While working in Excel, you may want to access the Ribbon or another area without reaching for your mouse. The F6 keyboard shortcut helps you move the keyboard focus between different areas of the Excel window.
You can use it to navigate between the worksheet, Name box, Ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls.
How to Use F6 in Excel?
Follow these steps to use the F6 shortcut.
1. Open an Excel workbook.
2. Click any cell in the worksheet.
3. Press F6 on your keyboard.
4. Excel moves the keyboard focus to another area of the window.
5. Press F6 again to move to the next area.
6. Continue pressing F6 until the focus reaches the area you want.
The areas Excel cycles through depend on your window layout. If your worksheet is split into panes, F6 can also move between those panes.
How to Switch Focus in the Reverse Direction?
You can use Shift + F6 to move the keyboard focus in the reverse direction.
1. Press Shift + F6.
2. Excel moves the focus to the previous area.
3. Press the shortcut again to continue moving backward.
This is useful when you move past the area you want to access.
F6 vs. Shift + F6 in Excel:
| Keyboard shortcut | What it does |
| F6 | Moves keyboard focus forward between areas of the Excel window |
| Shift + F6 | Moves keyboard focus backward between areas of the Excel window |
Both shortcuts help you navigate Excel without relying entirely on the mouse.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What does F6 do in Excel?
F6 moves keyboard focus between areas of the Excel window, such as the worksheet, Ribbon, task pane, and Zoom controls.
2. What does Shift + F6 do in Excel?
Shift + F6 moves keyboard focus through the same areas in the reverse direction.
3. Does F6 select a different cell?
No. F6 changes the area that receives keyboard focus. It does not directly select another worksheet cell.
4. Why is F6 not working on my laptop?
Some laptops use function keys for hardware controls, such as volume or brightness. You may need to press Fn + F6 or change your keyboard’s function-key settings.
5. What is the difference between F6 and Ctrl + F6 in Excel?
F6 moves focus between areas within the Excel window. Ctrl + F6 switches between open Excel workbook windows.
Final Thoughts:
The F6 shortcut makes it easier to navigate different areas of Excel using your keyboard. Use F6 to move forward, or Shift + F6 to move backward, until you reach the area you need.
Explore more useful shortcuts in our Excel Keyboard Shortcuts guide.
Discover more from Excellopedia
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.