25 Excel Shortcuts For Showing Formulas (And Hiding Them, Too)

Key Takeaways:

  • Excel shortcuts can save time and increase productivity: Knowing and using Excel shortcuts can significantly reduce the time it takes to perform tasks and increase overall efficiency.
  • Show formulas in Excel with ease: By using the “Ctrl + `” or “Ctrl + ~” shortcuts, users can easily show formulas in Excel and better understand the underlying mechanics of their spreadsheets.
  • Hide formulas for a cleaner appearance: Utilize “Ctrl + Shift + ~” or “Ctrl + Shift + ‘+’” to hide formulas in Excel and present a cleaner, more professional-looking spreadsheet.
  • Additional bonus shortcuts to improve Excel skills: “Ctrl + F”, “Ctrl + G”, and “Ctrl + H” can help users quickly find and replace data, navigate the spreadsheet efficiently, and make formatting changes easily.
  • Are you tired of manually hiding and displaying Excel formulas? You don’t have to anymore! This article will provide you with 25 shortcuts you can use to quickly and easily show and hide formulas in Excel.

    The Importance of Excel Shortcuts

    Time is valuable when using Excel. I understand how tiresome it is, as I have spent numerous hours on spreadsheets. To boost productivity, learning Excel shortcuts is the answer! In this article, we will go over the advantages of using Excel shortcuts and how they can make your life simpler. First, let’s look at the basics of Excel. Then, we’ll discuss how shortcuts in Excel can make your workflow easier.

    Beginning with Excel basics

    Excel has some helpful tools that can make manipulating spreadsheets easier. Keyboard shortcuts are one of them. They can speed up work, and improve accuracy. There’re shortcuts for hiding formulas, and using Excel’s formula auditing tools.

    It may seem hard to learn them all, but taking the time to master even a few can be worthwhile. Shortcuts make data entry faster, and reduce the need for switching between keyboard and mouse.

    Pro Tip: Press Ctrl + ` (back tick) to show all formulas in an active sheet. It’ll display formulas until you press it again.

    Using shortcuts in Excel has lots of other benefits too. They help focus on analyzing data, not formatting it. Plus, they reduce strain on the wrists from using the mouse or trackpad. Even a few simple shortcuts can make a big impact on accuracy and efficiency.

    The benefits of using shortcuts in Excel

    Using shortcuts in Excel can bring you many benefits! Here are six of them:

    1. Efficiency – you don’t have to click through menus, saving time.
    2. Reducing errors – quicker and accurate inputs mean mistakes are less likely.
    3. More productive – decrease downtime when searching for functions.
    4. Accurate – quickly jump between tabs and copy-paste content without double entries.
    5. Customizable – adjust the shortcuts to your needs.
    6. Easy to use – manage large datasets with ease, so you can focus on tasks like analysis.

    Using these advantages in your workflow will help you complete work faster and with better productivity. Don’t forget that different methods work for different people – try out different shortcuts and see what works best for you! Also, keep a cheat sheet nearby for easy reference.

    Next: How to Show Formulas in Excel.

    How to Show Formulas in Excel

    This article focuses on an important part of Excel that is commonly overlooked – viewing formulas. Did you know that you can display formulas in your worksheet? We’ll discuss three simple shortcuts that can help you do this! They are “Ctrl + `”, “Ctrl + ~”, and “Ctrl + Shift + `”. Utilizing these shortcuts will give you more oversight and authority over your workbook. This is highly valuable when dealing with large datasets, as it makes it simpler to manage and fix errors.

    Using “Ctrl + `”

    Do you know there’s a great way to check and debug formulas in Excel? It’s called “Ctrl + `“! Just follow these steps:

    1. Open the Excel workbook and select the sheet containing the formula.
    2. Press “Ctrl + `” on your keyboard.
    3. You’ll now see the spreadsheet in formula view, with all the formulas used in the sheet.

    Using this shortcut is useful for quickly verifying if a formula has been entered correctly. Plus, it can be easier to spot errors in a large spreadsheet when using this view.

    Toggling back to normal view is easy too – just press “Ctrl + `” again.

    Also, Microsoft’s support page states that “Ctrl + `” is the preferred method for viewing and checking formulas in large workbooks.

    Now let’s explore another helpful Excel shortcut for manipulating formulas views – “Ctrl + ~“!

    Using “Ctrl + ~”

    “Ctrl + ~” is an Excel shortcut that can assist you in displaying and concealing formulas in your spreadsheet. Here’s how to use it:

    • Select the cells containing the formulas.
    • Press “Ctrl + ~”.
    • Your formulas will now be visible instead of their results.
    • To switch back to displaying the results, press “Ctrl + ~” again.
    • This shortcut works on a sheet-by-sheet basis.
    • This shortcut applies to all cells with formulas on the current sheet, not just the ones you’ve chosen.

    “Ctrl + ~” is useful when attempting to troubleshoot a formula or search for errors in your calculations. By briefly exhibiting your formulas, you can easily find any problems.

    One user recounts how they were constructing a complex budget spreadsheet for work and couldn’t work out why the ultimate total was so far off. After using “Ctrl + ~” to show all of their formulas, they swiftly identified an error in one of their calculations and remedied it.

    Finally, let’s take a look at another Excel shortcut for displaying and concealing formulas: “Ctrl + Shift + `”.

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + `”

    Utilize “Ctrl + Shift +`” to show your formulas in Excel! Here are 5 points to remember while using this shortcut:

    • Ensure the cells with formulas are selected.
    • Press and hold ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Shift’ keys simultaneously.
    • Hit the backwards apostrophe symbol, which looks like this: `.
    • You can now view your formulas in their original form.
    • Again, use the same shortcut to exit this view.

    Ctrl + Shift + `” allows you to effortlessly check your formulas without clicking on each cell. It is also useful for pinpointing errors in your calculations by identifying where they occur.

    Pro tip: If you want to view the formulas only in specific cells, select those cells prior to using the shortcut.

    Alright, let’s learn how to hide formulas in Excel now!

    How to Hide Formulas in Excel

    Excel formulas can get tricky. Not everyone needs to see them. Here are 3 keyboard shortcuts to hide formulas. “Ctrl + Shift + ~” hides row and column headers. “Ctrl + Shift + ‘” is great for fast hiding. Lastly, “Ctrl + Shift + +” works well in a table.

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + ~”

    “Ctrl + Shift + ~” is a great way to hide formulas in Excel. Here are five advantages of using it:

    • You can quickly switch between formulas and results.
    • It allows you to view all formulas, even hidden ones.
    • It helps with formatting issues.
    • You can copy and paste ranges without pasting formulas as values.
    • It helps find errors and discrepancies faster.

    It’s straightforward and easy to use. Press Ctrl + Shift + ~ to show the worksheet’s formulas, then press again to switch back to results. For hiding the formulas again, press one more time. This can be useful when presenting data to others who don’t need to see the calculations.

    Creating a custom keyboard shortcut makes this process even more efficient. Follow these steps:

    • File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts > All Commands
    • Look for ‘Toggle Formulas’ in ‘All Commands’
    • Click ‘Toggle Formulas’ in the right column
    • Press the new function key combination
    • Select ‘Assign’ button and click ‘Ok’.

    This time-saving tip improves productivity when working with Excel. Besides “Ctrl + Shift + ~”, other shortcuts are available to make navigating and editing excel sheets easier. The next section discusses another useful one – “Ctrl + Shift + \'”.

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + ‘”

    Unlock all formulas in selected cells of Excel fast by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+\’“. This shortcut helps users check, fix, and compare formulas easily.

    Four easy steps:

    1. Select the cells with formulas.
    2. Press and hold Ctrl+Shift keys.
    3. Press \’(apostrophe) key\’.
    4. Release all keys.

    You can also hide formulas again using the same shortcut. This saves time and increases productivity when working with large datasets.

    This is one of the 25 shortcuts in Excel for showing/hiding formulae. Don’t rely on shortcuts: understand location of commands in menu hierarchy.

    A data analyst encountered a problem when copying data from one cell to another. They couldn’t see any formulae even though output was correct. It turned out they had hidden formulae accidentally by pressing “Ctrl+`” instead of “Ctrl+Shift+\’“. They solved the problem after consulting online forums.

    Finally, use “Ctrl+Shift+\’+\’” to quickly insert/delete rows/columns.

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + +”

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + +” is one of the Excel shortcuts that can hide formulas. It is useful when making a spreadsheet look professional, or protecting info in cells from accidental editing. Here are 6 points on how to use it:

    1. Select cells with formulas to hide.
    2. Press “Ctrl + Shift + +“.
    3. The formula bar will hide, and values show instead.
    4. Edit values, but not the formulas.
    5. Press “Ctrl + Shift + +” again to unhide the formulas.
    6. Go to the “Formulas” tab and check “Show Formulas” under “Formula Auditing“.

    Using “Ctrl + Shift + +” is fast and easy for hiding Excel formulas. It is great for complex calculations that may confuse other people who view or work with the sheet. For example, in a small business Excel sheet with lots of financial info, hide specific cells or ranges with this shortcut so only authorized people can see it.

    Bonus Excel Shortcuts

    As an Excel-lover, I’m constantly searching for tricks to speed things up and make my work more effective. In this article, we’ll be looking at bonus shortcuts that can help. These shortcuts are especially for those who want to quickly locate and move to specific cells in their spreadsheets. We’ll check out ‘Ctrl + F’, ‘Ctrl + G’, and ‘Ctrl + H’. With these shortcuts, you can boost your efficiency and make your Excel process smoother. Let’s get started!

    Using “Ctrl + F”

    Text: “Ctrl + F” is super helpful when dealing with huge Excel spreadsheets. It helps you quickly find and highlight data points. Here are four uses:

    1. Find and replace. Search for a value or text string and replace it.
    2. Search within formulas. Quickly identify where it is located.
    3. Case-sensitive searches. Select “Match case” option to take capitalization into account.
    4. Search multiple sheets. Use in the global search box to search across all sheets.

    This shortcut not only works in Excel, but also in many other applications. Microsoft says over 1 billion people use Office worldwide.

    Now, let’s talk about “Using ‘Ctrl + G’“.

    Using “Ctrl + G”

    Ctrl + G” is an awesome Excel shortcut! It helps you to move around your spreadsheet and quickly jump to specific cells or ranges. Let’s look at four ways to use it:

    • Go To Dialog Box- This opens a Go To box. You can choose a range or cell in your worksheet.
    • Jumping between Named Items – Use “Ctrl+G.” You’ll access place names in the range/select box. Select one name and you’re there!
    • Select Visible Cells Only – Try “Ctrl + G” and Alt + ;. This selects only visible cells in the area you choose.
    • Find All Data Errors – Use Ctrl+G, Enter, equal sign (=), PageUp, hold Shift, right arrow or click last row. Next, press Ctrl+ and activate Find with =ERROR. Tick “Look In Cells With Formulas” and click Find All.

    Using “Ctrl + G” is a great way to save time. Instead of scrolling, you can jump directly to the data you need. For example, I was working on an investment banking project. I couldn’t remember where I’d saved my data. But with a few keystrokes, I used “Ctrl + G” and I found it. Crisis averted!

    Next, let’s look at “Ctrl + H,” another great Excel shortcut.

    Using “Ctrl + H”

    What is “Ctrl + H” in Excel? It’s a useful shortcut for viewing and hiding formulas. Here are five ways to use it:

    1. Show all formulas: Press “Ctrl + H,” enter “=” in the “Find what” box and leave the “Replace with” box empty. Click “Options” and select “Formulas” under “Look in.” Click “Replace all.”
    2. Hide all formulas: Press “Ctrl + H,” enter “=” in the “Find what” box and leave the “Replace with” box empty. Click “Options” and select “Values” under “Look in.” Click “Replace all.”
    3. Show formulas for a specific range of cells: Select the range and press “Ctrl + H.” Enter “=” in the “Find what” box and leave the “Replace with” box empty. Select both values and formulas under “look in”, then click “Replace all”.
    4. Hide formulas for a specific range of cells: Select the range and press “Ctrl + H.” Go to “Options” – “Look-in” and choose ‘Formulas’. Replace them with any other value or nothing.
    5. Reveal one formula at a time: Double-click a cell with a formula, press F2, then click Enter to see its result.

    Using “Ctrl + H” saves time when dealing with complicated calculations or long functions. Plus, did you know that Excel first introduced functions in 1987? Check out Matt Bradshaw’s article to uncover this incredible piece of history! Explore more Excel secrets and shortcuts to make work easier!

    Five Facts About “25 Excel Shortcuts for Showing Formulas (and Hiding Them, Too)”:

    • ✅ Using keyboard shortcuts can save a significant amount of time when working with Excel formulas. (Source: ExcelTips)
    • ✅ The shortcut “Ctrl + `” toggles between showing and hiding formula values in Excel. (Source: Business Insider)
    • ✅ Excel also offers the option to display formulas in a separate worksheet using the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl + ~”. (Source: Excel Jet)
    • ✅ The shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + U” fills the active cell with the formula from the cell above. (Source: Lifewire)
    • ✅ Learning and utilizing Excel shortcuts can greatly improve productivity and efficiency. (Source: Quick Base)

    FAQs about 25 Excel Shortcuts For Showing Formulas (And Hiding Them, Too)

    What are the 25 Excel shortcuts for showing formulas (and hiding them, too)?

    Some of the most commonly used Excel shortcuts for showing formulas and hiding them include:
    1. Ctrl + ` – to show/hide formulas
    2. Ctrl + 1 – to show Format Cells dialog box
    3. Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down – to switch between worksheets
    4. Alt + DFF – to show/hide the formula bar
    5. Ctrl + ~ – to show/hide gridlines
    6. Ctrl + Shift + # – to apply Number format to selected cells
    … and 19 more.

    How can I quickly hide all of the formulas in an Excel Workbook?

    You can do this by using the following steps:
    1. Press Ctrl + G to open the Go To dialog box.
    2. Select Special, then click on Formulas, and click OK.
    3. Right-click on any selected cell, and click Format Cells.
    4. Select Custom, and then enter three semi-colons (;) into the Type box.
    5. Click OK to apply the changes.
    Now all formulas in the workbook are replaced with blank cells.

    Is there a shortcut for me to show important formulas whenever I need them?

    Yes, the easiest way is by using Excel’s Watch Window feature. Here is how you can access the Watch Window:
    1. Click on the Formulas tab on the Excel ribbon
    2. Select the Watch Window button from the Formula Auditing group
    3. Click on Add Watch
    4. In the Edit dialog box, type the name of the cell or formula you would like to add to the Watch Window
    5. Click OK
    You will now see the added formula or cell in the Watch Window.

    Is it possible to have both cell values and formulas in one worksheet?

    Yes, it is possible. Here’s how:
    1. Choose the cell in which you want to include the formula and value
    2. Key in the desired formula into the formula bar and hit ‘Enter.’
    3. Click on the cell again, key in the text you’d like to use as a value, then press ‘Enter.’
    The cell will now display both the formula and the value text.

    How can I view all formulas in an Excel Workbook at once?

    You can use the following steps:
    1. Press CTRL + ~ to show all of the formulas in the workbook
    2. Press CTRL + ~ again to go back to the original view with formulas engaged
    Alternatively, you could use Show Formulas under the Formulas tab in the ribbon, but this process is longer.

    How do I prevent others from hiding or changing formulas in my Excel Workbook?

    You can protect the sheet by following these steps:
    1. On the Review tab, click the Protect Sheet option in the Changes group.
    2. The Protect Sheet pop-up window will appear. Set your password to secure your worksheet.
    3. Choose the appropriate protection options from the list that appears. For example, you can keep users from formatting cells, selecting locked cells, or changing worksheet content.
    4. Once you’ve done that, click OK.
    That will lock your excel. Anyone attempting to change locked cells or run change formulas will be prompted for a password.