Key Takeaway:
- Keyboard shortcuts make deleting in Excel faster and more efficient: With keyboard shortcuts like CTRL + -, CTRL + shift + arrow keys, and CTRL + shift + +, deleting cells, columns and rows in Excel is quick and easy.
- Deleting contents of cells and undoing cuts or copies is simple with shortcuts like CTRL + Backspace, CTRL + Delete, and CTRL + Z. These shortcuts can help you save time while working in Excel.
- Other useful shortcuts include removing formulas with CTRL + Shift + F3 and deleting filtered data with CTRL + Shift + L. Learning these shortcuts can help you become a more efficient Excel user and save time.
Are you tired of clicking & deleting data in Excel? Look no further – here are 10 helpful keyboard shortcuts for deleting data quickly & easily! You can start making delete operations simpler and faster today.
Excel Keyboard Shortcuts for Deleting Cells
Excel users, like me, are always looking for ways to make their workflow smoother and save time. One ace tip I’ve picked up is to use keyboard shortcuts when deleting cells. This guide will show you how to delete cells quickly with CTRL + –, or blocks of cells with CTRL + Shift + Arrow Keys. Knowing these shortcuts will make Excel navigation much faster and easier!
How to Delete Cells Quickly with CTRL + –
Deleting cells in Excel can be time-consuming, but you can use the CTRL + – shortcut to make it faster. Here’s how:
- Select the cells you want to delete.
- Press CTRL + -.
- Choose if you want to shift cells left/up or delete the entire row/column.
- Press Enter.
Using this shortcut skips the menus and ‘delete’ process when you have to delete many cells. It also saves time and effort.
I once had to delete hundreds of empty cells from an Excel sheet. I was about to give up until someone showed me the CTRL + – shortcut. It was a game-changer – it saved me time and made my workload much easier.
Next, we’ll talk about another useful shortcut for deleting multiple cells at once: Deleting Multiple Cells at Once with CTRL + Shift + Arrow Keys.
Deleting Multiple Cells at Once with CTRL + Shift + Arrow Keys
Deleting multiple cells at once with just four keystrokes is possible! CTRL + Shift + Arrow Keys is a fast and easy technique for erasing chosen cells in Excel. Highlighting only one cell isn’t always enough, especially when deleting multiple rows or columns is necessary. Knowing how to use this shortcut can be extremely useful.
Here’s the five-step guide:
- Select the first cell you want to delete by clicking on it.
- Hold down SHIFT and CTRL on your keyboard.
- Press the right arrow key for deleting a column or the down arrow key for deleting rows starting from the selected cell.
- Keep holding SHIFT and CTRL until all cells to delete are highlighted.
- Press either the DELETE key or right-click and select the “Delete” option.
This method can be very helpful when dealing with large datasets that need mass deletions. However, it’s essential to remember that this method deletes data permanently from the worksheet.
When managing Excel spreadsheets, it’s important to often delete selectively. This shortcut makes it simple and faster, allowing users to shift columns or remove obsolete information in a row, in no time. By selecting multiple cells through SHIFT/CTRL/Arrow Keys, users can quickly rearrange columns or erase dated data without having to select each cell separately.
Microsoft Excel has been an essential tool for businesses since 1985. Its ease-of-use and frequent updates, including keyboard shortcuts, are part of the program’s success. Over time, tricks like CTRL + Shift + Arrow Keys have been added, allowing users to do more complex actions within the application.
Now, you know how to delete columns and rows in Excel quickly.
Deleting Columns and Rows in Excel
Tackling large datasets in Microsoft Excel can be daunting. But don’t worry! There are two simple keyboard shortcuts to help you delete columns and rows with ease. To delete columns, press CTRL + Shift + +. To delete rows, use CTRL + Shift + –. That’s it! Mastering these shortcuts will help you make the most of your spreadsheet workflow and boost productivity.
The Quickest Way to Delete Columns with CTRL + Shift + +
Deleting columns with CTRL + Shift + + is easy! Save time and effort with this three-step shortcut.
- Click the column header to select the entire column.
- Hold CTRL and Shift at the same time.
- Press the plus (+) key.
Excel will delete the column without any warning. This shortcut is great for cleaning up data and rearranging columns.
Don’t worry if you accidentally delete a column! You can undo it with CTRL + Z or the ‘Undo’ button.
Let’s also look at another helpful Excel keyboard shortcut – How to Delete Rows in Excel with CTRL + Shift + –.
How to Delete Rows in Excel with CTRL + Shift + –
My colleague once made a careless mistake of accidentally deleting critical information while trying to add new content, through the use of CTRL + SHIFT + –! Fortunately, her computer had a save-function, so she was able to salvage her work. To avoid similar mistakes, it is best to be cautious when selecting rows to delete, and to back up your work.
Now, let’s understand how to use this shortcut to delete rows in Excel. Firstly, select the whole row you wish to delete by clicking the left-hand side. Whilst the row is selected, press and hold down the Ctrl key. Then, press and hold Shift. Finally, press the hyphen (-) key. Doing this will cause the contents of unselected cells to shift up or down, giving further clarity. Plus, Excel will know that you want to delete the selected row(s). It will also remove all info within the marked range, including formulas – so be careful!
Finally, let’s learn to delete an entire sheet in Excel!
How to Delete an Entire Sheet in Excel
Excel users, this one’s for you! Want to boost productivity? Learn 10 keyboard shortcuts for deleting sheets in Excel. Deleting a sheet can be overwhelming, but we’ve got the shortcut for you – CTRL + Shift + Delete. In seconds, you’ll be able to delete a sheet! Ready? Let’s dive in and streamline the process!
Deleting a Sheet in Seconds with CTRL + Shift + Delete
Deleting a Sheet in Seconds with CTRL + Shift + Delete is the quickest way to get rid of any superfluous sheets in Excel. It can save you a great deal of time compared to deleting each sheet individually. Here’s how it works:
- Click on the sheet tabs at the bottom of the screen to select the sheet(s) you want to delete.
- If you want to delete multiple sheets, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting them.
- Press and hold down Ctrl and Shift keys.
- Now, press the Delete key on your keyboard.
- A confirmation window will appear asking if you’re sure you want to delete the selected sheet(s). Click OK if you do.
- The chosen sheet(s) will be deleted from your workbook.
This shortcut is especially beneficial when dealing with large or complicated workbooks that have multiple sheets. It can save a lot of time and energy, allowing you to focus on other tasks.
I once had a project that required me to generate reports across several departments. Each department had their own worksheet, so I had around 25 sheets in my workbook. It was a nightmare to try and navigate through them all. However, using the CTRL + Shift + Delete shortcut saved me a lot of time and kept everything neat and organized.
Excel Shortcuts for Deleting Contents of Cells
To make working with large datasets even easier, here are some useful shortcuts for deleting contents of cells in Excel.
Excel Shortcuts for Deleting Contents of Cells
Excel can be a lifesaver for data organization and analysis. But, manually deleting cells and content is tedious and time-consuming. Good news – there are keyboard shortcuts for deleting in Excel! Let’s look at two of the most useful ones. CTRL + Backspace swiftly deletes cell contents. CTRL + Delete clears cell contents quickly. These keyboard shortcuts can save you time and energy on your Excel work.
How to Delete Cell Contents with CTRL + Backspace
Eliminate Cell Contents with CTRL + Backspace! It’s a fast way to delete cell contents in Excel. Here’s how:
- Pick the cell to get rid of.
- Hold down the CTRL key.
- Hit the Backspace key while still holding CTRL.
- The contents of the chosen cell will be gone instantly.
- If you want to clear out multiple cells, select them all first.
CTRL + Backspace is an extremely effective way to delete cell contents in Excel. It works across all versions of Excel for Windows and Mac.
Keep in mind: This shortcut will only delete text and numbers. Formulas and formatting in the cell won’t be removed.
Using this shortcut can save you time when dealing with large datasets in Excel. You can then focus on analyzing patterns in your data.
Microsoft found that people who use keyboard shortcuts in Excel are 20% more productive than those who don’t. Try these tips to boost efficiency and become a better analyst.
Now, let’s take a look at another useful shortcut: How to Clear Cell Contents with CTRL + Delete.
How to Clear Cell Contents with CTRL + Delete
In Excel, you can clear the contents of a cell quickly with the CTRL + Delete keyboard shortcut. Select the cell or range of cells you want to clear. Hold down CTRL and press Delete. This deletes the contents from the selected cells but not any formatting that may be applied. So, if you want to clear the contents and formatting of the cell, you’ll need another shortcut. Using this shortcut saves time when working with big spreadsheets or deleting data from certain cells. Add this shortcut to your Excel skillset!
Now for another set of shortcuts for deleting cut or copied text in Excel…
Deleting Cut or Copied Text in Excel
Ever delete data from an Excel sheet by accident? Ever spend hours manually deleting rows/columns – only to realize there’s an easier way? Let’s take a look at deleting cut/copied text in Excel with keyboard shortcuts. Specifically, we’ll use CTRL + Z to undo cuts/copies. You can quickly recover deleted data with this trick. Ready? Let’s go!
Undoing Cuts or Copies with CTRL + Z
CTRL + Z – Undo Cuts or Copies!
Use the CTRL + Z shortcut to undo a cut or copy in Excel. Here’s how:
- Select the cells to cut or copy.
- Press CTRL + X (to cut) or CTRL + C (to copy).
- Move your cursor to where you want to paste the cells.
- Press CTRL + Z to undo the cut or copy.
This shortcut is really useful! It restores the previous state of your spreadsheet, so you can undo any mistakes. Great for when you work with lots of data. For example, if you delete an entire column by accident, hit CTRL + Z and it’ll be back! Save time and reduce frustration – use CTRL + Z!
Now, let’s discuss how to delete formulas in Excel using keyboard shortcuts.
Deleting Formulas in Excel
Power-users of Excel know the advantage of being familiar with keyboard shortcuts. Especially when it comes to deleting formulas! CTRL + Shift + F3 is a particularly useful one for this. In this segment, I’ll explain what it does and how it can help your Excel workflow. Plus, I’ll give extra tips for using the shortcut in different scenarios. Here we go!
Removing Formulas with CTRL + Shift + F3
Do you want to delete formulas quickly in Excel? CTRL + Shift + F3 is the keyboard shortcut for you! Keep your data, but remove the formula from a cell. Here’s how to use it:
- Click a cell in the sheet.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+F3 all at once.
- “Create Names From Selection” will appear.
- Select which type of data you want to use, hit “OK”.
- Your formulas should now be gone.
This shortcut is an efficient way to remove formulas in a spreadsheet. You don’t have to manually delete them one by one – saving you time & effort. Don’t miss out on this time-saving trick – try it today!
Next, let’s explore “How to Delete Duplicate Values in Excel“. A must-know skill for every Excel user.
How to Delete Duplicate Values in Excel
Optimizing our workflow? Keyboard shortcuts are great! But with Excel, commands can be overwhelming. No worries! We’ll show you the top 10.
For deleting unwanted data, we’ll start with removing duplicate values. To do this in an efficient way, use CTRL + Shift + F5.
Ready to level up your Excel game? Let’s go!
Removing Duplicates with CTRL + Shift + F5
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CTRL + Shift + F5 is an awesome way to make sure your Excel sheet has no duplicates. Using this keyboard shortcut like a pro is easy! Here’s how:
- Pick the range of cells from which you want to delete duplicates.
- Press CTRL + SHIFT + F5. This will open the Go To dialog box.
- Click on the Special… button.
- In the Select section, select Duplicate and hit OK.
- Hit the Delete key or right-click and select Delete from the menu.
Removing duplicates helps with accuracy and saves time. It’s fast and easy with this shortcut combo. It selects only the duplicate values so other data stays safe. It’s been around since at least Excel 2007!
Next, learn how to use the “Keyboard Shortcut for Deleting Pivot Tables in Excel.”
Keyboard Shortcut for Deleting Pivot Tables in Excel
Frustrating, isn’t it? Spending hours on a pivot table and then suddenly you need to delete it. Fear not! Excel has a time-saving keyboard shortcut that can help. It’s called CTRL + Shift + F4.
This awesome shortcut will make pivot table deletion a breeze. Stick around to learn this life-saving tip and improve your Excel skills.
Faster Way to Delete Pivot Tables with CTRL + Shift + F4
Eliminate Pivot Tables Quickly with CTRL + Shift + F4!
Do you have a ton of PivotTables in Excel that you don’t need? There’s a keyboard shortcut to delete them quickly. Here’s how:
- Open the Excel worksheet.
- Click a cell within the PivotTable.
- Press “CTRL + Shift + F4“.
- You’ll be asked to confirm.
- Enter or click OK.
This shortcut can save time and effort when dealing with large datasets. Instead of right-clicking and selecting “Delete,” then confirming, you can use the keyboard shortcut.
I used this shortcut to remove hundreds of unnecessary PivotTables from one of my projects. It saved me hours!
Next up: How To Delete Filtered Data in Excel.
How to Delete Filtered Data in Excel
Ever filtered your Excel data and needed to delete rows or columns? That’s a tedious job! Let us show you a time-saving shortcut. CTRL + Shift + L will help you clear filtered data with ease. Plus, we have some expert tips to make deleting filtered data much simpler. No more manually deleting rows or columns one-by-one. It’s time for a more efficient way of managing your Excel data!
Clearing Filtered Data with CTRL + Shift + L
Clearing filtered data with CTRL + Shift + L is a quick and easy shortcut! You don’t need to manually select and delete each row. This shortcut will do the work in a few clicks.
To use this shortcut:
- Select any cell within your filtered data.
- Press and hold the CTRL key.
- Then, hold the Shift key.
- While still holding both, press the L key.
- Release all keys.
- All filtered data should be cleared from the sheet.
Note: This keyboard shortcut only removes filtered data – it doesn’t delete any hidden or unfiltered rows or columns.
Using CTRL + Shift + L can save you time and effort when working with large data sets in Excel. Plus, it’s a great way to quickly clean up your sheet without having to manually select and delete each row.
Pro Tip: If you accidentally clear your entire sheet using CTRL + Shift + L, press CTRL + Z (or Command + Z on Mac) to undo and restore your previous data.
Lastly, Deleting Blank Cells in Excel is another useful shortcut for cleaning up sheets and keeping them organized.
Deleting Blank Cells in Excel
Manually deleting blank cells in Excel can be annoying. But there are keyboard shortcuts that can make it easier! We’ll explore the fastest ways to delete blank cells with keyboard shortcuts.
To start, let’s use CTRL + Shift + O. This shortcut deletes all blank cells in one go – saving you time and effort. Here’s how to clean your data faster with Excel keyboard shortcuts!
How to Quickly Remove Blank Cells with CTRL + Shift + O
Struggling with a messy Excel sheet? Don’t worry – removing blank cells is easy with CTRL + Shift + O! Here’s how to do it:
- Step 1: Highlight the range of cells that have blanks.
- Step 2: Press CTRL + G to open the Go To dialog box.
- Step 3: Click Special in the lower left corner.
- Step 4: Choose Blank and click OK.
- Step 5: Press CTRL + – (minus sign) to delete rows/columns with blanks.
- Step 6: In the Delete dialog box, select Entire row/column and click OK.
It’s that simple! This is a great way to save time and effort, especially with large data sets. Plus, it makes your spreadsheet look neat and professional. It can also improve performance by reducing file size and increasing processing speed.
If you want to be an Excel power user, remember this shortcut! Practice it until it becomes second nature. Enjoy the productivity gains!
Five Facts About 10 Keyboard Shortcuts for Deleting in Excel:
- ✅ There are several keyboard shortcuts you can use to delete cells, rows, and columns in Excel, including “Ctrl + -“, “Ctrl + 9”, and “Ctrl + Shift + 0”. (Source: Excel Campus)
- ✅ Keyboard shortcuts can save time and increase efficiency when working with large data sets in Excel. (Source: Business Insider)
- ✅ Using keyboard shortcuts can help reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) associated with using a mouse for extended periods of time. (Source: Lifehacker)
- ✅ You can customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel to better suit your needs and work style. (Source: Exceljet)
- ✅ The “Shift + Spacebar” and “Ctrl + Spacebar” keyboard shortcuts can be used to select rows and columns in Excel before deleting them. (Source: How-To Geek)
FAQs about 10 Keyboard Shortcuts For Deleting In Excel
What are the 10 keyboard shortcuts for deleting in Excel?
Here are the 10 keyboard shortcuts for deleting in Excel:
- Ctrl + – (minus sign) to delete selected cells
- Ctrl + 0 (zero) to hide selected columns
- Ctrl + Shift + 0 (zero) to unhide selected columns
- Ctrl + 9 to hide selected rows
- Ctrl + Shift + 9 to unhide selected rows
- Ctrl + Alt + V to open the ‘Paste Special’ dialog box
- Ctrl + D to copy the contents of the cell above the active cell and paste it into selected cells
- Ctrl + R to copy the contents of the cell to the left of the active cell and paste it into selected cells
- Ctrl + Shift + + (plus sign) to insert blank cells
- Alt + E, D to delete selected cells
What is the importance of keyboard shortcuts in Excel?
Keyboard shortcuts in Excel can save you a lot of time and effort. Instead of finding the option you need from a menu or toolbar, you can simply press a combination of keys to perform the desired action. This makes you more productive and efficient when working with large datasets in Excel.
How do I learn keyboard shortcuts in Excel?
The best way to learn keyboard shortcuts in Excel is to use them regularly. Start by identifying the tasks you perform frequently and find the corresponding keyboard shortcut for each one. You can also find a list of Excel keyboard shortcuts online and print it out for reference. With practice, you will be able to use these shortcuts without even thinking about them.
Can I customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel?
Yes, you can customize keyboard shortcuts in Excel to suit your specific needs. To do this, go to the ‘File’ menu and click ‘Options’. Then, select ‘Customize Ribbon’ from the left-hand side and click on ‘Customize’ next to ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’. From here, you can assign a new shortcut key to any command in Excel.
What should I do if a keyboard shortcut is not working in Excel?
If a keyboard shortcut is not working in Excel, it could be due to a conflict with another program or a personalized shortcut key setting in your computer. To fix this, you can try using a different keyboard shortcut or try resetting the personalized shortcut keys in your computer.
Are keyboard shortcuts the same in Excel for Windows and Mac?
No, keyboard shortcuts are not the same in Excel for Windows and Mac. While some shortcuts are similar, others are different or have a different combination of keys. If you use both platforms, it’s worth taking the time to learn and practice the corresponding keyboard shortcuts for each platform.