Press Ctrl + P. Excel opens File → Print, with the preview of your printed pages on the right, next to the print settings. Ctrl + F2 opens the same screen. Press Esc to go back to the sheet.
With the ribbon key tips, press Alt, F, P one key after another: Alt turns on the key tips, F opens the File tab and P opens Print. On a Mac, use Cmd + P.
Use the page arrows under the preview to move between pages, and the Show Margins and Zoom to Page buttons in its bottom-right corner to check margins and detail. Any change you make under Settings updates the preview straight away.
To see where pages break while you keep editing, switch to View → Page Break Preview or View → Page Layout instead. Both views stay on while you work.
If the preview spreads your data over extra pages with a column or two on each, change No Scaling under Settings to Fit All Columns on One Page. If it shows only part of your data, a print area is set; clear it with Page Layout → Print Area → Clear Print Area.
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To get the print preview, you can use the keyboard shortcut Control + P. When you press this keyboard shortcut (this is the same shortcut that we use to print), it shows you the Print section of the File tab, and on the right side, you can see the print preview.
Ctrl+ P
There’s one more keyboard shortcut that you can use for the print preview in Excel, and that’s Alt → F → P (press the keys one after another). This shortcut opens the File tab and then the Print option to show you the print preview section.
You can also use Ctrl + F2, which opens the same print preview, and on a Mac, use Command + P.
Move Around in the Print Preview
- Next and previous page: use the arrows below the preview, or press Page Down and Page Up after clicking the preview.
- Zoom: click the Zoom to Page button at the bottom right of the preview to zoom in and out.
- Margins: click the Show Margins button next to it to see the margins and drag them to change them.
- Close the preview: press Esc to go back to the worksheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the print preview without opening the Print page?
Yes. Use the Page Layout view (View ➜ Page Layout) to see the pages with their margins, headers and footers while you keep editing the sheet.
Why is my print preview blank?
Usually because a print area is set on empty cells, or the selected print option is Print Selection with an empty selection. Clear the print area (Page Layout ➜ Print Area ➜ Clear Print Area) and check the first option under Settings.
Can I add print preview to the Quick Access Toolbar?
Yes. Click the Customize Quick Access Toolbar arrow and select Print Preview and Print. Then you can open it with one click or with its Alt key number.