Shortcut to switch between sheets in Excel
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Go to the next sheetExcel for the web in Chrome uses Ctrl+Alt+Page Down; in Microsoft Teams and other browsers, Ctrl+Page Down. | Ctrl+Page DownWeb Ctrl+Alt+Page Down or Ctrl+Page Down | Control+Page Down or Option+Right arrow |
| Go to the previous sheetSame browser rule as the next sheet. | Ctrl+Page UpWeb Ctrl+Alt+Page Up or Ctrl+Page Up | Control+Page Up or Option+Left arrow |
| Select the current and next sheetNot in Microsoft's Mac list. Typing or formatting now changes every selected sheet; click a single sheet tab to stop. | Ctrl+Shift+Page Down | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
Jump to a sheet by name
- Right-click the arrows at the left end of the sheet tabs to get a list of every sheet, then pick one.
- Press Ctrl+G, type a reference such as 'March'!A1 and press Enter.
- With the keyboard only (Windows): press F6 until the sheet tabs are active, move with the arrow keys and press Enter.
Select several sheets
Ctrl+Shift+Page Down adds the next sheet to the selection. The title bar then says Group, and anything you type or format happens on every selected sheet at once, which is great for setting up twelve identical month sheets and dangerous if you forget. Click a single tab to ungroup.
When it does not work
- MacBook: there is no Page Down key; use Option+Right arrow or Fn+Ctrl+Down arrow.
- Laptop without Page keys on Windows: they are often on the arrow keys with Fn, so Ctrl+Fn+Down arrow. It depends on the laptop.
- Excel for the web: the browser takes Ctrl+Page Down for its own tabs in Chrome; use Ctrl+Alt+Page Down.
- The next sheet is hidden. Right-click a tab and choose Unhide.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
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, Ctrl+O opens a file, Ctrl+W closes the tab, and F6 moves around the browser. Excel for the web uses Ctrl+F6 instead of F6, Ctrl+Alt+Page Down for the next sheet in Chrome, and Alt+Windows 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.
macOS shortcuts that get there first
Microsoft marks a few Mac shortcuts as clashing with macOS: Shift+F11 and F11 with Show Desktop, and Ctrl+Space 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.
Related shortcuts
| 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. | Shift+F11 or Alt+Shift+F1 | Shift+F11 |
| 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. | Ctrl+G or F5 | Control+G or F5 |
| 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. | F6Web Ctrl+F6 | F6 or Shift+F6 |
FAQ
How do I switch sheets in Excel with the keyboard?
Ctrl+Page Down for the next sheet and Ctrl+Page Up for the previous one. On a Mac, Option+Right and Option+Left also work.
How do I switch sheets on a MacBook?
Option+Right arrow and Option+Left arrow, so you do not need Page keys.
How do I switch sheets in Excel online?
Ctrl+Alt+Page Down and Ctrl+Alt+Page Up in Chrome. In Microsoft Teams and other browsers, Microsoft lists Ctrl+Page Down and Ctrl+Page Up.