How to Select All Cells in Excel Fast!

You can use simple mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts to move around the spreadsheet. In this guide, you will learn different ways on how to select all cells in Excel.

Key Takeaways:

• Use Ctrl + A to select all cells in the spreadsheet.
• Press Shift + Spacebar to select an entire row.
• Press Ctrl + Spacebar to select entire columns.
• Hold Ctrl to select multiple non-adjacent cells or rows.

 

How to Select Cell

Entire Column

Follow the steps below to select an entire column:

• Hover over the column header
• The selection arrow will appear
• Click the column header

You can also press Ctrl + spacebar to select an entire column.

Entire Row

• Click on the row number
• The entire row is selected

You can select Shift + Spacebar to select the entire row.

 

Select Multiple Rows or Columns

Adjacent Cells

Selecting multiple rows or columns in sequence is a breeze with Excel’s multi-selection techniques. Begin by clicking on the first header. Then, press and hold the Shift key, and click on the last header in the sequence.

To deselect a specific row or column, keep pressing the Shift key, and click again on the row or column you wish to release from the selection.

Non-Adjacent Cells

To select non-adjacent cells, hold the Ctrl key (or Command on Mac) and click the cells you want one by one. This lets you highlight multiple separate cells at the same time.

 

How to Manage Large Data Sets

Jump to the Beginning or End

You can use keyboard shortcuts to move quickly through a large spreadsheet:

• Ctrl + Home: Go to the beginning of the worksheet, i.e., cell A1.
• Ctrl + End: Jump to the last used cell in the sheet.

• Ctrl + Shift + Home: Select all cells from your current cell to A1.
• Ctrl + Shift + End: Select all cells from your current cell to the last used cell.

Select All Cells

To quickly select all cells with data in Excel, press Ctrl + A. This selects the entire data range until Excel reaches a blank row or column. If you are working in a table, press Ctrl + A again to include the headers.

FAQs

What is the shortcut for select all cells down in Excel?

To select all cells down from a starting point in Excel, press and hold ‘Ctrl’ and ‘Shift’, then hit the ‘Down Arrow’ key.

How to Quickly Select Non-Contiguous Rows?

Use ‘Ctrl’ and click on each row header you wish to select for fast non-contiguous row selection. Each click adds to your custom selection.

Is There a Way to Select Rows Based on Cell Value?

Yes, Excel’s Filter feature allows you to select rows based on cell value.

• Press Alt + D + F + F to add filters
• Use the dropdowns to select your criteria.

What are the Shortcuts for Excel Cell Selection?

Excel selection shortcuts include:

• Ctrl + A to select all cells
• Ctrl + Space to select an entire column
• Shift + Space to select an entire row

How to Select All Cells in a Table Without Dragging the Mouse?

To select all cells in a table:

• Click on any cell within the table
• Press Ctrl + A
• Press Ctrl + A again