Select Current Region in Excel
The Select Current Region shortcut allows you to instantly select a contiguous block of data surrounding the active cell. This is extremely useful when working with tables or structured datasets.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + * | Cmd + Shift + * |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
When you press this shortcut, Excel selects the entire data region that is directly connected to the active cell, stopping at any blank rows or columns.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Click any cell inside a block of data
- Press Ctrl + Shift + * (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + * (Mac)
- The entire connected data region will be selected
- You can now copy, format, or analyze the data
Tips & Best Practices
- Blank rows or columns break the current region
- Works perfectly with Excel tables and structured ranges
- Use before creating charts, pivot tables, or applying filters
FAQ
- Q: What is considered a current region?
- A current region is a group of adjacent cells surrounded by blank rows and columns.
- Q: Is this the same as selecting the entire worksheet?
- No, it selects only the connected data, not empty cells.
- Q: Why does Excel not select all my data?
- One or more blank rows or columns may be breaking the region.