Excel function keys: what F1 to F12 do

Each function key does one thing alone and more with Ctrl, Shift, Alt (Option on a Mac) or Cmd. F2 (edit), F4 (references and repeat) and F9 (calculate) are the three to know. On laptops and Macs, the media keys get in the way first: see the gotchas below.

Checked against Microsoft's official lists on November 5, 2026. Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.

F1

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Insert a new sheetOn a Mac, Microsoft flags Shift+F11 as clashing with a macOS shortcut; turn that one off in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.	`ShiftF11` or `AltShiftF1`	`ShiftF11`
Create a chart of the current data on the same sheetNot in Microsoft's Mac list.	`AltF1`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Open Excel HelpIn a browser, F1 opens the browser's help unless you turn on Override browser shortcuts in Excel for the web (Help > Keyboard Shortcuts).	`F1`	`F1` or `CmdCommand/`
Show or hide the ribbon	`CtrlF1`	`CmdCommandOptionR`
Full screen	`CtrlShiftF1`	`CmdCommandControlF`

F2

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Edit the active cell How to: Absolute reference shortcut in Excel (F4 and Cmd+T) The cursor goes to the end of the contents. While you edit a formula, F2 switches arrow keys between moving the cursor and pointing at cells.	`F2`	`F2` or `ControlU`
Edit the active cell in the formula bar How to: Edit cell shortcut in Excel (F2) Not in Microsoft's Mac list. If you are already editing, it moves between the formula bar and the cell.	`CtrlF2`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Insert or edit a note How to: Shortcut to insert a comment or note in Excel	`ShiftF2`	`ShiftF2`
Insert a threaded comment, or reply to one How to: Shortcut to insert a comment or note in Excel	`CtrlShiftF2`	`CmdCommandShiftF2` or `CmdCommandReturn`
Open the Save dialogNot in Microsoft's Windows list.	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`OptionF2`

F3

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Insert a function (Insert Function dialog, Formula Builder on a Mac) How to: Insert function shortcut in Excel	`ShiftF3`	`ShiftF3`
Paste a defined name into a formulaNot in Microsoft's Mac list. Works only when the workbook has names.	`F3`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Define a name	`AltM`, `M`, `D`	`ControlL` or `CmdCommandF3`
Create names from the labels in a selection	`CtrlShiftF3`	`CmdCommandShiftF3`

F4

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Repeat the last action, such as inserting a row or applying a format How to: Undo, redo and repeat shortcuts in Excel Microsoft's Mac list has no Repeat key: Cmd+Y is Redo there. Inside a formula, F4 switches $ signs instead.	`F4` or `CtrlY`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Close the workbook windowIn a browser, Ctrl+W closes the browser tab.	`CtrlW` or `CtrlF4`	`CmdCommandW` or `ControlW`
Switch a reference between A1, $A$1, A$1 and $A1 How to: Absolute reference shortcut in Excel (F4 and Cmd+T) Put the cursor on a reference while editing a formula. Outside a formula, F4 on Windows repeats your last action.	`F4`	`CmdCommandT` or `F4`
Quit Excel	`AltF4`	`CmdCommandQ`
Close a window or dialogWindows: Ctrl+F4 closes the workbook window (see Close).	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`CmdCommandF4`

F5

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Find How to: Find and replace shortcut in Excel On a Mac, Cmd+F jumps to the search box instead of opening the Find dialog.	`CtrlF`Web `CtrlF` or `ShiftF3`	`ControlF` or `ShiftF5`
Go to a cell or range (Go To) How to: Shortcut to select visible cells only in Excel Type a reference such as B14 or a range name, then press Enter.	`CtrlG` or `F5`	`ControlG` or `F5`
Move to the Search Sheet boxNot in Microsoft's Windows list.	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`ControlF5`
Refresh all data connections in the workbookNot in Microsoft's Mac list. Excel for the web: Alt+F5 refreshes external data.	`CtrlAltF5`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Restore the window sizeNot in Microsoft's Mac list.	`CtrlF5`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list

F6

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Move between the sheet, ribbon, task panes and status barIncludes the panes of a split sheet. In Excel for the web, use Ctrl+F6 because F6 belongs to the browser.	`F6`Web `CtrlF6`	`F6` or `ShiftF6`
Move between the panes in reverse order	`ShiftF6`Web `CtrlShiftF6`	`ShiftF6`
Switch to the next Excel windowNot in Microsoft's Mac list.	`CtrlF6` or `CtrlTab`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Switch between all Excel windowsNot in Microsoft's Mac list.	`CtrlShiftF6` or `CtrlShiftTab`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Copilot: move focus between the grid and the Copilot pane	`F6`Web `F6` or `ShiftF6`	`ShiftF6`

F7

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Check spelling	`F7`	`F7`
Open the thesaurusNot in Microsoft's Windows list.	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`ShiftF7` or `ControlOptionCmdCommandR`
Move the workbook window (when not maximized)Not in Microsoft's Mac list. Move it with the arrow keys, then press Enter, or Esc to cancel.	`CtrlF7`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list

F8

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Turn extend mode on or off (arrows extend the selection)On a Mac laptop you may need Fn+F8.	`F8`	`F8`
Add another range to the selectionPress it, move to the next range with the arrow keys, then select it with Shift+Arrow.	`ShiftF8`	`ShiftF8`
Resize the workbook window (when not maximized)Not in Microsoft's Mac list.	`CtrlF8`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Open the Macro dialog (run, edit or delete macros)	`AltF8`	`OptionF8`

F9

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Calculate all open workbooks How to: Recalculate shortcuts in Excel (F9) Only needed when calculation is set to Manual. While editing a formula, F9 replaces the selected part with its value.	`F9`	`F9` or `CmdCommand=`
Calculate the active sheet How to: Recalculate shortcuts in Excel (F9)	`ShiftF9`	`ShiftF9`
Calculate everything, changed or not How to: Recalculate shortcuts in Excel (F9)	`CtrlAltF9`	`ControlOptionF9`
Recheck dependent formulas, then calculate every cell How to: Recalculate shortcuts in Excel (F9)	`CtrlAltShiftF9`Web `CtrlShiftAltF9`	`ControlOptionShiftF9`
Minimize the workbook window	`CtrlF9`	`ControlF9`

F10

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Open the right-click (context) menu	`ShiftF10` or `Menu key`	`ShiftF10`
Open the menu of an Error Checking buttonNot in Microsoft's Mac list.	`AltShiftF10`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Open the pop-up menu of an on-sheet button, such as the one after you pasteNot in Microsoft's Windows list.	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`OptionShiftF10`
Show the KeyTips (letters on every tab and button)Press and release, then type the letters that appear. Excel for the web on a Mac: Microsoft says to press Control+Option to start.	`Alt` or `F10`Web `AltWindows key`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Show the tooltip of the ribbon item in focus	`CtrlShiftF10`	—No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list
Maximize or restore the workbook window	`CtrlF10`	`ControlF10` or `CmdCommandF10`

F11

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Insert a new sheetOn a Mac, Microsoft flags Shift+F11 as clashing with a macOS shortcut; turn that one off in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.	`ShiftF11` or `AltShiftF1`	`ShiftF11`
Create a chart of the current data on its own chart sheetOn a Mac, Microsoft flags F11 as clashing with the macOS Show Desktop shortcut.	`F11`	`F11`
Open the Visual Basic editor	`AltF11`	`OptionF11`
Insert an Excel 4.0 macro sheetNot in Microsoft's Windows list.	—No Windows shortcut in Microsoft's list	`CmdCommandF11`

F12

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Open a workbookIn a browser, Ctrl+O belongs to the browser, not Excel for the web.	`CtrlO`	`CmdCommandO` or `ControlO` or `CmdCommandF12`
Open the Power Query Editor	`AltF12`	`OptionF12`
Save As	`F12`Web `AltF2`	`CmdCommandShiftS` or `F12`

Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing

Laptop function keys

On many laptops the top row changes volume or brightness first, so F2 or F4 does nothing in Excel. Hold Fn with the key (FnF4), or turn on the laptop's function-key lock. On many Windows laptops that lock is FnEsc, but it varies by brand, so look for a small padlock or "Fn" icon on the Esc key.

Mac function keys

Excel for Mac uses the function keys for real commands, but macOS gives them to brightness, Mission Control and volume first. Press Fn with the key, or turn on "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" (System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Function Keys on recent macOS). After that, the printed features need Fn instead, so FnF12 changes the volume.

macOS shortcuts that get there first

Microsoft marks a few Mac shortcuts as clashing with macOS: ShiftF11 and F11 with Show Desktop, and CtrlSpace with switching input sources. Control with the arrow keys moves between Spaces and opens Mission Control by default too. If macOS reacts instead of Excel, open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts and turn the macOS one off.

F4 vs Cmd+T on a Mac

On Windows, F4 has two jobs: while you edit a formula it switches a reference between A1, $A$1, A$1 and $A1, and the rest of the time it repeats your last action. On a Mac, CmdCommandT and F4 both switch the reference, but CmdCommandT creates a table when you are not editing a formula. On a Mac laptop F4 may need Fn.

Excel for the web: the browser takes some keys

In a browser, a few keys belong to the browser first: F1 opens the browser's help, CtrlO opens a file, CtrlW closes the tab, and F6 moves around the browser. Excel for the web uses CtrlF6 instead of F6, CtrlAltPage Down for the next sheet in Chrome, and AltWindows key with a letter for ribbon tabs. To get desktop behavior back, go to Help > Keyboard Shortcuts and select Override browser shortcuts. If the file opened in Viewing mode, editing shortcuts do nothing until you switch to Editing.

Related guides

In the glossary: Calculation mode