Excel · Toggle absolute and relative references
Formulas
Windows · Linux
F4Mac
Cmd+TWhile you are editing a formula it cycles A1 to $A$1 to A$1 to $A1; this is the biggest platform trap, because on a Mac it is Cmd+T and not F4.
- Group
- Formulas
- Keys held
- 1
Excel diverges most on the Mac. F4 for absolute references is Cmd+T there, and a few Ctrl combinations stay Ctrl rather than becoming Cmd.
Reading the key names
- Keys joined by + are pressed together: Ctrl+Shift+P means hold Ctrl and Shift, then P.
- On a Mac, Cmd is ⌘, Option is ⌥ (labelled Alt on some keyboards), Control is ⌃ and Shift is ⇧.
- Windows Ctrl usually becomes Cmd on a Mac, but not always — this reference lists both combinations separately.
- With a Korean, Japanese or Chinese input method active, shortcuts built on letter keys may not fire. Switch to Latin input and try again.
- When a combination does nothing, another program has often claimed it as a global shortcut first.
Common questions
Q. What is the shortcut for Toggle absolute and relative references in Excel?
While you are editing a formula it cycles A1 to $A$1 to A$1 to $A1; this is the biggest platform trap, because on a Mac it is Cmd+T and not F4. It is F4 on Windows and Cmd+T on a Mac.
Q. Is it the same on Windows and Mac?
No — F4 on Windows, Cmd+T on a Mac.
Q. How many keys is that?
1 pressed together. The combination sits under Formulas in Excel.