Select Table in Excel (Ctrl + A)
The Select Table shortcut allows you to quickly select all data within a table or the active worksheet, making it easy to format, copy, or manipulate the entire dataset.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing this shortcut selects the entire table if the active cell is inside a table, or the entire worksheet if no table is active.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Click any cell within the table or worksheet
- Press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac)
- The entire table or worksheet will be highlighted
- You can now perform actions like formatting, copying, or deleting all data
Tips & Best Practices
- Inside a table, Ctrl + A selects the table first, pressing again selects the entire worksheet
- Combine with keyboard navigation for faster editing
- Useful for applying uniform formatting or deleting all data quickly
FAQ
- Q: Does this work on filtered tables?
- Yes, it selects all visible cells in the table first; pressing twice selects everything including hidden rows.
- Q: Can I select multiple tables at once?
- No, Ctrl + A works on one table or worksheet at a time.