Excel shortcut keys allow you to perform certain tasks using only the keyboard, the idea being that you increase your efficiency when you limit the number of instances your hands have to move back and forth from the keyboard to the mouse. Getting in the habit of using these shortcut keys can help you work more efficiently when using the Visual Basic Editor.
Standard visual basic editor shortcut keys
| What to Press on Your Keyboard | What It Does |
| Alt + F11 | Toggles between the VBE and Excel windows |
| Shift + F10 | Displays the active window’s shortcut menu |
| Ctrl + R | Opens the Project Explorer |
| F4 | Opens the Properties window |
| F2 | Opens the Object Browser |
| F1 | Opens VBA Help |
| F7 | Activates the open module window |
Shortcut keys for working in the VBE code window
| What to Press on Your Keyboard | What It Does |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Selects the next procedure |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Selects the previous procedure |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Shifts one screen down |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Shifts one screen up |
| Shift + F2 | Goes to the selected function or variable |
| Ctrl + Shift + F2 | Goes to the last position |
| Ctrl + Home | Goes to the beginning of module |
| Ctrl + End | Goes to the end of module |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Moves one word to the right |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Moves one word to the left |
| End | Moves to the end of the line |
| Home | Moves to the beginning of the line |
| Tab | Indents the current line |
| Shift + Tab | Removes the indent for the current line |
| Ctrl + J | Lists the properties and methods for the selected object |
Shortcut keys for debugging code
| What to Press on Your Keyboard | What It Does |
| F5 | Runs the current procedure or continues after pausing |
| Ctrl + Break | Halts the currently running procedure |
| F8 | Goes into debug mode and executes one line at a time |
| Ctrl + F8 | Executes code up until the cursor |
| Shift + F8 | Steps over the current line while in debug mode |
| F9 | Toggles a breakpoint for the currently selected line |
| Ctrl + Shift + F9 | Clears all breakpoints |
| Alt + D + L | Compiles the current Visual Basic project |
Shortcut keys for navigating the VBE project window
| What to Press on Your Keyboard | What It Does |
| Up arrow | Moves up the project list one item at a time |
| Down arrow | Moves down the project list one item at a time |
| Home | Moves to the first file in the project list |
| End | Moves to the last file in the project list |
| Right arrow | Expands the selected folder |
| Left arrow | Collapses the selected folder |
| F7 + Shift + Enter | Opens the code window for the selected file |
