Show the Active Cell on Worksheet in Excel (Ctrl + Backspace)
This shortcut allows you to quickly center the active cell on your screen, especially useful when working with large datasets. It ensures that the active cell is visible without scrolling manually.
Keyboard Shortcut
| Windows | Mac |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Backspace | Cmd + Backspace |
What Does This Shortcut Do?
Pressing this shortcut brings the active cell into view at the center of the screen, making it easy to locate and continue working efficiently.
How to Use the Shortcut
- Click or navigate to any cell in your worksheet
- Press Ctrl + Backspace (Windows) or Cmd + Backspace (Mac)
- The active cell will be centered and visible on your screen
Tips & Best Practices
- Use when working with large spreadsheets to quickly locate the active cell
- Combine with zoom and freeze panes for better navigation
- Helps avoid confusion when scrolling through large datasets
FAQ
- Q: Will this move the cursor?
- No, the active cell remains the same; the view just scrolls to show it.
- Q: Can I use this with frozen panes?
- Yes, the active cell will still be centered, respecting frozen panes.
- Q: Does it work in tables or filtered ranges?
- Yes, it works in any standard worksheet or table.