[Excel Shortcut] Switch Between Open Tabs (Windows & Mac)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Navigating through multiple open tabs in Excel can sometimes be a daunting task, especially when you’re working with complex data sets. However, Microsoft Excel provides a handy shortcut to switch between open tabs, making your work much easier. This guide will walk you through the process of using this shortcut on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Understanding Excel Tabs

Before we delve into the shortcut, it’s important to understand what Excel tabs are. In Excel, each workbook can contain multiple worksheets, each represented by a tab at the bottom of the Excel window. These tabs allow you to organize your data in a way that makes sense for your project. For instance, you might have one tab for raw data, another for processed data, and a third for graphs and charts.

By default, Excel displays three tabs in a new workbook. However, you can add more tabs as needed. To do so, simply click on the “+” icon to the right of the existing tabs. You can also rename, color-code, and rearrange tabs to further customize your workbook.

Why Use a Shortcut to Switch Between Tabs?

While you can click on each tab to switch between them, this method can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially when you have many tabs open. That’s where the shortcut comes in. By using a keyboard shortcut, you can quickly and easily switch between tabs without taking your hands off the keyboard. This can significantly speed up your workflow, especially if you’re working with a large amount of data.

Moreover, using a shortcut can help reduce the risk of errors. When you’re clicking through tabs, it’s easy to accidentally click on the wrong one, potentially leading to mistakes in your work. With a shortcut, you can be sure you’re switching to the correct tab every time.

How to Switch Between Tabs in Excel on Windows

On a Windows computer, the shortcut to switch between tabs in Excel is Ctrl + Page Up/Page Down. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Open your Excel workbook.
  2. Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
  3. While holding the Ctrl key, press the Page Up key to move to the previous tab or the Page Down key to move to the next tab.

Note that this shortcut will cycle through your tabs in order. That is, if you’re on the first tab and press Ctrl + Page Up, you’ll move to the last tab. Similarly, if you’re on the last tab and press Ctrl + Page Down, you’ll move to the first tab.

How to Switch Between Tabs in Excel on Mac

On a Mac, the process is slightly different. The shortcut to switch between tabs in Excel is Command + Shift + Page Up/Page Down. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Open your Excel workbook.
  2. Press and hold the Command and Shift keys on your keyboard.
  3. While holding these keys, press the Page Up key to move to the previous tab or the Page Down key to move to the next tab.

As with the Windows shortcut, this will cycle through your tabs in order. If you’re on the first tab and press Command + Shift + Page Up, you’ll move to the last tab. Similarly, if you’re on the last tab and press Command + Shift + Page Down, you’ll move to the first tab.

Additional Tips for Navigating Excel Tabs

While the above shortcuts are the quickest way to switch between tabs in Excel, there are a few other methods you might find useful:

  • To quickly jump to the first or last tab in your workbook, press Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End on a Windows computer, or Command + Home or Command + End on a Mac.
  • If you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can scroll through your tabs by placing your cursor over the tabs and scrolling the wheel.
  • To rearrange your tabs, simply click and drag them to the desired position.

By mastering these shortcuts and techniques, you can greatly enhance your efficiency and productivity in Excel. Remember, the key to becoming proficient in Excel is practice, so don’t be afraid to experiment with these shortcuts and find what works best for you.