Microsoft Excel remains the undisputed backbone of financial modelling, analysis, and reporting. With the release of Excel 2025, Microsoft has quietly introduced enhancements that, if properly used, can save hours across a busy month-end or audit season.

While most accountants are well-versed in classic shortcuts such as Ctrl+C for copy or Alt+E+S+V for paste values, Excel 2025 includes lesser-known gems that streamline data work in subtle but powerful ways.

Below are 10 of the most overlooked or revamped Excel shortcuts in 2025, new additions, hidden legacy features, and efficiency boosters that ICAEW members should consider mastering.

1. Ctrl + Shift + V – Paste Values

Introduced in late 2022, this shortcut pastes values only from the copied cells, effectively bypassing the original formatting, formulas, and other attributes. 

Normally, when you copy and paste in Excel, it preserves the formatting, formulas, and other attributes of the original cells. The ‘new’ shortcut provides a quicker way to achieve this ‘Paste Special > Values’. 

2. Alt + Q – Search and Apply Command

Introduced in earlier versions but refined in Excel 2025, Alt + Q activates the ‘Tell Me or Search’ bar where users can type what they want to do,such as ‘Sort ascending’ or ‘Insert pivot table’. Excel then executes the command directly, bypassing manual menu navigation.

This shortcut helps when you’re working with an unfamiliar version of Excel, or a client has customised the ribbon. Think of it as command-line Excel for professionals.

3. Ctrl + Shift + F3 – Create Named Ranges from Selection

Named ranges aren’t just for advanced modellers, they help improve formula clarity and prevent errors. This shortcut creates named ranges based on row or column headers.

This helps when you’re working on a large model with repeating formulas or need to audit inputs quickly.

4. Ctrl + */Ctrl+shift+8 – Select Current Region

An old but underused shortcut, Ctrl + * (asterisk on numeric keypad) selects the entire region around the active cell, ideal for quick formatting, filtering or copying datasets.

This shortcut helps when you’re preparing unplanned reports and need to reformat or relocate blocks of data fast.

5. Ctrl + Shift + Alt + F9 – Full Calculation Rebuild

Most users know that F9 recalculates formulas, but Excel 2025 sometimes hides dependencies to boost performance. This shortcut forces a full dependency rebuild and calculation.

This four-key shortcut helps when formulas aren’t updating correctly, or you’re experiencing delay in linked workbooks with complex data flows.

6. Shift + Alt + Right Arrow – Group Rows/Columns

This shortcut allows for immediate grouping of selected rows or columns without touching the ribbon.

It helps when you’re building interactive financial statements or want to condense detailed sections of a worksheet such as departmental breakdowns for a summary printout.

7. Ctrl + E – Flash Fill (AI-assisted autofill)

Although Flash Fill has been around since Excel 2013, it’s improved dramatically in Excel 2025, especially with pattern recognition. Ctrl + E activates it without needing to navigate to the Data tab.

It helps when standardising client names, extracting date segments, or cleaning messy imports without complex formulas.

8. Ctrl+Spacebar/Shift+Spacebar – Select Column or Row Respectively

Sometimes simple shortcuts are essential when you are deleting, moving or formatting full columns or rows of data. This allows you to quickly select the row or column without navigating to the end of a row to click.

It helps when applying formatting to an entire column/row or deleting a column/row.

9. Ctrl + Shift + L – Toggle Filters On/Off

In heavy data worksheets, toggling filters efficiently is critical. This shortcut turns filters on or off with a single command – no ribbon access required.

It helps when reviewing large trial balances, and sales ledgers where filtering by date, department or region is routine.

10. F4 – Repeat Last Action/cycle through absolute and relative cell referencing

Excel 2025 continues to support this legacy shortcut. It repeats your last formatting or command, excluding typing, a massive time-saver for repetitive changes. When editing a cell reference in a function, F4 also cycles through relative and absolute cell referencing (in other words, whether the $ sign is there or not and so whether the column/row reference is fixed when the formula is copied to other cells). This can be a game changer.

It helps when you’ve made bold a subtotal row and need to apply the same to 10 more sections. No need to redo formatting each time.

New Additions in Excel 2025

• Alt + F1 – Quick Insert Chart: inserts a recommended chart based on selection. A faster alternative to navigating ‘Insert > Chart’.
• Ctrl + 1 – Open Format Cells Dialog: while not new, this is essential for deep formatting and often underused compared to ribbon buttons.

In an age where Excel increasingly competes with Power BI, Python, and AI-driven platforms, efficiency in core tools still defines productivity.

Mastering these lesser-known Excel shortcuts won’t just shave minutes off your day. It will elevate your reputation as a clear-thinking, precision-focused accountant, one who can tame spreadsheets no matter how complex.

So next time you reach for the mouse, pause and ask: Could a shortcut get me there faster?

Note: Shortcuts can vary depending on whether the application is fully updated or on the operating system you are using. Try downloading any updates you have pending to get the most out of the newly released and updated shortcuts above. If you are using a Mac, replace Ctrl with Cmd. There may be some key differences when using a Mac operating system.