Extend Selection to Beginning of Row in Excel
This shortcut allows you to extend the current selection from the active cell to the beginning of the same row. It is extremely useful when selecting data quickly without using the mouse.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Shift + Home | Shift + Fn + ← |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
When you press this shortcut, Excel extends the current selection horizontally to the first cell of the row, usually column A or the first visible column.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Click any cell in the row you are working on
- Press and hold Shift
- Press the Home key
- The selection extends to the beginning of the row
Tips & Best Practices
- Selects all cells between the active cell and the first column
- Works perfectly with copying, formatting, and deleting data
- In Excel tables, selection stops at the table boundary
FAQ
- Q: Does this always select up to column A?
- Usually yes, unless the worksheet is scrolled horizontally or inside a table.
- Q: Can I extend selection across multiple rows?
- No, this shortcut works only within the current row.
- Q: Is this different from Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow?
- Yes. Shift + Home goes directly to the beginning of the row, not just the previous data block.