This page is a complete keyboard shortcut reference for Numbers on macOS, covering all 112 shortcuts organized into 6 sections. Whether you’re new to Numbers or looking to master advanced features, this cheat sheet has every key combination you need — from basic editing and navigation to app-specific power-user actions.
Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to work in Numbers. Every time you use a shortcut instead of reaching for the mouse, you save a few seconds — and those seconds compound into hours over weeks and months. Start with the shortcuts you use most (copy, paste, undo, save), then gradually add app-specific ones as they become relevant to your workflow. Bookmark this page or download the PDF cheat sheet for quick reference.
Using keyboard shortcuts in Numbers reduces context switching between keyboard and mouse, helping you maintain focus and work more efficiently. Research shows that shortcut-driven workflows can save up to 8 working days per year compared to menu-driven navigation. On macOS, most Numbers shortcuts follow standard conventions — once you learn the modifier key patterns, new shortcuts become intuitive.
Tips for Learning Shortcuts
- Practice one new Numbers shortcut each day. Muscle memory builds faster when you focus on a single combination at a time rather than trying to learn them all at once.
- Print or bookmark this page for quick reference while working in Numbers. Having shortcuts visible nearby helps bridge the gap between looking them up and recalling them from memory.
- Start with the shortcuts you use most. In Numbers, common actions like copy, paste, undo, and save are worth learning first since they apply across nearly every workflow.
General41
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | ⌘B |
| Italic | ⌘I |
| Insert Table | ⇧⌘T |
| Next Cell | Tab |
| Previous Cell | ⇧Tab |
| Confirm Entry | ↩ |
| Edit Cell | F2 |
| Add Link | ⌘K |
| Paste Style | ⇧⌘V |
| Save a spreadsheet | ⌘S |
| Print a spreadsheet | ⌘P |
| Open template chooser with Language menu | ⌥⌘N |
| Duplicate a spreadsheet | ⇧⌘S |
| Open the Numbers User Guide | ⇧⌘? |
| Enter full-screen view | ⌃⌘F |
| Return to actual size | ⌘0 |
| Hide Numbers | ⌘H |
| Quit Numbers and keep windows open | ⌥⌘Q |
| Close the template chooser | Escape |
| Close a window | ⌘W |
| Zoom in | ⇧⌘> |
| Show the spreadsheet rulers | ⌘R |
| Hide other windows | ⌥⌘H |
| Open an existing spreadsheet | ⌘O |
| Add a new sheet | ⇧⌘N |
| Close all windows | ⌥⌘W |
| Zoom out | ⇧⌘< |
| Show the Colors window | ⇧⌘C |
| Undo the last action | ⌘Z |
| Switch to the previous sheet | ⇧⌘{ |
| Minimize a window | ⌘M |
| Show the Settings window | ⌘, |
| Hide or show the toolbar | ⌥⌘T |
| Redo the last action | ⇧⌘Z |
| Open the template chooser | ⌘N |
| Save as | ⌥⇧⌘S |
| Switch to the next sheet | ⇧⌘} |
| Minimize all windows | ⌥⌘M |
| Zoom to selection | ⇧⌘0 |
| Hide or show the sidebar | ⌥⌘I |
| Quit Numbers | ⌘Q |
Text Formatting25
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Apply boldface to selected text | ⌘B |
| Delete text to end of paragraph | ⌃K |
| Make the text superscript | ⌃⌘+ |
| Cut the selection | ⌘X |
| Paste and match style | ⌥⇧⌘V |
| Apply italic to selected text | ⌘I |
| Make the font size bigger | ⌘+ |
| Make the text subscript | ⌃⌘- |
| Copy the selection | ⌘C |
| Enter special characters | ⌃⌘Space |
| Apply underline to selected text | ⌘U |
| Make the font size smaller | ⌘- |
| Decrease the indent level | ⌘[ |
| Copy the paragraph style | ⌥⌘C |
| Insert the current time | ⌃⇧⌘T |
| Delete the previous character | Delete |
| Decrease space between characters | ⌥⌘[ |
| Increase the indent level | ⌘] |
| Paste the selection | ⌘V |
| Insert the current date | ⌃⇧⌘D |
| Show the Fonts window | ⌘T |
| Delete the word before insertion point | ⌥Delete |
| Increase space between characters | ⌥⌘] |
| Turn text into a link | ⌘K |
| Paste the paragraph style | ⌥⌘V |
Find10
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Place selected text in Find field | ⌘E |
| Show the next comment | ⌥⌘K |
| Look up the word at insertion point | ⌃⌘D |
| Show the previous comment | ⌥⇧⌘K |
| Find | ⌘F |
| Check spelling and grammar | ⌘; |
| Find next | ⌘G |
| Show Spelling and Grammar window | ⇧⌘: |
| Find previous | ⇧⌘G |
| Open a new comment | ⇧⌘K |
Objects14
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all objects | ⌘A |
| Send object one layer back | ⌥⇧⌘B |
| Lock selected objects | ⌘L |
| Deselect all objects | ⇧⌘A |
| Bring object to the front | ⇧⌘F |
| Unlock selected objects | ⌥⌘L |
| Select the next object | Tab |
| Bring object one layer forward | ⌥⇧⌘F |
| Duplicate the object | ⌘D |
| Select the previous object | ⇧Tab |
| Group selected objects | ⌥⌘G |
| Mask or unmask the object | ⇧⌘M |
| Send object to the back | ⇧⌘B |
| Ungroup selected objects | ⌥⇧⌘G |
Tables21
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Add a column to the right | ⌥Right |
| Select all columns that intersect | ⌃⌘Enter |
| Autofill from the column before | ⌃⌘\ |
| Expand selected category groups | ⌘9 |
| Add a column to the left | ⌥Left |
| Auto-align cell content | ⌥⌘U |
| Autofill from the row above | ⌥⌘\ |
| Paste formula results | ⇧⌘V |
| Insert an equation | ⌥⌘E |
| Delete selected rows | ⌥⌘Delete |
| Merge selected cells | ⌃⌘M |
| Turn Filters on or off | ⌥⌘F |
| Open a pop-up menu in a selected cell | Space |
| Add a row above | ⌥Up |
| Delete selected columns | ⌃⌘Delete |
| Unmerge selected cells | ⌃⇧⌘M |
| Apply sorting rules | ⇧⌘R |
| Add a row below | ⌥Down |
| Select all rows that intersect | ⌥⌘Enter |
| Turn on autofill mode | ⌘\ |
| Collapse selected category groups | ⌘8 |
Charts1
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Edit chart data references | ⇧⌘D |
Frequently Asked Questions
Access Numbers shortcuts from your menu bar
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