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Selecting shortcuts

Shortcut to select an entire row or column in Excel

Quick answerPress ShiftSpace to select the whole row and CtrlSpace to select the whole column, on both Windows and Mac. To select only the filled part, use CtrlShiftDown arrow (Shift+Cmd+Down on a Mac) from the top cell instead.

The keys

ShortcutWindowsMac
Select the entire row How to: Insert row shortcut in Excel ShiftSpaceShiftSpace
Select the entire column How to: Insert row shortcut in Excel On a Mac, Control+Space also switches input sources in macOS. If it does that, turn the macOS shortcut off in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.CtrlSpaceControlSpace
Select the current region, then the whole sheet How to: AutoFit column width shortcut in Excel Press once for the block of data around the active cell, again to add its summary rows, and again for the whole sheet.CtrlA or CtrlShiftSpaceCommandA or CommandShiftSpace
Select to the edge of the dataLike Ctrl+Arrow, it stops at a blank cell.CtrlShiftan arrow keyShiftCommandan arrow key

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

Several rows or columns

Select the first row with ShiftSpace, then hold Shift and press Down arrow to add rows. For columns, CtrlSpace, then ShiftRight arrow. To select rows 2 to 500, click A2, press CtrlShiftDown arrow to reach the end of the data, then ShiftSpace: every row in the selection is selected in full.

Entire column vs the data in it

A whole column is all 1,048,576 rows. That is fine for formatting, inserting and hiding. For copying, a whole column copies a million rows and makes the paste slow and the file larger. Select just the data with CtrlShiftDown arrow, or the whole block with CtrlA.

When Ctrl+Space does not work on a Mac

macOS uses CtrlSpace to switch input sources, and Microsoft marks this Excel shortcut as one that clashes. If the input menu appears instead, open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources and turn off Select the previous input source, or change it to another key.

On Windows, some language setups also take CtrlSpace for an input method. Click a column header instead, or change that setting in Windows.

Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing

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.

You are still editing a cell

While a cell is in edit mode, most commands are greyed out and many shortcuts type into the cell instead. Press Enter to finish the entry or Esc to cancel it, then try again.

Related shortcuts

ShortcutWindowsMac
Extend the selection by one cellShiftan arrow keyShiftan arrow key
Insert cells, rows or columns How to: Insert row shortcut in Excel Select whole rows (Shift+Space) or columns (Ctrl+Space) first and they go in straight away; otherwise the Insert dialog asks which way to shift.CtrlShiftPlusWeb CtrlPlusControlShift=
Delete cells, rows or columns How to: Delete row shortcut in Excel With whole rows or columns selected they go at once; otherwise the Delete dialog asks.Ctrl-Command- or Control-
Hide the selected rows How to: Shortcuts to hide and unhide rows and columns in Excel Ctrl9Control9 or Command( or Control(

FAQ

How do I select an entire row in Excel?

Click any cell in the row and press Shift+Space. It is the same on Windows, Mac and Excel for the web.

How do I select an entire column?

Press Ctrl+Space. On a Mac, Ctrl+Space too, unless macOS uses it to switch keyboards.

How do I select a column down to the last row of data?

Click the top cell and press Ctrl+Shift+Down on Windows or Shift+Cmd+Down on a Mac. It stops at the first blank cell.

Why does Shift+Space type a space instead?

You are editing the cell. Press Enter or Esc first, then Shift+Space.

Related guides

In the glossary: Range

All selecting shortcutsAll Excel shortcutsPrintable sheet