How-to · Google Sheets for Mac
How to show keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets on Mac: step by step, with fixes
To show keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets on Mac, press ⌘ / while your spreadsheet is open. That opens a list of common shortcuts, and the full list sits under Help > Keyboard shortcuts.
Quick answer
- Press ⌘ / in Google Sheets on Mac to open the common keyboard shortcuts list.
- For the full list, open Help, then choose Keyboard shortcuts.
- Press Option + / for Tool finder, formerly Search the menus. Use Ctrl + Option + H to open the Help menu.
- Turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts if you come from another spreadsheet app.
- If ⌘ / does nothing, click a cell first, then press it again.
What you need
- A Mac with Command, Option, and Control keys
- Google Sheets open in a browser
- Access to the spreadsheet you want to work in
How to Show keyboard shortcuts in Google Sheets on Mac in Google Sheets on a Mac
Open the sheet in your Mac browser
Open Google Sheets in your browser and open the spreadsheet you want to work in. Google Sheets runs in the browser. Google's Sheets product page does not list a Mac app, so these steps cover the browser version.
Tip: Open a sheet with some data in it, so you can test shortcuts on real cells.
Click a cell
Click any cell in the sheet. Shortcuts respond to the part of the page that has focus, so a cell selection puts focus in the right place.
Tip: If you were typing in a cell, press Return or Escape first.
Press Command and slash
⌘ /
Hold ⌘ and press /. The ⌘ key is Command. It sits next to the space bar on most Mac keyboards. Google's help page lists ⌘ + / as the Mac shortcut for the list of common keyboard shortcuts.
Tip: On a US keyboard, the slash key sits to the left of the right Shift key.
Read the common shortcuts list
The list of common keyboard shortcuts opens. Find the action you want and note its shortcut. Close the list when you have it and return to your cells.
Tip: The list shows common shortcuts only. Use the Help menu for the full set.
Open the Help menu
⌃⌥ H
Press Control, Option, and H together to open the Help menu. Google's help page lists Ctrl + Option + H as the Mac shortcut for the Help menu. Use the Control key, not Command.
Tip: Use the Control key labeled ⌃, not the Command key.
Choose Keyboard shortcuts
In the Help menu, select Keyboard shortcuts. This opens the window with the full list. Google's help uses the same path to reach the compatible shortcuts setting at the bottom of the window.
Tip: Scroll to the bottom of the window to find the compatible shortcuts setting.
Turn on compatible spreadsheet shortcuts
If you use shortcuts from Excel or another spreadsheet app, turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts at the bottom of the Keyboard shortcuts window. Google's help describes this under Use other spreadsheet shortcuts.
Tip: Google's steps do not list every shortcut that changes, so test the ones you use.
Open Tool finder for a command
⌥ /
Press Option and slash to open Tool finder. Google's help lists it as Tool finder, formerly Search the menus. Type a word such as freeze, then choose the result from the list.
Tip: On Windows and Chrome OS, the same feature uses Alt + /.
Test one shortcut on real cells
Pick a shortcut from the list that you use, then try it on a cell or a range of cells. Check that the action happens as you expect. Repeat for the next shortcut you use.
Tip: Practice on a copy of a real sheet if the data matters.
Use ⌘ / for the quick shortcut list
Google Sheets has a shortcut list built in, so you do not need to search for one. Press ⌘ / while a sheet is open, and the list of common keyboard shortcuts appears. Google's help page for Sheets gives ⌘ + / as the Mac key combination, while Windows and Chrome OS use Ctrl + /.
The quick list is a short reference, not the full set. When the shortcut you want is missing, that does not mean Sheets lacks it. Open the full list from the Help menu instead.
Keep the quick list for the shortcuts you use every day, such as moving between cells or copying a value. Use the Help path for everything else. Both paths start from the sheet you already have open, so you never have to leave your work to find a key.
Open the full list from the Help menu
The full list sits under Help. Google's help page for Sheets says to open the Help menu, then select Keyboard shortcuts. The Mac shortcut for the Help menu is Ctrl + Option + H. Ctrl means the Control key, labeled ⌃ on a Mac keyboard, not the Command key. Mixing those two up is an easy slip, so say the key names out loud as you press them.
| Shortcut on Mac | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘ / | Shows the list of common keyboard shortcuts | You want a quick reminder of shortcuts you use often |
| ⌥ / | Opens Tool finder, formerly Search the menus | You know the goal but not where the command lives |
| ⌃ ⌥ H | Opens the Help menu | You want Help > Keyboard shortcuts for the full list |
Those three keys cover the basics of finding shortcuts. Learn them first. The quick list reminds you of shortcuts you already know. Tool finder finds a command by name. The Help menu opens the full list when you need the complete set.
Read the list without losing your place
Open the list, find the action, and read the shortcut next to it. Close the list and go back to your cells. Reopening the list every time adds one extra keypress, so commit the shortcut to memory once you know it.
If you use a shortcut often, write it on a sticky note or in a notes app beside your keyboard. A short personal list is easier to scan than a long reference page. Add to it slowly, one shortcut at a time, and remove the ones you never use.
Turn on compatible spreadsheet shortcuts
If you come from Excel or another spreadsheet app, your fingers may reach for keys that Sheets does not use. Google has a setting for that. Open Help > Keyboard shortcuts, then turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts at the bottom of the window.
Google's help describes this under Use other spreadsheet shortcuts. Google's steps do not say which shortcuts change, so test the ones you rely on before you trust them. Test them on a copy first if the file matters.
Find a command when you forget its shortcut
Tool finder is the fastest route to a command when you forget its shortcut. Press Option + /. Type what you want, such as freeze, and pick the result from the list. Then note where that command lives for next time.
Google calls the feature Tool finder. Older guides call it Search the menus, which was its earlier name. Windows and Chrome OS use Alt + / for the same job. On a Mac, use the Option key, which sits next to Command on most keyboards.
When ⌘ / does nothing on your Mac
Most failures come from focus. The shortcut goes to whichever part of the page has focus. If a text box holds the cursor, or a menu is open, the list may not open. Click a cell in the sheet, then press ⌘ / again.
If that fails, look outside the sheet. Some third-party guides blame browser extensions and clipboard tools for shortcut conflicts. Google's help does not confirm that, so treat it as a suspect to test, not as a fact. A private browser window usually runs with extensions off. If the shortcut works there, turn extensions off one at a time until you find the one that interferes.
Mac key names, languages, and keyboard layouts
Read the Mac column, not the Windows column. Command is ⌘, Option is ⌥, Control is ⌃, and Shift is ⇧. Google's help page lists Mac and Windows keys side by side, so it is easy to copy the wrong one. For Tool finder, Mac uses Option and Windows uses Alt.
Google also says some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards. If you type in another language, or use an unusual keyboard layout, expect some keys to behave differently. Use the menu when a shortcut fails. The menu is your fallback.
Is there a Google Sheets version for Mac?
People often look for a version number to match these steps. Google Sheets has no version number you can check on a Mac. It is a web app that runs in your browser, so the steps depend on the Sheets page you load. Google's Sheets product page does not mention a Mac app, a desktop app, or keyboard shortcuts.
Google's shortcut help page shows no last-updated date either. If a menu name or key on your screen does not match this guide, trust your screen first. Then check Google's help page, because Google can rename or move menu items, as it did with Tool finder.
Common mistakes that waste time
- Pressing ⌘ / while a cell is still in edit mode. Press Return or Escape to leave the cell, then try again.
- Pressing Ctrl + / on a Mac. Google lists ⌘ + / for Mac and Ctrl + / for Windows and Chrome OS.
- Expecting the quick list to show every action. Open the full list from the Help menu when the quick list falls short.
- Turning on compatible spreadsheet shortcuts and assuming every Excel habit now works. Test the ones you use.
- Following an old guide that says Search the menus. Google now calls it Tool finder, and the Mac shortcut is Option + /.
A simple routine for the shortcuts you use
Open the ⌘ / list once, and pick the actions you repeat most. Write those down. Then use each shortcut on real work, not a practice file, so it stays with you. Real work gives you a reason to remember it.
Start with actions you repeat most. Finding text, switching sheet tabs, and freezing rows are common ones. Each has a guide on this site: find and replace in Google Sheets on Mac, switching between sheet tabs, and freezing the top row.
Where to go next
If your work is mostly data, read Google Sheets for data analysts on Mac. It covers cleaning data and building pivots on a Mac, and it names the shortcuts that matter most for that work.
Google Sheets shortcuts for this on Mac
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Show common keyboard shortcuts | ⌘ / |
| Tool finder, formerly Search the menus | ⌥ / |
| Open the Help menu | ⌃⌥ H |
If it does not work
- ⌘ / does nothing
- Click a cell in the sheet first, so the page has focus. Then press ⌘ / again. Close any open text box or menu before you try.
- The shortcut works on Windows but not on Mac
- Check the key. Use ⌘ for Command on Mac, where Google lists Ctrl on Windows and Chrome OS. For Tool finder, use Option + / on Mac and Alt + / on Windows.
- Some shortcuts fail on your keyboard or language
- Google says some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards. Use the Help menu or Tool finder to reach the same command.
- A shortcut from Excel does not work in Sheets
- Open Help > Keyboard shortcuts. Turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts at the bottom of the window, then test the shortcut again.
- Still no response after the steps above
- Open the sheet in a private browser window to test. Some third-party guides also suggest turning off browser extensions and clipboard tools. Google does not confirm either cause, so test one at a time.
Faster with Lazur
Do it faster: ask Lazur while you are in Google Sheets
Hold ⌥ ⌘ and say what you want. Lazur sees your Google Sheets window. Lazur draws a circle and a label around the button or menu you need.
- 1
Hold ⌥⌘ and talk
- 2
Lazur draws a circle and a label around the button or menu you need.
- 3
You stay in Google Sheets. Nothing to copy into a chat window.
Free for 3 days, then $18/month. Download for Mac
You say“Hold Option and Command, then ask where Keyboard shortcuts is in the Help menu.”
Lazur · points at itLazur circles Keyboard shortcuts in the Help menu and labels it on screen. You still click it yourself.
Questions people ask
What is the keyboard shortcut to show shortcuts in Google Sheets on Mac?
Press ⌘ /. Google's help page gives this key combination for Mac. It opens a list of common keyboard shortcuts. Click a cell first if nothing happens.
How do I see every keyboard shortcut in Google Sheets?
Open Help > Keyboard shortcuts. The window holds the full list, and the setting for other spreadsheet shortcuts is at the bottom of it. The ⌘ / list shows only common shortcuts.
What is Tool finder in Google Sheets?
Tool finder is a search for commands. On a Mac, press Option + /. Google renamed it from Search the menus, so older guides may use the old name.
Why do my Google Sheets shortcuts not work on Mac?
The most likely cause is focus. Click a cell and try again. Google also says some shortcuts might not work for all languages or keyboards, so use the menu as a fallback.
What does Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts do?
It lets shortcuts from other spreadsheet apps work in Google Sheets. Find it under Help > Keyboard shortcuts, at the bottom of the window. Google's steps do not list which shortcuts change.
Is there a Google Sheets app for Mac?
Google's Sheets product page does not mention a Mac app or a desktop app. You use Sheets in a browser on your Mac, and these steps cover that version.
Is Ctrl + Option + H the same as Command + H?
No. Ctrl + Option + H uses the Control and Option keys, not Command. Google's help lists it as the Mac shortcut for opening the Help menu.
Do Google Sheets shortcuts match Excel on Mac?
Not always. Turn on Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts under Help > Keyboard shortcuts to get closer. Google does not say which shortcuts match, so test the ones you use.
Sources
- Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets, Computer, Google Docs Editors Help · Google · checked 2026-11-07
- Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets, Computer, with Help menu section · Google · checked 2026-11-07
- Google Sheets, Google Workspace · Google · checked 2026-11-07
- Google Sheets Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Users · Hongkiat · checked 2026-11-07
Try Lazur free for 3 days
Hold a key and ask. Lazur sees your screen, points at the button and talks you through it, in any Mac app. No credit card.