Ctrl + F6 in Excel: Switch Between Open Workbooks

Do you work with multiple Excel workbooks at the same time?

If you have only Excel workbooks open, you can easily switch between them using Alt + Tab. However, what if you also have other applications open, such as Chrome, File Explorer, or other programs?

When you press Alt + Tab, Windows shows all the open applications, not just Excel windows. This can make it harder to switch directly between your Excel workbooks.

Instead, you can use a simple keyboard shortcut called Ctrl + F6 to switch only between open Excel windows without moving through other applications.

Let’s see how it works.

Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Between Open Workbooks in Excel:

The keyboard shortcut to switch between open workbook windows in Excel is:

Ctrl + F6

This shortcut helps you move from one open workbook window to another without using the mouse.

How to Switch Between Open Workbooks Using Ctrl + F6?

Follow these steps to use Ctrl + F6 in Excel:

1. Open two or more Excel workbooks.

2. Click inside the workbook you are currently working on.

3. Press Ctrl + F6 on your keyboard.

4. Excel switches to the next open workbook window.                                

Press Ctrl + F6 again to move to the next available workbook window.

Example:

Suppose you have three Excel workbooks open, along with other programs such as Chrome and File Explorer.

• Sales Report.xlsx
• Employee Details.xlsx
• Monthly Expenses.xlsx

You are currently working on Sales Report.xlsx.

When you press Ctrl + F6, Excel switches to the next open Excel workbook window.

Press Ctrl + F6 again to move to another workbook. You can continue pressing the shortcut to switch between the open workbook windows.

How to Switch to the Previous Workbook Window?

If you want to move in the opposite direction, you can use another keyboard shortcut.

The shortcut to switch to the previous workbook window is:

Ctrl + Shift + F6

For example, if Ctrl + F6 moves you from Sales Report.xlsx to Employee Details.xlsx, pressing Ctrl + Shift + F6 takes you back to the previous workbook window.

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl + F6	Switch between all open Excel windows
Ctrl + Tab	Switch between all open Excel windows
Ctrl + Shift + F6	Switch to the Previous Workbook Window
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Switch between all open Excel windows

Note: Ctrl + Tab is easier to use. However if a dialog box is open, Ctrl + Tab & Ctrl + Shift + Tab switches to the next tab inside that dialog box instead of switching workbooks.

Important Things to Remember:

• Ctrl + F6 switches between open workbook windows.
• You need at least two open Excel workbook windows to use this shortcut.
• Press Ctrl + F6 repeatedly to move between available workbook windows.
• Use Ctrl + Shift + F6 to switch to the previous workbook window.
• This shortcut does not switch between worksheets within the same workbook.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the shortcut to switch between workbooks in Excel?

Press Ctrl + F6 to switch between open workbook windows in Excel.

2. How do I switch to the previous workbook in Excel?

Press Ctrl + Shift + F6 to switch to the previous open workbook window.

3. Can I use Ctrl + F6 to switch between worksheets?

No. Ctrl + F6 switches between workbook windows, not worksheets within the same workbook.

To move between worksheets, use Ctrl + Page Up and Ctrl + Page Down.

4. What is the difference between Ctrl + F4 and Ctrl + F6?

Both shortcuts perform different actions:

• Ctrl + F4: Closes the active workbook.
• Ctrl + F6: Switches to the next open workbook window.

Final Thoughts:

The Ctrl + F6 keyboard shortcut is useful when you work with multiple Excel workbooks. Instead of clicking each workbook window, you can quickly switch between them using your keyboard.

For more useful shortcuts, check out our complete guide to Excel Keyboard Shortcuts.