Accept and Apply Changes in Excel
This shortcut allows you to accept, confirm, and apply changes in Excel dialog boxes, forms, and input fields without using the mouse.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Enter | Return |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing Enter confirms the selected option or applies the current setting in an Excel dialog box. It often works the same as clicking the OK or Apply button.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Make changes in an Excel dialog box or field
- Press Enter
- The changes are accepted and applied
Common Places Where It Works
- Format Cells dialog
- Excel Options window
- Find and Replace
- Data Validation dialog
- PivotTable options
Tips & Best Practices
- Use Esc to cancel instead of applying
- Works faster than clicking buttons with a mouse
- Essential for keyboard-only Excel workflows
FAQ
- Q: Does Enter always close the dialog?
- A: In most cases, yes—unless the dialog requires additional input.
- Q: Can I change this behavior?
- A: No, this is a built-in Excel behavior.
- Q: Does it work inside cells?
- A: Yes, it confirms cell entry and applies the value.