Normally...
...when you need to select multiple cells which are not continuing...
...you press and hold the control key...
...and then select each cell with the mouse.
Right?
That’s the simple method.
But I can bet that you have never heard about selecting non-continues cells without using a mouse.
The reason for this is no one ever found this method.
Luckily me.
But here’s the kicker:
There’s also a way which you can use to select non-continues cells [non-adjacent] without using control key.
But in today’s post, I’m going to show you exactly two different ways to select all the non-adjacent cells.
Without Using Ctrl Key
Just follow these simple steps to do it.
- Select the cell from where you want to start your selection.
- Press Shift + F8 for once.
- You get a message “Add To Selection” on your status bar – bottom of your Excel window.
- Now, you can select your cells just by clicking on them.
- So, you can do anything with your selection (formatting, deleting, etc.).
- Just press ESC to release your selection.
Without Using Mouse
To select non-continues cells without using your keyboard follow these simple steps.
- Press shift + F8 to activate “Add To Selection” Mode.
- Navigate to the range you want to include in your selection, Press Shift + F8 again.
- And, so-on.
Note: While trying to select non-adjacent range without the keyboard. When you try to add single cells in your selection, this method will not work.
Conclusion
So, here is the story about this quick and smart way to select non-adjacent cells in Excel. What do you think which method is better to use? First or second. Or, you still want to use the Ctrl key to select non-adjacent cells in Excel.
About the Author
Puneet is using Excel since his college days. He helped thousands of people to understand the power of the spreadsheets and learn Microsoft Excel. You can find him online, tweeting about Excel, on a running track, or sometimes hiking up a mountain.
Do you know which keys to press on a Mac? I have Excel for Windows installed on my Mac using Parallels Desktop, but I am using a Mac keyboard. Thanks!
This is great. I’ll never use Ctrl ever again for selecting non-adjacent cells
This is a neat trick that I have not seen before in over 20 years of Excel use. However, you say that your second method “Without Using Mouse” doesn’t work for single cells. It does. The trick is to realise that each press of Shift-F8 toggles you in and out of “Add To Selection” Mode so, for each cell you want to select after the first, press Shift-F8 twice. The first press takes you out of Selection Mode with the present selection and the second one puts you back into it allowing you to move using the keyboard again. Thank you for publishing this though!
thank you for this trick 🙂
but is there any way to cut and delete those non-contiguous cells ?
I dunno
Please do not give so much importance to yourself and claim that all of this has been introduced by you.
BTW good work!
Excellent tricks & useful for office use
,عارف وحید کشمیری Thanks
Hey what a wonderful tip that I have never come across! Great stuff 🙂
John Michaloudis
Hey John, Welcome to Excelchamps.
When a master praise you, its an inspiration.
Thanks for your words.
Love
PG