Google Sheets Shortcuts & Gemini AI Guide: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet (PDF)
by
Gloria Brown
Post Updated: January 16, 2026
Google Sheets is no longer just a spreadsheet; it is a smart data workspace. With the new Gemini Pro integration, you can now generate complex formulas, clean messy data, and build charts using plain English.
Whether you are crunching numbers, formatting data, or generating formulas with AI, speed is everything. This guide covers the essential shortcuts and tools to help you work faster and smarter in 2026. Read the list below or download the cheat sheet.
Stuck on a broken formula? Contact us here or leave a comment below for any feedback or help.
Download the Google Sheets Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Useful Google Sheets Shortcuts (Desktop)
These shortcuts work in the browser-based Google Sheets editor. Use them to navigate, format, and analyze data more efficiently:
📊 Navigation & Selection
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + ↑ / ↓ / ← / → | Jump to the edge of data in the selected direction. |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the top-left cell (A1). |
| Ctrl + End | Jump to the bottom-right of your data range. |
| Shift + Space | Select the entire row. |
| Ctrl + Space | Select the entire column. |
| Ctrl + / | Open the full list of keyboard shortcuts. |
🧮 Formulas & Functions
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| = | Start a formula in the selected cell. |
| Alt + = | Insert the SUM function automatically. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Enter | Enter an array formula. |
| F4 | Toggle absolute/relative references (e.g., A1 → $A$1). |
🎨 Formatting
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + b / i / u | Bold, italicize, or underline selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + 1–6 | Apply number, percent, currency, date, time, or scientific format. |
| Ctrl + \ | Clear formatting from selected cells. |
| Alt + Shift + 5 | Apply or remove strikethrough. |
📁 File & Sheet Management
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + k | Insert a new sheet. |
| Alt + Shift + k | Delete the current sheet. |
| Ctrl + PageUp / PageDown | Switch between sheets (tabs). |
| Ctrl + s | Save manually (though Sheets auto-saves). |
🧩 Smart Canvas & Tables
In 2026, Sheets isn’t just grids. Use these keys to build apps and tables.
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| @ | Insert Smart Chips (People, Files, Dates). |
| Ctrl + Alt + T | Convert range to a Table (with filters). |
| Alt + Down Arrow | Open dropdown menu or chip details. |
Geek Tip: Dealing with messy data? If you have Google Workspace, you can use Gemini to “Clean up data” and it will automatically fix formatting errors and remove duplicates for you.
💻 ChromeOS Shortcuts for Google Sheets
If you’re using a Chromebook, Google Sheets has a few extra keyboard shortcuts you’ll want to know:
Common Actions
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select column | Ctrl + Space |
| Select row | Shift + Space |
| Undo / Redo | Ctrl + z / Ctrl + y / Ctrl + Shift + z |
| Paste values only | Ctrl + Shift + v |
| Tool finder | Alt + / |
| Convert range to table | Shift + Alt + T |
Formatting & Borders
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Ctrl + b / i / u |
| Strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 |
| Align: Left / Center / Right | Ctrl + Shift + l / e / r |
| Apply borders (Top–Left) | Alt + Shift + 1–4 |
| Outer border | Alt + Shift + 7 or Ctrl + Shift + 7 |
| Clear formatting | Ctrl + \ |
Navigation & Sheet Control
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to row start/end | Search + Left / Right Arrow |
| Jump to A1 / bottom-right | Ctrl + Search + Left / Right |
| Next / Previous sheet | Ctrl + Shift + Search + Down / Up |
| Scroll to active cell | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Open Explore | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + i |
Comments & Notes
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert/edit comment | Ctrl + Alt + m |
| Open comment thread | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + a |
| Reply / Resolve / Exit | R / E / U |
✨ Using Gemini AI in Google Sheets
Gemini is now your personal data analyst. Here is how to use it:
- Generate Complex Formulas: Don’t remember the syntax for
VLOOKUP? Just type “Look up the price in column B based on the ID in column A” and Gemini will write the formula. - Organize with Tables: Select a range and ask Gemini to “Convert this to a table and filter by Q4 sales.”
- Analyze Trends: Highlight a dataset and ask Gemini “What are the top 3 trends in this sales data?” for an instant summary.
- Build Charts: Ask Gemini to “Create a bar chart comparing sales by region” and it will insert the visualization for you.
Google Sheets on iPhone & iPad
- Voice Input: Tap the mic icon to dictate formulas or values.
- Gemini in Gmail: If enabled, Gemini can suggest Sheets actions based on email content.
- Touch Gestures: Tap and drag to autofill, resize columns, or reorder sheets.
Google Sheets on Android
- Gemini Integration: Tap the ✨ icon to generate formulas, summaries, or tables.
- Voice Commands: Use Google Assistant to say “Open my budget spreadsheet” or “Add a row to grocery list.”
- Long-Press Actions: Hold on cells to format, insert, or comment quickly.
Pro Tip: Combine Shortcuts + Gemini
Use = to start a formula, then ask Gemini to complete it. Or press Ctrl + Shift + k to add a new sheet, then prompt Gemini to populate it with a project tracker or content calendar.
Want more cheat sheets and productivity guides?
- Google Docs Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Gmail Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Google Forms Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Google Drive Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Google Slides Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Google Sheets Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
- Google Calendar Shortcuts + Gemini AI Tools
Each guide includes mobile tips, Gemini AI usage, and a free downloadable cheat sheet.
🚀 The Productivity Toolkit
To analyze data faster, we recommend this setup:
1. The Software
Get Google Workspace. It unlocks Gemini for Sheets (Formula Generation & Data Cleaning).
2. The Hardware
Need a laptop with a number pad? Check out our guide to the Best Chromebooks for Excel & Sheets.
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