[Excel Shortcut] Insert a New Row Fast (Windows & Mac)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Excel, a spreadsheet program developed by Microsoft, is a powerful tool that is widely used in various fields such as business, education, and research. One of the most common tasks in Excel is inserting a new row. This task can be done manually by right-clicking and selecting ‘Insert’, but it can be time-consuming if you need to do it frequently. Therefore, knowing the shortcut to insert a new row can significantly increase your productivity. In this guide, we will provide a detailed explanation of how to insert a new row fast in Excel on both Windows and Mac.

Understanding Excel Shortcuts

Excel shortcuts are a combination of keys that perform a certain function. These shortcuts can greatly enhance your speed and efficiency when working with Excel. They can be particularly useful when you need to perform repetitive tasks, such as inserting a new row.

There are two types of shortcuts in Excel: keyboard shortcuts and mouse shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts involve pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard. Mouse shortcuts, on the other hand, involve clicking certain parts of the Excel interface with your mouse. In this guide, we will focus on keyboard shortcuts for inserting a new row.

Why Use Excel Shortcuts?

Excel shortcuts can save you a lot of time. Instead of navigating through menus and dialog boxes, you can perform tasks with just a few keystrokes. This can be especially useful when you’re working with large spreadsheets.

Shortcuts can also reduce the risk of errors. When you’re performing tasks manually, it’s easy to make mistakes. But with shortcuts, the tasks are performed automatically by Excel, reducing the chance of errors.

Shortcut to Insert a New Row in Excel on Windows

If you’re using Excel on a Windows computer, you can insert a new row by pressing the ‘Ctrl’ and ‘+’ keys at the same time. Here’s how:

  1. Select the row below where you want to insert the new row. You can do this by clicking on the row number on the left side of the spreadsheet.
  2. Press the ‘Ctrl’ and ‘+’ keys at the same time. A new row will be inserted above the row you selected.

This shortcut works in all versions of Excel on Windows, including Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, and Excel 2019.

Alternative Method

If the ‘Ctrl’ + ‘+’ shortcut doesn’t work for you, there’s an alternative method you can use. This method involves using the ‘Alt’ key instead of the ‘Ctrl’ key. Here’s how:

  1. Select the row below where you want to insert the new row.
  2. Press the ‘Alt’ key, then press the ‘I’ key, and finally press the ‘R’ key. A new row will be inserted above the row you selected.

This alternative method works in all versions of Excel on Windows.

Shortcut to Insert a New Row in Excel on Mac

If you’re using Excel on a Mac computer, the shortcut to insert a new row is slightly different. Instead of the ‘Ctrl’ key, you’ll use the ‘Command’ key. Here’s how:

  1. Select the row below where you want to insert the new row.
  2. Press the ‘Command’ and ‘I’ keys at the same time. A new row will be inserted above the row you selected.

This shortcut works in all versions of Excel on Mac, including Excel 2011, Excel 2016, and Excel 2019.

Alternative Method

If the ‘Command’ + ‘I’ shortcut doesn’t work for you, there’s an alternative method you can use. This method involves using the ‘Control’ key instead of the ‘Command’ key. Here’s how:

  1. Select the row below where you want to insert the new row.
  2. Press the ‘Control’ key, then press the ‘I’ key, and finally press the ‘R’ key. A new row will be inserted above the row you selected.

This alternative method works in all versions of Excel on Mac.

Conclusion

Knowing the shortcut to insert a new row in Excel can save you a lot of time and increase your productivity. Whether you’re using Excel on a Windows or Mac computer, you can use these shortcuts to insert a new row quickly and easily.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you use these shortcuts, the more natural they will become. So start practicing these shortcuts today and see how much time you can save!