Top Excel Tips and Tricks (HACKS) to Make You a PRO (Free PDF)

Last Updated: February 28, 2024
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- Written by Puneet

One of the FASTEST ways to Learn Excel is to learn some of the Excel TIPS and TRICKS, period and if you learn a single Excel tip a day you can learn 30 new things in a month.

But you must have a list that you can refer to every day instead of searching here and there. Well, I’m super PROUD to say that this is the most comprehensive list with all the basic and advanced tips that you can find on the INTERNET.

In this LIST, I have covered 300+ Excel TIPS and TRICKS which you can learn to Level Up your Excel Skills.

(Excel Tip-1) Add Serial Numbers

If you work with large data, then it’s better to add a serial number column to it. For me, the best way to do this is to apply the table (Control + T) to the data and then add 1 in the above serial number, just like below.

excel tips tricks to add serial numbers

To do this, you simply need to add 1 to the first cell of the column and then create a formula to add 1 to the above cell’s value.

As you are using a table, whenever you create a new entry in the table, Excel will automatically drop down the formula and you will get the serial number.

(Excel Tip-2) Insert Current Date and Time

The best way to insert the current date and time is to use the NOW function which takes the date and time from the system and returns it.

excel tips tricks insert current date time

The only problem with this function is it’s volatile, and whenever you recalculate something, it updates its value. And if you don’t want to do this, the best way is to convert it to hard value. You can also use the below VBA code.

Sub timestamp()
Dim ts As Date
With Selection
.Value = Now
.NumberFormat = "m/d/yyyy h:mm:ss AM/PM"
End With
End Sub

Or these methods to insert a timestamp in a cell.

(Excel Tip-3) Select Non-Continues Cells

Normally we all do it this way, hold the control key, and select cells one by one. But I have found that there is a far better way for this. All you have to do is, select the first cell and then press SHIFT + F8.

excel tips tricks select non adjacent cells without holding ctrl key

This gives you add or remove selection mode in which you can select cells just by selecting them.

(Excel Tip-4) Sort Buttons

If you deal with data that needs to sort frequently then it’s better to add a button to the quick access toolbar (if it’s not there already).

excel tips tricks sort buttons qat

All you need to do is click on the down arrow on the quick access toolbar and then select “Sort Ascending” and “Sort Descending”. It adds both buttons to the QAT.

(Excel Tip-5) Move Data

I’m sure you think about copy-paste but you can also use drag-drop for this.

excel tips tricks move data with drag and drop

Simply select the range where you have data and then click on the border of the selection. By holding it move to the place where you need to put it.

(Excel Tip-6) Status Bar

The status bar is always there but we hardly use it to the full. If you right-click on it, you can see there are a lot of options you can add.

excel tips tricks status bar

(Excel Tip-7) Clipboard

There is a problem with normal copy-paste that you can only use a single value at a time.

But here is the kicker: When you copy a value, it goes to the clipboard and if you open the clipboard you can paste all the values which you have copied. To open a clipboard, click on the go to Home Tab ➜ Editing and then click on the down arrow.

excel tips tricks click board open from home tab

It will open the clipboard on the left side, and you can paste values from there.

excel tips tricks clipboard copy paste

(Excel Tip-8) Bullet Points

The easiest way to insert bullet points in Excel is by using custom formatting and here are the steps for this:

  1. Press Ctrl + 1 and you will get the “Format Cell” dialogue box.
  2. Under the number tab, select custom.
  3. In the input bar, enter the following formatting.
    1. ● General;● General;● General;● General
  4. In the end, click OK.
excel tips tricks custom formatting for bullet points

Now, whenever you enter a value in the cell Excel will add a bullet before that.

excel tips tricks insert bullet points

(Excel Tip-9) Worksheet Copy

To create a copy of a worksheet in the same workbook drag and drop in the best way.

excel tips tricks create worksheet copy

You just need to click and hold the mouse on the sheet’s name tab and then drag and drop it, to the left or right, where you want to create a copy.

(Excel Tip-10) Undo-Redo

Just like sort buttons you can also add undo and redo buttons to the QAT. The best part about those buttons is you can use them to undo a particular activity without pressing the shortcut key again and again.

excel tips tricks undo redo buttons

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