘ (Command) key instead of Ctrl. Most Windows shortcuts work on Mac by substituting Ctrl with ⌘. For example: Copy is ⌘ + C, Bold is ⌘ + B, and Undo is ⌘ + Z. Some shortcuts use the Option key (equivalent to Alt on Windows) and Fn for function key shortcuts. Mac users can also enable compatible Excel shortcuts via Help → Keyboard shortcuts → Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts.

What is the most useful Google Sheets shortcut to learn first?

The single most useful shortcut for most users is F4 to repeat the last action (Windows). If you just formatted a cell, applied a color, or merged cells, pressing F4 repeats that exact action on any other selected cell no menu required. For navigation, Ctrl + End to jump to the last used cell in a sheet is invaluable when working with large datasets. For formatting, Ctrl + \ to clear all formatting from a selected range in one keystroke is a massive time-saver.

How many keyboard shortcuts does Google Sheets have?

Google Sheets has approximately 150+ built-in keyboard shortcuts across Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS. When you enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts (via Help → Keyboard shortcuts), Windows users gain access to over 130 additional Excel-compatible shortcuts, bringing the total well over 250 commands accessible via keyboard. The complete list is always accessible inside Sheets by pressing Ctrl + / on Windows or ⌘ + / on Mac.

Do Google Sheets shortcuts work on Chromebook?

Yes Google Sheets was designed with Chromebook (Chrome OS) in mind. All Windows shortcuts using the Ctrl key work identically on Chromebook. The Search key (⌾) on Chromebook can sometimes substitute for Caps Lock in certain shortcuts. One unique Chromebook shortcut is Ctrl + Search + Space to access special characters. The shortcut to open the full shortcuts list Ctrl + / also works identically on Chromebook.

Final Thoughts: Which Google Sheets Shortcuts Should You Learn First?

With 150+ shortcuts available, the most common mistake is trying to learn all of them at once. You will not. Instead, start with the five shortcuts that deliver the highest daily return:

Learn these five until they are muscle memory it takes about one week of daily use. Then add five more from the formatting or navigation sections above based on your most common tasks. If you work with Google Docs alongside Sheets, the complete Google Docs shortcuts guide covers the same level of depth for document editing. For a full comparison of spreadsheet tools, see the Google Sheets alternatives guide.

Save this guide: Bookmark this page or download the free PDF cheat sheet below to keep all 150+ shortcuts within reach at any time.

READ NEXT:

• YouTube keyboard Shortcuts
• Microsoft Teams Keyboard Shortcuts
• Skype Keyboard Shortcuts
• Yahoo Mail Keyboard Shortcuts