Formula shortcuts in Excel

• Release Feb 14, 2022Update Aug 24, 2022
• Written in Excel for Microsoft 365 version 2202

Excel has various shortcut keys for formulas. You can also use shortcut keys to copy formulas to other cells or replace formulas with values, so if you remember the shortcut keys, you can work with just the keyboard. In this article, I’ll show you how to use shortcut keys to display formula arguments and how to use shortcut keys to select reference cells.

Formula shortcuts

Insert argument names into formula

Windows
Ctrl + Shift + A

Mac
control + shift + A

Select cells that are directly referenced in a formula

Windows
Ctrl + [ or Ctrl + Shift + [

Mac
control + [

Select cells with formulas that directly reference the cell

Windows
Ctrl + ] or Ctrl + Shift + ]

Mac
control + ]

Insert argument names into formula

Displays the name of the function argument in the cell.

Total Time: 1 minute

Enter function name

Enter a function name in any cell.

Argument name is entered

Press Ctrl + Shift + A to enter argument names in the formula.

Select cells that are directly referenced in a formula

Select the cell that contains the formula to check the referenced cell.

Press Ctrl + [ to automatically select the referenced cell in the formula.

Select cells with formulas that directly reference the cell

Select the cell you want to check if it is referenced or not.

Press Ctrl + ] to select the cell containing the formula that references that cell.