25 Essential Excel Shortcuts To Change The Cell Format

Learn to work smarter and faster in Excel with these 25 essential shortcuts! You can easily format cells, edit values and improve the usability of your worksheets. Stop wasting time and start taking control of your Excel spreadsheets now!

Excel Shortcuts for Formatting Cells

Want to save time on formatting cells in Excel? Use keyboard shortcuts! Here are some of the most useful shortcuts for formatting.

For font size, font color, bold, italic, underline and cell background color – all you need is a keystroke. Plus, merging cells is a breeze! These shortcuts will help you complete your work quickly and efficiently.

Change font size with a shortcut

To use a shortcut to change the font size in Excel, follow these 5 steps:

1. Select the cell or cells you’d like to modify.
2. Hold down “Ctrl” and “Shift”.
3. Press “.” to increase size, “,” to decrease. Each press changes it by one point.
4. Release all 3 keys when font size is what you want.
5. The new font size will be applied.

Using shortcuts in Excel can save time and reduce mouse travel. Knowing them is key for daily use. Excel has been around for 30+ years, evolving quickly; older versions had fewer shortcuts than newer ones.

Next up: how to quickly change font color in Excel!

Quickly change font color

Text:

Need to format data in Excel? Here’s 6 ways to quickly change font color:

1. Home tab’s Font Color drop-down menu.
2. Keyboard shortcut Alt+HFC.
3. Format Cells dialog box (Ctrl+1).
4. Cell chart with conditional formatting.
5. VBA code to automate changes.
6. Pre-made cell style with font color changes.

Manually changing font color for many cells can be time-consuming. But, there are shortcuts and techniques that make it easy. Use conditional formatting for efficient data analysis. For example, format negative numbers in red to quickly identify potential issues. Saves time and makes it easier for users to interpret data.

Next: Shortcut to change cell background color.

Shortcut to change cell background color

Changing the background color of a cell can make it stand out. It can also help organize data in spreadsheets. Luckily, there’s a simple shortcut key combination to quickly change the background color of selected cells in Excel.

1. Select the cell or range of cells you want to change the color of.
2. Press Alt + H + H keys together on your keyboard. This will open up the Home tab.
3. Press the J key. This will open up the Fill Color drop-down menu. Use the arrow keys to select the desired color. Then, press Enter.

This shortcut is quick and easy. It saves users time and energy from navigating through Excel’s formatting menus. Plus, it improves visibility and organization within spreadsheets, making important information stand out.

If you change cell colors often, you may use conditional formatting rules. These are based on specific criteria. They automatically apply colors as needed. This feature can save more time and create uniformity across larger datasets.

Now you know how to quickly change cell background colors in Excel using keyboard shortcuts. Let’s move onto our next section – Apply bold, italic, or underline with a keystroke.

Apply bold, italic, or underline with a keystroke

Formatting text in Excel spreadsheets can be tedious. But, using shortcuts makes it simpler and faster. With a keystroke, you can add bold, italic, or underline. This saves time instead of going through menus.

Bold is great for headings or important text. Italic is useful for quoting or referencing books. Underline can draw attention to summaries or tables of contents.

Overall, these shortcuts are essential. They help you work quickly with large sets of data.

For more control, check out the Format Cells tool under the Home tab. With Alt+H+F+O, customizing documents becomes easier.

Use shortcuts to merge cells quickly!

Save time by easily merging cells

Merging cells can simplify your sheet and help with formatting when dealing with cluttered data. You can keep the info within merged cells by centering text both horizontally and vertically. Merging groups of text from multiple inputs is possible too. However, be aware that merging cells can cause problems when sorting or filtering. To keep track of which original columns belong to which merged cell after combining them, just indent the replaced column headings.

Next up is Excel Shortcuts for Alignment; a section to explore time-saving techniques for aligning and orienting cell content in Microsoft Excel.

Excel Shortcuts for Alignment

Ready to get into it? Let’s start with a shortcut for horizontal alignment of text. Mastering this will help you save time and up your Excel formatting game. Then, we’ll focus on a vertical alignment shortcut. It’s great for bigger spreadsheets. Wrap text for better readability is next. Finally, we’ll explore a shortcut for indenting text for a polished look. These are essential shortcuts for every Excel user!

Quickly align text horizontally

Select the cells with text you want to align. Press “Ctrl + 1” to open the Format Cells dialog box. In the Alignment tab, choose Horizontal from the drop-down list. Choose one of the alignment options, such as Center or Right, then click OK. The selected cells will now be aligned correctly.

There are other shortcuts to align text horizontally. For instance, pressing “Alt + H + A + C” centers the currently selected cells without opening any dialog boxes.

You can also use “Ctrl + Shift + L” shortcut key to filter and sort data. This makes it easier to read and compare.

Lastly, use the “Ctrl + Shift + 3” shortcut to align text vertically.

Shortcut to align text vertically

Aligning text vertically in Excel is a handy feature. Here’s how to do it:

1. Select the cells or range of cells you want to apply this to.
2. Press “Ctrl + 1” to open the Format Cells dialog box.
3. Click on the Alignment tab.
4. Select Vertical from the list in the Vertical alignment section.
5. Choose top, center, or bottom alignment.
6. Click OK to apply changes.

Using this shortcut can make data look neater and more organized. It’s great for lengthy spreadsheets with lots of data. It’s simple to learn and use, so give it a go and save time!

Another shortcut to know about is Wrap text. It enhances readability when working on long Excel files. Try it out today!

Wrap text for better readability

Text:

Choose the cell or range of cells where you need to wrap text.

Go to the ‘Home’ tab on the ribbon menu.

Hit the ‘Wrap Text’ button in the ‘Alignment’ group.

Excel will automatically adjust the width of the cell to fit everything. This is great for long sentences, formulas and values longer than one cell. It keeps all content visible without cutting off data. Plus, no need to scroll left and right to view everything. Increase row height or resize columns for extra space. Wrapping text makes worksheets look better and easier to understand.

To have a neat look, you can use Excel’s shortcut to indent text. Formatting data is simple with Excel’s features.

Shortcut to indent text for a clean look

Indenting text is a must for a neat and tidy Excel spreadsheet. To simplify this process, use a shortcut instead of adjusting each cell manually. Follow these five steps for this shortcut:

1. Choose the cells with content to indent.
2. Press ‘Ctrl+1’ to open Format Cells dialog box.
3. Go to the ‘Alignment’ tab.
4. In the ‘Indent’ section, pick one of the preset options or enter the value you want in the text box.
5. Select ‘OK’ to apply and exit the dialog box.

This shortcut makes data easier to read. It avoids any confusion or mess.

Pro Tip: Align characters inside cell borders by selecting multiple cells with unevenly aligned characters, and choosing an appropriate value under Indent on the Format Cells dialog box.

Now that the indent shortcut has organized your texts, let’s dive into more useful Excel shortcuts: Excel Shortcuts for Number Formatting.

Excel Shortcuts for Number Formatting

Excel fanatics know the significance of mastering shortcuts to work smartly. Here, we will investigate the number formatting shortcuts in Excel. These include switching the number format with a keystroke, easily applying currency formatting, and quickly apply percentage formatting. Plus, we’ll include a shortcut to change the date formatting for better organization. With these vital Excel shortcuts, you can boost productivity and save time! Let’s get started and learn how to work efficiently in Excel!

Change the number format with a keystroke

Click the cell that you want to format. Press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Cells dialog box. Select the Number tab and use the options to choose your preferred format type.

Excel offers quick access to many of its features. You can find shortcuts from the Ribbon customization or Quick Access toolbar. These shortcuts save time, improve efficiency and reduce the risk of errors when editing and formatting data.

I once had to reconcile financial reports from different departments which were presented in different formats. Excel shortcuts enabled me to quickly change each department’s reports into one standardized format, saving me hours of work.

Finally, learn how to apply currency formatting with ease using Excel keystrokes.

Apply currency formatting with ease

Want to apply currency formatting to your Excel spreadsheet? Here’s an easy way!

Press the shortcut key combination “Ctrl+Shift+$”. The selected cells will format with the dollar symbol.

Don’t want to use dollars? You can go to “Format Cells” and select from a list of available currencies.

If you want to make applying currency formatting even easier, try creating a custom shortcut key. Go to “Customize Ribbon” and choose “Keyboard Shortcuts”. Then pick “Home Tab” and locate “Number Formats”. Assign a custom shortcut key for the currency format of your choice.

Now that you know the trick, let’s move onto the next helpful Excel shortcut: Shortcut to apply percentage formatting.

Shortcut to apply percentage formatting

Using shortcuts in Excel can save time and improve efficiency. To apply percentage formatting, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + % (Windows) or Command + Shift + % (Mac).
3. Cells will be formatted as percentages.
4. To decrease decimal, use Ctrl + Shift + ! (Windows) or Command + Shift + ! (Mac).
5. To increase decimal, use Ctrl + Shift + # (Windows) or Command + Shift +# (Mac).
6. To remove formatting, press Ctrl + Shift+ ~ (Windows) or Command + Shift+ ~ (Mac).

Shortcuts can be a real time saver. Now that you know how to quickly format percentages, let’s move on to date formatting for better organization.

Quickly change date formatting for better organization

When working in Excel, formatting dates correctly makes data easier to understand. There are also shortcuts to quickly change date formats. Here’s how:

1. Select the cells with the dates.
2. Press Ctrl + 1.
3. Choose the Number tab.
4. Select Date from the Category list.
5. Choose your Date format.
6. Click OK.

These shortcuts save time and make Excel easier to use. When dealing with a lot of data, it’s important to quickly organize and distinguish between different kinds of information.

Using relative dates instead of specific ones can also help. For example, “Day – 14” for “April 17th.” This way, if plans get delayed, labeling stays accurate. One company found this tip especially useful when holiday planning. They used relative dates in event spreadsheets, so they could easily adjust plans without confusing anyone.

Next up: Excel Shortcuts for Borders. Knowing how to use cell borders can help improve spreadsheet organization.

Excel Shortcuts for Borders

Have you ever wasted hours formatting borders in Excel? It’s a long and tiring process! But there’s good news. Excel shortcuts can make it a breeze. In this part, I’ll talk about these shortcuts for borders.

There are four shortcuts to use. They’ll help you save time and effort when adding, changing, or removing borders in Excel. You don’t need to be an Excel expert. Keep reading and life will be easier!

Add a border with a simple keystroke

Adding a border to an Excel cell is easy! Just press “Ctrl” and “1” simultaneously. This will open the Format Cells dialog box. Select the “Border” tab. Choose the style, color and thickness. Hit “OK“! No need to navigate through menus.

Borders can make spreadsheets look more professional and easy-to-read. Highlight data points or separate sections.

To save time, select all the cells before using the shortcut.

Another helpful shortcut: changing border color with ease.

Shortcut to change border color

To change the border color in Excel, use a handy shortcut! Here’s how:

1. Select the cell(s) to change.
2. Press Alt+H+B+C on your keyboard.
3. This will open the Format Cells dialog box.
4. Click the Border tab.
5. Under Color, choose the desired border color from the drop-down or select More Colors for custom colours.
6. Click OK to apply and close the dialog box.

This shortcut only changes the color of existing borders – it won’t add or remove any. To add or remove borders, use other formatting options in Excel.

Pro tip: Add this command to your Quick Access Toolbar for quick access. Right-click on any Ribbon command and select ‘Add to Quick Access Toolbar.’

Now that you know how to change border colors in Excel, let’s move on to adjusting border width!

Easily adjust border width

Make formatting easier and increase productivity! Use these essential Excel shortcuts to adjust border widths. Alt+H+B opens the Border menu. Alt+H+B+A adds all borders. Alt+H+B+E erases borders. Alt+H+B+C changes the color. Mastering these shortcuts will save you time and improve efficiency. Plus, you’ll have an advantage over those still struggling with manual formatting. Don’t miss out. Start practicing now!

Lastly, learn how to quickly remove a border with another useful shortcut.

Quickly remove a border with a shortcut

Learn how to remove borders quickly with a 3-step guide!

1. Select cells or a single cell from which you want to remove borders.
2. Press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Shift’ + ‘_’ (underscore) keys simultaneously.
3. The borders will be gone in an instant.

You can use this shortcut on all types of borders, such as top border, bottom border, right border, left border, or any other style.

You can also select individual cells or a group of cells. Press the same keys to remove the borders of these selected cells.

Fun fact: Did you know that keyboard shortcuts in Excel can save up to 10 minutes every hour? Microsoft conducted a study and found that users who use keyboard commands are 5% more productive than those who don’t.

Next up, here are some other helpful shortcuts for formatting in Excel.

Other Helpful Shortcuts for Formatting

I’m a big fan of Excel! Learning keyboard shortcuts for formatting can make you more productive. I already shared some essential Excel shortcuts. Now I’m sharing a few of my favs. With these tips, you can easily insert comments, hyperlinks, images and shapes. These shortcuts will speed up your formatting process and make your Excel work more efficient.

Insert a comment with ease

Want to add a comment to a cell? Just press Shift + F2. This opens a box where you can type your comment. It’s great for collaboration! Keep comments concise so they’re easier to track. If you have trouble adding a comment, check if you have the latest version of Excel.

Now that you know how to leave comments, let’s talk about adding hyperlinks. This provides quick access to external sources.

Shortcut to insert a hyperlink for quick access to external sources

Using the ‘Ctrl + K’ keyboard shortcut in Excel can save time and prevent user errors. It can be used to insert hyperlinks to other cells, workbooks, and files outside of Excel. This is a great way to create navigation menus, provide additional information, or link to online resources. You can customize the appearance of your hyperlink by changing font styles, colors, and underlining.

To remove a hyperlink from a cell, simply right-click and select ‘Remove Hyperlink‘.

An example usage scenario for this shortcut is creating an employee attendance tracker. Each row can represent an individual’s attendance record for events. With hyperlinks embedded in the spreadsheet cells associated with each conference, employees can quickly access event details without having to look up separate document files.

Inserting images with a simple keystroke is also possible – this will make everyday tasks more accessible.

Insert images effortlessly with a keystroke

Using Insert images effortlessly with a keystroke is an incredibly efficient shortcut! No need to switch tabs or take your hands off the keyboard. Simply click on the cell, press Alt + N + P, select the image, and click ‘Insert.’ That’s it! You’ll be done in just a few seconds.

You can make sure the image is inserted properly and placed where you want it. The best part? It saves valuable time when you’re working on a project.

For even more control, try learning about relative paths. Using relative paths correctly makes using keyboard shortcuts even easier.

Easily add shapes to your spreadsheet with a shortcut.

Shortcuts like “Alt + N + S” can save you time and effort when adding shapes to your spreadsheet. This tip improves productivity, reduces errors, and streamlines work processes. Plus, it allows you to effectively convey information through diagrams and charts.

You can easily access shapes like rectangles, ovals, and arrows. Just click the specific shape you need with your mouse pointer, and draw it directly onto your worksheet.

No more tedious navigation through different toolbars! Microsoft Excel was first released in 1985, being known as Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems.

FAQs about 25 Essential Excel Shortcuts To Change The Cell Format

What are the 25 essential Excel shortcuts to change the cell format?

There are various shortcuts in Excel which can be used to quickly change the cell formats without having to navigate through the menus. Some of the important ones include:

• Ctrl+Shift+1 – Apply the number format
• Ctrl+Shift+4 – Apply the currency format
• Ctrl+Shift+5 – Apply the percent format
• Ctrl+Shift+7 – Apply the border format
• Ctrl+Shift+9 – Remove the outline border of selected cells
• Ctrl+Shift+~ – Apply the general number format

How do I change the cell format using shortcuts in Excel?

To change the cell format using shortcuts in Excel, select the cell or range of cells that you want to format and then use the keyboard shortcuts for the desired format. For example, to apply the currency format, select the cell(s) and press the Ctrl+Shift+4 keys.

Can I customize shortcut keys for changing the cell format in Excel?

Yes, you can customize the shortcut keys for changing the cell format in Excel by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts. From there, you can select the desired command (e.g. “Number Format”) and then assign a new shortcut key to it.

How do I remove cell formatting in Excel?

To remove cell formatting in Excel, select the cell or range of cells that you want to remove the formatting from and then use the Ctrl+Spacebar shortcut to select the entire column(s) or Shift+Spacebar to select the entire row(s). Then, press the Ctrl+Shift+1 keys to apply the default number format and remove any existing formatting.

What is the purpose of formatting cells in Excel?

The purpose of formatting cells in Excel is to make the data more organized, visually appealing, and easier to understand. By formatting the cells, you can change the appearance of the data in various ways such as adjusting the font size, applying bold or italic effects, adding borders, and applying different data formats (e.g. currency, date, percentage).

Can I apply conditional formatting using keyboard shortcuts in Excel?

Yes, you can apply conditional formatting using keyboard shortcuts in Excel. Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply the formatting to, then press the Alt+H+L keys to open the “Conditional Formatting” menu. From there, use the keyboard to navigate and select the desired formatting option (e.g. “Highlight Cells Rules” or “Data Bars”) and apply it using the corresponding shortcut keys.