Move to Previous Control in Excel
When working inside Excel dialog boxes, forms, or task panes, this shortcut allows you to move backward to the previous control such as buttons, text fields, checkboxes, or dropdown menus.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Shift + Tab | Shift + Tab |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
It moves the focus backward to the previous available control within the current Excel dialog box or task pane.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Open any Excel dialog box (such as Format Cells)
- Press Shift + Tab
- The focus moves to the previous control
- Repeat to continue moving backward
Tips & Best Practices
- Use Tab to move forward again
- Helps with fast keyboard-only navigation
- Works across all Excel dialogs and forms
FAQ
- Q: Does this work in all Excel dialogs?
- Yes, most Excel dialogs and task panes support this shortcut.
- Q: Can I activate a selected control?
- Yes, press Enter or Space to activate it.
- Q: Is this shortcut the same on Mac?
- Yes, Shift + Tab works the same on Windows and Mac.