Fill Down in Excel
The Fill Down shortcut copies the content or formula of the active cell to the selected cells below. This is extremely useful for quickly propagating data or formulas in a column.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + D | Cmd + D |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing this shortcut fills the selected cells below the active cell with the same content or formula as the active cell. Formulas are adjusted relative to their positions.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Select the cell containing the data or formula you want to copy
- Select the range of cells below to fill
- Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Cmd + D (Mac)
- The active cell’s content or formula will be copied down
Tips & Best Practices
- Works for both text, numbers, and formulas
- Useful for quickly filling large datasets or Excel tables
- Ensure the correct relative/absolute references in formulas before filling down
FAQ
- Q: Will this overwrite existing data?
- Yes, the selected cells below the active cell will be overwritten.
- Q: Can I fill down multiple columns at once?
- No, Ctrl + D only fills down within the same column.