Extend Selection to First Cell in Excel
This shortcut lets you extend the current selection from the active cell all the way to the very first cell of the worksheet (cell A1). It is extremely helpful when selecting large data ranges instantly.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + Home | Cmd + Shift + Fn + ← |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
When you press this shortcut, Excel extends the selection from the active cell to cell A1, including all rows and columns in between.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Click any cell in the worksheet
- Press and hold Ctrl + Shift (Windows) or Cmd + Shift (Mac)
- Press the Home key
- The selection will extend to the first cell (A1)
Tips & Best Practices
- Selects all cells between the active cell and A1
- Very useful before copying, formatting, or deleting large datasets
- In filtered or protected sheets, selection may behave differently
FAQ
- Q: Does this always select up to cell A1?
- Yes, unless worksheet protection or frozen panes limit selection.
- Q: Is this different from Ctrl + Home?
- Yes. Ctrl + Home moves the cursor to A1, while Ctrl + Shift + Home extends the selection.
- Q: Can I undo the selection?
- Yes, press Ctrl + Z to undo the selection change.