46

I can't find the keyboard shortcut for this on the mac. It's F2 on a windows machine.

Improve this question

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
57

Office for Windows: F2
Office for Mac: Ctrl + U

Improve this answer
4
  • 3
    Ctrl-U just underlines the text , does not edit it. Commented May 24, 2015 at 23:30
  • 3
    That would be command + U Commented Jun 15, 2015 at 19:42
  • I just did it with Ctrl+U. Commented Dec 10, 2020 at 3:43
  • 1
    Vouching for this answer. I am on Microsoft Excel for Mac v16 Volume License 2019. Ctrl+U works for editing cells. Commented Feb 2, 2021 at 10:29
5

I believe F2 still works, its just that on macs now, to get F2, you need to press fn+F2, otherwise it does the alternative function, which in my mac is to brighten the screen.

Improve this answer
1
  • No, in Office 2011, Fn F2 does "cut" as a shortcut. Ctrl+U only lets you start editing in the cell. It does not actually bring you into the Formula Bar (not the Formula Builder, which is something else). Commented Nov 21, 2015 at 22:49
4

The problem is that the shortcut has been changed for earlier versions of excel.

F2 used to work on Excel versions before 2011. For the 2011 excel version use ctrl + U instead.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    I wonder why Microsoft change it? I have been using Windows in work for years, and now I use Mac at home. It would be great if I didn't have to learn a whole new set of shortcuts. (Ctrl-I and Ctrl- for adding and removing rows, for example. Any others? Commented Jul 22, 2013 at 1:41
  • 1
    I think it's just F- keys, e.g. it's cmd-t instead of F4 to add $ to formulas. I think it's because newer versions of Mac OS do system things with F keys so applications don't know they've been pressed. Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 17:17
1

Excel for Mac 2016: F2

The most recent version of Office for Mac (2016) changed a number of keyboard shortcuts to create greater similarity across Windows and Mac versions of the software. Ctrl + U appears to no longer work as a shortcut key for editing cells in Excel 2016 for Mac. Instead the F2 key must be used. Depending on the keyboard settings on your particular Mac, to trigger F2 (instead of increasing screen brightness), you may have to hold down the "function" key (fn) while also hitting F2. To modify this behavior, go to System Preferences > Keyboard and check or uncheck "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys."

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    Both Control+U and F2 work for me in Excel 2016 16.13.1 Commented May 25, 2018 at 15:24
-1

Here is the complete list: Shortcuts

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Although this provides an answer to the question, it would be significantly better if you also added the relevant sections from the linked text in the body of your answer. Commented Mar 13, 2016 at 0:04

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.