Copy and Paste – Keyboard Shortcuts

Copy and paste functionality is undoubtedly one of the most frequently used features in Microsoft Excel. It allows users to easily duplicate and transfer data from one location to another within a spreadsheet. Understanding and utilizing the keyboard shortcut for copy and paste can greatly enhance your productivity when working with Excel. In this article, we will explore the steps to copy and paste using the keyboard shortcut and highlight some important points to remember.

Copying and Pasting with the Keyboard Shortcut:

To copy and Paste the data using the keyboard shortcuts, follow these steps:

1. Select the desired cell or click and drag to highlight a range of cells that you want to copy.

select the range of cells in Excel worksheet

2. Press and Hold the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard, then press the letter “C” to copy the selected data to the clipboard.

Press the "Ctrl + C" keys on your keyboard to copy the selected data

3. Move to the desired location where you want to paste the data.

4. Press the “Ctrl + V” keys together to paste the copied data into the new location.

Press the "Ctrl + V" keys on your keyboard to copy the selected data
Paste the data using keyboard shortcut

Remembering these simple steps will help you swiftly copy and paste data within Excel using the keyboard shortcut.

Points to Keep in Mind:

1. Single Location Paste: If you intend to paste the copied data to only one location, pressing the “Enter” key after selecting the destination cell will paste the data.

2. Multiple Location Paste: To paste the copied data to multiple locations, use the “Ctrl + V” keys. This saves you from the need to repeatedly copy the data for each location.

3. Paste Special Options: Excel offers various paste options such as values, formulas, or formatting only. To access these options, use the “Ctrl + Alt + V” keys after copying the data. This will open the Paste Special dialog box, allowing you to choose the desired paste option.

Mastering copy-and-paste keyboard shortcuts is essential for anyone working with Excel. By incorporating these shortcuts into your Excel workflow, you’ll be able to work more efficiently, you can significantly boost your productivity and save valuable time.