Move Active Cell Left in Excel (Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow)
This shortcut allows you to move the active cell to the left across a selection or data region in Excel, making navigation faster without using the mouse.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + ← | Cmd + Shift + ← |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing this shortcut moves the active cell left to the first cell of a contiguous data region or extends the current selection in that direction.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Select a cell or range
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + Left Arrow (Mac)
- The active cell jumps left to the edge of the current data region
Tips & Best Practices
- Use this shortcut to quickly navigate to the beginning of a row
- Combine with Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow to select entire rows
- Works in tables, ranges, and filtered datasets
FAQ
- Q: Does this shortcut stop at blank cells?
- Yes, it stops at the first blank cell or edge of the worksheet.
- Q: Can I extend selection to the left?
- Yes, holding Shift extends the selection while moving left.
- Q: Does it work inside Excel Tables?
- Yes, it works smoothly inside structured Excel tables.