Get Help on Selected Ribbon Control in Excel
Excel provides built-in contextual help for Ribbon commands. You can instantly open help for the currently selected Ribbon control using a simple keyboard shortcut.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| F1 | F1 |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing F1 opens Excel Help related to the currently highlighted Ribbon command. This helps you quickly understand what a control does without searching manually.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Open Excel
- Activate the Ribbon using Alt (Windows)
- Navigate to a Ribbon command using arrow keys or Tab
- Press F1
- The Excel Help panel opens with relevant information
Tips & Best Practices
- Use this when learning new or unfamiliar Ribbon commands
- Helpful for beginners and advanced users alike
- Works best when a specific Ribbon control is selected
FAQ
- Q: Does this open online or offline help?
- It usually opens online Microsoft Help, depending on your Excel version.
- Q: Will F1 always show help for the selected control?
- Yes, if a Ribbon control is selected; otherwise, general Excel Help opens.