Shift + Space in Excel: Select an Entire Row

Have you ever wanted to select an entire row in Excel without clicking the row number with your mouse?

You can do this quickly using a simple keyboard shortcut: Shift + Space.

Let’s see how it works.

Keyboard Shortcut to Select an Entire Row in Excel:

The keyboard shortcut to select an entire row in Excel is:

Shift + Space

How to Select an Entire Row Using Shift + Space?

Follow these steps:

1. Open your Excel worksheet.

2. Click any cell in the row you want to select.

3. Press Shift + Space on your keyboard.

Excel selects the entire row.

For example, if you click cell C4 and press Shift + Space, Excel selects Row 4.

Practical Example:

Suppose you have the following sales data:

Employee	Department	Region	Sales
Ravi	Sales	East	25000
Priya	Marketing	West	30000
Kiran	Finance	South	20000

If you want to select the entire row containing Priya’s details:

1. Click any cell in Priya’s row.

2. Press Shift + Space.

Excel selects the entire worksheet row containing Priya’s details.

You can then format the row, copy it, or perform other actions on the selected row.

Can You Select Multiple Rows Using Shift + Space?

Yes. You can select multiple rows in Excel by selecting cells across the rows you need and then using Shift + Space.

Here are three ways to do this.

Method 1: Use Shift + Space With a Cell Range

1. Click and drag to select cells across the rows you want to select.

2. Press Shift + Space.

Excel selects the entire worksheet rows covered by your selection.

For example, if you select cells B2:D4 and press Shift + Space, Excel selects Rows 2, 3, and 4.

Method 2: Use Shift + Space and the Arrow Keys

1. Click a cell in the first row you want to select.

2. Press Shift + Space to select the entire row.

3. Hold Shift and use the Up or Down Arrow key to extend the selection to adjacent rows.

Method 3: Use Shift + Space and the Mouse

1. Click a cell in the first row you want to select.

2. Press Shift + Space to select the entire row.

3. Hold Shift and click the row number of the last row you want to include.

Excel extends the selection to include all the rows between them.

Note: You can also select multiple adjacent rows directly using the row numbers, without pressing Shift + Space. This is an alternative method to select the entire rows.

Difference Between Ctrl + Space and Shift + Space:

• Shift + Space: Selects an entire row.
• Ctrl + Space: Selects an entire column.

For example, use Ctrl + Space to select Column C and Shift + Space to select Row 4.

Important Things to Remember:

• Click a cell in the row before using the shortcut.
• Shift + Space selects the entire worksheet row, not just the cells containing data.
• If you select cells in multiple rows before pressing the shortcut, Excel selects the rows covered by that selection.
• You can use the selected rows to apply formatting, copy data, or delete rows.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the shortcut to select an entire row in Excel?

Press Shift + Space after selecting any cell in the row.

2. Does Shift + Space select only the cells containing data?

No. It selects the entire worksheet row, including cells that do not contain data.

3. Can I select multiple rows in Excel?

Yes. Select cells vertically across the rows you need and press Shift + Space, or select the row numbers directly using your mouse.

4. Does Shift + Space Work on Mac?

Yes. The Shift + Space shortcut works in Excel for both Windows and Mac. You can use it to select an entire row without clicking the row number.

Final Thoughts:

The Shift + Space shortcut is a quick way to select an entire row in Excel.

Instead of clicking the row number, simply click any cell in the row and press Shift + Space.

It is useful when you want to format, copy, or delete a row quickly, especially when working with large worksheets.

For more useful shortcuts, visit our Excel Keyboard Shortcuts page.