Naimul Hasan Arif
If we can drag cells from the datasheet easily, it will save our time and lessen our workloads. Here, we are gonna learn how to Drag Cells in Excel Using Keyboard.
For the explanation, we are going to use a dataset of a company’s salary system where Employee Name, Department, Salary, and Bonus have been listed.
How to Drag Cells in Excel Using Keyboard: 5 Smooth Approaches
1. Using CTRL + C Keys to Drag Cells in Excel
The use of a keyboard instead of the mouse to give any command makes it both easy and time saving. Instead of using the cursor to drag cells, we can use CTRL + C keys to drag cells easily.
Steps :
- First, we have to select the cells that we want to drag. Here, I selected C8:E8 cells to drag.
- Press CTRL + C Â to copy the cells.
- Then, press the SHIFT + Arrow key to select the desired area where we want to drag. Here, I used SHIFT + Down Arrow keys to select the area till C13:E13.
- Press CTRL + VÂ to drag cells.
We can achieve the desired results in the above picture.
Read More: Excel Fill Down to Next Value
2. Applying CTRL + D to Drag Cells in Excel
The use of the CTRL + D command is another easy way to drag cells down.
Steps :
- We have to select the cells that we want to drag.
Here, I selected C8:E8 to drag.
- Select the area where we want to drag. Here, I selected till C11:E11 using SHIFT + Down Arrow keys.
- Press CTRL + D Â and we will have the results we were looking for.
Read More: How to Fill Formula Down to Specific Row in Excel
3. Employing CTRL + R to Drag Cells in Excel
In order to drag cells right, we can employ the CTRL + R command to drag cells.
Steps :
- Select the cells of your choice. Here, I selected the cells D5:D8 to drag.
- Select the area till we want to drag. Here, I decided to drag till to E8 cell.
- Press CTRL + R.
Then, the cells are dragged to right.
Similar Readings
- How to Drag Formula in Excel with Keyboard
- How to Drag Formula and Ignore Hidden Cells in Excel
- How to Drag Formula Horizontally with Vertical Reference in Excel
4. Using ALT + H + F + I + S Keys at Once to Drag Cells
There are two ways to drag cells using ALT + H + F + I + S keys. I’m going to explain one by one.
4.1. Pressing SHIFT + TAB Keys to Drag Cells
Pressing SHIFT + TAB keys after pressing ALT + H + F + I + S keys is another excellent way to drag cells.
Steps :
- Select the areas where we want to drag. Here, I selected areas C8: E12.
- Press ALT + H + F + I + S keys simultaneously. A dialog box named Series will appear.
- Press SHIFT + TAB + Down Arrow + Down Arrow + Down Arrow . It will select the type AutoFill.
- Press ENTER and we will see the result on the screen.
4.2. Applying ALT + F Keys to Drag Cells
Pressing ALT + F keys after pressing ALT + H + F + I + S keys are also used to drag cells. Let me explain the procedure to you.
Steps :
- Select the cells to drag. Here, I selected cells C8: E13.
- Press ALT + H + F + I + S keys. A dialog box named Series will appear.
- Press ALT + F .
AutoFill will be selected.
- Press ENTER and see the cells being dragged.
Read More: How to Use Fill Handle to Copy Formula in Excel
5. Utilizing the F2 Key to Drag Cell
If you want you can also drag cells utilizing the F2 key. Let’s jump to the procedure.
Steps :
- Select the cell which needs to be dragged. Here, we want to drag cell C8.
- Select till the cells where the value needs to be dragged. Here, I selected till C13 cell.
- Press F2Â and we will have the chance to Edit.
- Now, press CTRL + ENTER, and the cell will be dragged.
Practice Section
For more expertise, you can practice here.
Download Practice Workbook
Conclusion
In this article, I have tried to show some smooth ways of how to drag cells in Excel using keyboard. I hope it will be helpful for Excel users. For any further pieces of information, comment below.
