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Apple Numbers Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac

Keyboard shortcuts for Apple Numbers on Mac. Move around a sheet, enter formulas and cell references, format text, and work with tables and charts.
Key label style

General

Start dictation
Fn+D
Open the template chooser
Cmd+N
Open the template chooser and show the Language pop-up menu
Cmd+Opt+N
Open an existing spreadsheet
Cmd+O
Close the template chooser
Esc
Save a spreadsheet
Cmd+S
Save as
Cmd+Opt+Shift+S
End editing the spreadsheet or sheet name
Return
Duplicate a spreadsheet
Cmd+Shift+S
End editing the spreadsheet or sheet name and restore the original name
Esc
Print a spreadsheet
Cmd+P
Add a new sheet
Cmd+Shift+N
Switch to the previous sheet
Cmd+Shift+[
Switch to the next sheet
Cmd+Shift+]
Switch to the first sheet
Cmd+Opt+Shift+[
Switch to the last sheet
Cmd+Opt+Shift+]
Scroll one page up in print preview
Pg Up
Scroll one page down in print preview
Pg Dn
Preview a sheet or spreadsheet
Cmd+Opt+P
Open the Numbers User Guide
Cmd+Shift+/
Close a window
Cmd+W
Close all windows
Cmd+Opt+W
Minimise a window
Cmd+M
Minimise all windows
Cmd+Opt+M
Enter full-screen view
Cmd+Ctrl+F
Zoom in
Cmd+Shift+.
Zoom out
Cmd+Shift+,
Show the Settings window
Cmd+,
Zoom to selection
Cmd+Shift+0
Return to actual size
Cmd+0
Show the spreadsheet rulers
Cmd+R
Show the Colours window
Cmd+Shift+C
Hide or show the toolbar
Cmd+Opt+T
Rearrange an item in the toolbar
Cmd+Drag
Remove an item from the toolbar
Cmd+Dragaway
Hide or show the sidebar
Cmd+Opt+I
Open the next tab of the sidebar
Ctrl+`
Open the previous tab of the sidebar
Ctrl+Shift+`
Hide Numbers
Cmd+H
Hide other windows
Cmd+Opt+H
Undo the last action
Cmd+Z
Redo the last action
Cmd+Shift+Z
Quit Numbers
Cmd+Q
Quit Numbers and keep windows open
Cmd+Opt+Q
Select one of the first seven sheets
Cmd+<1-7>

Move around within a spreadsheet

Move one character to the left
Left
Move one character to the right
Right
Move one character back (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)
Ctrl+B
Move one character forward (works for left-to-right and right-to-left text)
Ctrl+F
Move to the line above
Up
Move to the line below
Down
Move to the beginning of the current or previous word
Opt+Left
or
Ctrl+Opt+B
Move to the end of the current or next word
Opt+Right
or
Ctrl+Opt+F
Move to the beginning of the current text area
Cmd+Up
Move to the bottom of the current text area
Cmd+Down
Move to the beginning of the current line
Cmd+Left
Move to the end of the current line
Cmd+Right
Move to the beginning of the current paragraph
Opt+Up
Move to the end of the current paragraph
Opt+Down
Find the selected item in the spreadsheet (with the Find window open)
Cmd+E
Jump to a selection in a spreadsheet
Cmd+J
Scroll up the sheet
Pg Up
Scroll down the sheet
Pg Dn
Scroll to the beginning of the sheet
Home
or
Fn+Up
Scroll to the end of the sheet
End
or
Fn+Down
Centre the insertion point in the app window
Ctrl+L
Move down a page
Ctrl+V

Select text

Select one or more characters
Click+Drag
Select a word
Double-click
Select a paragraph
Triple-click
Select all objects and text
Cmd+A
Deselect all objects and text
Cmd+Shift+A
Extend the text selection
Click,Shift+Click
Extend the selection one character to the right
Shift+Right
Extend the selection one character to the left
Shift+Left
Extend the selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of subsequent words
Opt+Shift+Right
Extend the selection to the beginning of the current word
Opt+Shift+Left
Extend the selection to the end of the current line
Cmd+Shift+Right
Extend the selection to the beginning of the current line
Cmd+Shift+Left
Extend the selection to the line above
Shift+Up
Extend the selection to the line below
Shift+Down
Extend the selection to the beginning of the current paragraph
Opt+Shift+Up
Extend the selection to the end of the current paragraph
Opt+Shift+Down
Extend the selection to the beginning of the text
Cmd+Shift+Up
or
Shift+Home
Extend the selection to the end of the text
Cmd+Shift+Down
or
Shift+End
Select a bullet and its text
Click
Move a bullet and its text, with its sub-bullets and text
Click+Drag

Format text

Show the Fonts window
Cmd+T
Show the Colours window
Cmd+Shift+C
Apply boldface to selected text
Cmd+B
Apply italic to selected text
Cmd+I
Apply underline to selected text
Cmd+U
Delete the previous character or selection
Del
or
Ctrl+H
Delete the next character or selection
Ctrl+D
or
Fwd Del
Delete the word before the insertion point
Opt+Del
Delete the word after the insertion point
Opt+Fwd Del
Delete the text between the insertion point and the next paragraph break
Ctrl+K
Make the font size bigger
Cmd+=
Make the font size smaller
Cmd+-
Decrease the space between selected characters
Cmd+Opt+[
Increase the space between selected characters
Cmd+Opt+]
Make the text superscript
Cmd+Ctrl+=
Make the text subscript
Cmd+Ctrl+-
Decrease the indent level of a block of text or a list item
Cmd+[
Increase the indent level of a block of text or a list item
Cmd+]
Decrease the indent level of a list item or headline
Shift+Tab
Increase the indent level of a list item or headline
Tab
Turn text or an object into a link
Cmd+K
Cut the selection
Cmd+X
Copy the selection
Cmd+C
Copy the paragraph style
Cmd+Opt+C
Paste the selection
Cmd+V
Paste the paragraph style
Cmd+Opt+V
Paste and match the style of the destination text
Cmd+Opt+Shift+V
Add a range to (or remove it from) the selection
Shift+Drag
or
Cmd+Drag
Insert a non-breaking space
Opt+Space
Insert a line break (soft return)
Shift+Return
Insert a paragraph break
Opt+Return
Insert a new line after the insertion point
Ctrl+O
Enter special characters
Cmd+Ctrl+Space
Transpose the characters on either side of the insertion point
Ctrl+T
Insert the current time
Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+T
Insert the current date
Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+D

Find and delete text, use comments and check spelling

Delete the previous character or selection
Del
Delete the next character or selection
Fn+Del
or
Fwd Del
Find
Cmd+F
Find next (while in the Find window)
Cmd+G
Find previous (while in the Find window)
Cmd+Shift+G
Place the selected text in the Find & Replace text field
Cmd+E
Replace text
Return
Scroll the window to show the selected text or object
Cmd+J
Hide the Find window
Esc
Look up the word at the insertion point
Cmd+Ctrl+D
Display a list of words to complete the selected word
Opt+Esc
Check spelling and grammar
Cmd+;
Show the Spelling and Grammar window
Cmd+Shift+;
Open a new comment for the selected text, object or table cell
Cmd+Shift+K
Save a comment
Cmd+Return
Show the next comment
Cmd+Opt+K
Show the previous comment
Cmd+Opt+Shift+K

Move, group, layer and resize objects

Select all objects (Press with one object selected)
Cmd+A
Deselect all objects (Press with one object selected)
Cmd+Shift+A
Select objects by draggingDrag from a blank part of the sheet around the objects. Option-drag selects outward from the starting point.
Drag
or
Opt+Drag
Scroll zoomAvailable with a Magic Mouse or a trackpad only.
Cmd+Opt+Scroll
Add or remove objects from the selection
Cmd+Drag
Select the next object on the sheet
Tab
Select the previous object on the sheet
Shift+Tab
Select or deselect additional objects
Cmd+Click
or
Shift+Click
Move selected objects
Drag
Move the selected object one point
UpDownLeftRight
Move the selected object ten points
Shift+UpDownLeftRight
Move the selected object one screen pixel
UpDownLeftRight
Move the selected object ten screen pixels
Shift+UpDownLeftRight
Copy the graphic style
Cmd+Opt+C
Paste the graphic style
Cmd+Opt+V
Apply the shape style, but not the text styleClick a shape or text box style in the sidebar.
Opt+Click
Send the selected object to the back
Cmd+Shift+B
Send the selected object one layer back
Cmd+Opt+Shift+B
Bring the selected object to the front
Cmd+Shift+F
Bring the selected object one layer forward
Cmd+Opt+Shift+F
Group selected objects
Cmd+Opt+G
Ungroup selected objects
Cmd+Opt+Shift+G
Select an object in a group
Double-click
Select the next object in a group
Tab
Select the previous object in a group
Shift+Tab
End editing an object and select the groupPress with an object in a group selected.
Cmd+Return
Lock selected objects
Cmd+L
Unlock selected objects
Cmd+Opt+L
Duplicate the object
Cmd+D
or
Opt+Drag
Constrain the movement of the object to 45°
Shift+Drag
Resize the object
Draga handle
Disable alignment guides while resizing
Cmd+Drag
Resize the object from the centre
Opt+Draga handle
Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing the object
Shift+Draga handle
Constrain the aspect ratio when resizing the object from the centre
Opt+Shift+Draga handle
Rotate the object
Cmd+Draga handle
Rotate the object 45°Press while rotating.
Shift
Rotate the object around the opposite handle (instead of the centre)
Cmd+Opt+Draga handle
Rotate the object 45° around the opposite handle (instead of the centre)
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Draga handle
Turn off alignment guides while moving an object
Cmd+Drag
Mask or unmask the object
Cmd+Shift+M
Hide mask controls
Return
or
Double-click
Show mask controls for masked image
Double-click
Open the shortcut menu for the selected item
Ctrl+Click
Exit text editing and select the object
Cmd+Return
Define the object as a media placeholder
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+I

Modify editable shapes

Make a custom shape editable (by double-clicking the edge of the shape)
Double-click
Draw a custom shape with the Pen tool
Cmd+Opt+Shift+P
Move a point of an editable shape
Drag
Delete a point of an editable shape
Click,Del
Add a sharp point to an editable shapeDrag the midpoint of a line.
Cmd+Drag
Add a smooth point to an editable shapeDrag the midpoint of a line.
Drag
Add a Bézier point to an editable shapeDrag the midpoint of a line.
Opt+Drag
Change a curve point of an editable shape into a corner point
Double-click
Reshape the curve of a smooth point (by dragging the line adjacent to the smooth point)
Drag
Reshape the curve of a Bézier point
Click,Dragthe control

Work with tables

Insert an equation
Cmd+Opt+E
Add a row above the selected cells
Opt+Up
Add a row below the selected cells
Opt+Down
Add a column to the right of the selected cells
Opt+Right
Add a column to the left of the selected cells
Opt+Left
Add or remove rows and columns with contentUse the Add or Remove Rows or Columns button in the bottom-right corner of the table.
Opt+Dragthe button
Delete selected rows
Cmd+Opt+Del
Delete selected columns
Cmd+Ctrl+Del
Insert a row at the bottom of the table (with a cell in the bottom row selected)
Return
Insert a column on the right of the table (with a cell in the right-most column selected)
Tab
Select an entire row or column in the selected table (by clicking the letter for the column or the number for the row)
Click
Select all rows that intersect the current selection
Cmd+Opt+Return
Select all columns that intersect the current selection
Cmd+Ctrl+Return
Select additional rows
Shift+UpDown
Select additional columns
Shift+LeftRight
Select additional cells
Shift+Click
Select only body cells in a row or column (by double-clicking the letter for the column or the number for the row)
Double-click
Stop the reordering of rows or columnsPress while dragging.
Esc
Select a table from a cell selection
Cmd+Return
Select the first cell in a selected table
Opt+Return
Select all content in a table
Cmd+A
Delete the selected table, or the contents of selected cells
Del
Constrain the movement of the table and snap to guides (by dragging the table)
Shift+Drag
Replace a cell's contents with another cell'sDrag the selected cell onto the destination cell.
Drag
Copy the contents of the selected cell into the destination cell (by dragging selected cell to another)
Opt+Drag
Copy cell style
Cmd+Opt+C
Paste cell style
Cmd+Opt+V
Paste and preserve the style of the destination cell
Cmd+Opt+Shift+V
Select a cell in a selected or an unselected table
Click
or
Double-click
Edit a cell
Opt+Return
Highlight the row and column for a cellPress as you move over a cell.
Opt
Open a pop-up menu in a selected cell
Space
Select a value in a pop-up menu in a selected cell
Return
or
Space
Tick or untick a tickbox in a selected cell
Space
or
N
or
Y
Set the number of stars for a selected star rating cell
012345
Set the value for a slider in a selected cellThe value must be within the slider's range.
<value>
Add a cell to (or remove it from) the selection
Cmd+Click
Auto-align cell content
Cmd+Opt+U
Stop editing the cell and select the cell
Cmd+Return
Stop editing the cell and select the table
Cmd+Return+Return
Move the selected table one point
UpDownLeftRight
Move the selected table ten points
Shift+UpDownLeftRight
Resize all columns in a selected table proportionately
Shift+Draga handle
Select the next cell or, if the last cell of a row is selected, add a new column
Tab
Select the previous cell
Shift+Tab
Select the cell below
Return
Select the cell above
Shift+Return
Select the cell to the left, right, up or down
UpDownLeftRight
Extend the cell selection by one cell
Shift+UpDownLeftRight
Select the parent of the current selection
Cmd+Return
Insert a tab when editing text or a formula
Opt+Tab
Insert a line break (soft return) when editing text in a cell
Opt+Shift+Return
Insert a paragraph break (hard return) when editing text in a cell
Opt+Return
Open the Formula Editor with the contents of the selected cell
Ctrl+=
Convert the formula in the open Formula Editor to text
Ctrl+=
Open the empty Formula Editor
=
Open the Formula Editor for the cell containing a formula or formatted number
Double-click
or
Opt+Return
Paste formula results
Cmd+Shift+V
In the Formula Editor, save changes
Return
or
Tab
In the Formula Editor, discard changes
Esc
Turn Filters on or off
Cmd+Opt+F
Apply sorting rules
Cmd+Shift+R
Collapse selected category groups
Cmd+8
Expand selected category groups
Cmd+9
Select the first populated cell in the current row
Cmd+Opt+Left
Select the last populated cell in the current row
Cmd+Opt+Right
Select the first populated cell in the current column
Cmd+Opt+Up
Select the last populated cell in the current column
Cmd+Opt+Down
Select the table name
Shift+Tab
Paste a formula result
Cmd+Shift+V
Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current row
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Left
Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current row
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Right
Expand the current selection to include the first populated cell in the current column
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Up
Expand the current selection to include the last populated cell in the current column
Cmd+Opt+Shift+Down
Merge selected cells
Cmd+Ctrl+M
Unmerge selected cells
Cmd+Ctrl+Shift+M
Add or remove the top border
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Up
Add or remove the bottom border
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Down
Add or remove the right border
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Right
Add or remove the left border
Cmd+Ctrl+Opt+Left
Turn on autofill mode
Cmd+\
Autofill from the column before
Cmd+Ctrl+\
Autofill from the row above
Cmd+Opt+\

Work with charts

Edit chart data references
Cmd+Shift+D
Move the chart legend one point
UpDownLeftRight
Move the chart legend ten points
Shift+UpDownLeftRight

Create cell references in formulas

Navigate to and select a single cell
Opt+UpDownLeftRight
Extend or shrink a selected cell reference
Opt+Shift+UpDownLeftRight
Navigate to the first or last non-header cell in a row or column
Cmd+Opt+UpDownLeftRight
Insert a line break
Opt+Return
Insert a tab
Opt+Tab
Specify absolute and relative attributes of selected cell referencesPress repeatedly to move forwards or backwards through the options.
Cmd+K
or
Cmd+Shift+K
Specify absolute and relative attributes of the first and last cells of selected cell referencesPress repeatedly to move forwards or backwards through the options.
Cmd+Opt+K
or
Cmd+Opt+Shift+K

Intro

Numbers on Mac uses Command (⌘) as its primary modifier. The cell navigation shortcuts follow the same pattern as Excel on Mac (Cmd+Arrow to jump to data range edges), making the transition between applications straightforward for the core spreadsheet operations.

The main structural difference to understand: in Numbers, a sheet is a canvas where tables are placed as objects alongside charts, images, and text boxes. Navigation shortcuts operate both within tables (cell to cell) and between canvas objects on a sheet.

Mac-specific shortcut notes

Data range navigation. Cmd+Arrow jumps to the last filled cell in the arrow's direction, identical to Excel on Mac and Google Sheets on Mac. For large tables, this makes navigating to the edge of a dataset fast.

Canvas object navigation. Numbers' canvas model means a sheet can contain multiple tables and other elements. Keyboard shortcuts exist for switching focus between tables and other canvas objects on the same sheet. The table above covers these canvas-level navigation controls.

Formula entry. Entering edit mode in a cell, navigating within the formula bar, and accepting or canceling formula entries all have Command-based shortcuts. Numbers' formula system uses the same function names as Excel for most common functions.

Number formatting. Applying format types (number, currency, percentage, date, duration) by keyboard, and opening the Format panel for custom format settings.

Table structure. Adding and removing rows, columns, and header/footer rows in a table; navigating the table headers, all keyboard-accessible.

Sheet navigation. Switching between sheets in a Numbers document by keyboard, and working with multiple sheets.

Printable PDF

The Numbers macOS shortcut list is available as a printable PDF. Cell navigation and the canvas navigation shortcuts are the sections most worth reviewing for anyone new to Numbers from another spreadsheet application.

FAQ

Need more than shortcuts?
Visit the Apple Numbers app page for an overview and helpful links.

Want to suggest a new app, report a bug, or get help? Email us at info@hkeys.app.

For anything else or just a quick hello, write to us at info@hkeys.app.