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Excel - F2 Keyboard Shortcut on a Mac

Anonymous
2016-10-23T02:46:08+00:00

I know in windows when you are working in excel you can press the F2 key on the keyboard and your able to edit the cell without having to retype everything. Is there a way to do the same F2 operation on  a mac.

I apologize if this question has been asked already and if you can send me a link to the solution.

Thanks

Josh

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2016-10-24T11:29:57+00:00

    Well, Control+U is the exact equivalent of F2 so I don't understand the reference to "mouse usage". The mouse method would be double-clicking the cell.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-10-23T03:23:16+00:00

    Is your Mac a Laptop?

     If so, the either use fn+F2, or 

    1. Click On  menu → System Preferences → Keyboard
    2. Click checkbox next to Use "F1,F2, etc, as standard functions keys."

    This reverses the normal System operation which go to certain system adjustments.

    Now try F2  and see whether it works as desired. 

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-24T15:25:03+00:00

    I just try to limit using the mouse if can and do as much as I can with the keyboard.  

    🙂

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  3. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2016-10-23T14:52:25+00:00

    The F2 key is not used for that purpose in your version of the program. The key is assigned to the Cut command. Although the F2 key can be reassigned, that operation is not available for assignment. You'll have to use the stroke that has been the standard in Mac Excel since day 1: Control+U.

    I doubt that there will be a modification in Excel 2011, but FWIW [EDIT: in Excel 2016] F2 has been remapped to edit in cell & the original Control+U has been retained as well.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-10-23T19:11:14+00:00

    Thanks Philip & Bob for your responses.

    Philip - I'll give it a try. 

    Bob - I'll try using the CRTL + U for editing the cells. I'm just a huge keyboard shortcut person who tries to limit the mouse usage. 

    thank you both...!

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