What is the keyboard shortcut for editing a cell in Excel?

Question

I can't find the keyboard shortcut for this on the mac. It's F2 on a windows machine.

score 53 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 28 '11 at 10:43

53

Office for Windows: F2
Office for Mac: Ctrl + U

answered Apr 28 '11 at 10:43

dertkw

1,502

1

Ctrl-U just underlines the text , does not edit it. – WestCoastProjects May 24 '15 at 23:30
3

That would be command + U – Fuad Saud Jun 15 '15 at 19:42
I just did it with Ctrl+U. – Merchako Dec 10 '20 at 03:43
1

Vouching for this answer. I am on Microsoft Excel for Mac v16 Volume License 2019. Ctrl+U works for editing cells. – addicted Feb 02 '21 at 10:29

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 28 '11 at 12:09

4

The problem is that the shortcut has been changed for earlier versions of excel.

F2 used to work on Excel versions before 2011. For the 2011 excel version use ctrl + U instead.

answered Apr 28 '11 at 12:09

Felipe Sabino

113

1

I wonder why Microsoft change it? I have been using Windows in work for years, and now I use Mac at home. It would be great if I didn't have to learn a whole new set of shortcuts. (Ctrl-I and Ctrl- for adding and removing rows, for example. Any others? – Victor Grazi Jul 22 '13 at 01:41
1

I think it's just F- keys, e.g. it's cmd-t instead of F4 to add $ to formulas. I think it's because newer versions of Mac OS do system things with F keys so applications don't know they've been pressed. – user56reinstatemonica8 Jan 29 '14 at 17:17

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 09 '15 at 14:53

4

I believe F2 still works, its just that on macs now, to get F2, you need to press fn+F2, otherwise it does the alternative function, which in my mac is to brighten the screen.

answered Mar 09 '15 at 14:53

Cam

41
1

No, in Office 2011, Fn F2 does "cut" as a shortcut. Ctrl+U only lets you start editing in the cell. It does not actually bring you into the Formula Bar (not the Formula Builder, which is something else). – Jon V Nov 21 '15 at 22:49

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered May 16 '16 at 22:43

Excel for Mac 2016: F2

The most recent version of Office for Mac (2016) changed a number of keyboard shortcuts to create greater similarity across Windows and Mac versions of the software. Ctrl + U appears to no longer work as a shortcut key for editing cells in Excel 2016 for Mac. Instead the F2 key must be used. Depending on the keyboard settings on your particular Mac, to trigger F2 (instead of increasing screen brightness), you may have to hold down the "function" key (fn) while also hitting F2. To modify this behavior, go to System Preferences > Keyboard and check or uncheck "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys."

Both Control+U and F2 work for me in Excel 2016 16.13.1 – Errol May 25 '18 at 15:24 — Errol, May 25 '18 at 15:24

score -1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 12 '16 at 23:34

-1

Here is the complete list: Shortcuts

answered Mar 12 '16 at 23:34

Bryan

1

1

Although this provides an answer to the question, it would be significantly better if you also added the relevant sections from the linked text in the body of your answer. – JMY1000 Mar 13 '16 at 00:04

What is the keyboard shortcut for editing a cell in Excel?

5 Answers5