In this post, you will get all the shortcuts of Microsoft access, As with the other applications in the Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Access is packed with keyboard shortcuts designed to boost productivity. Here, you’ll find the ultimate list of Microsoft Access keyboard shortcuts you’ll ever need.
Microsoft Access Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
Shortcut | Action |
---|---|
Workspace Navigation | |
Alt | Display KeyTips |
Ctrl + N | Open a new database |
Ctrl + O | Open a previously created database |
Ctrl + S or Shift + F12 | Save the database |
Alt + F + A or F12 | Save the database as other file types |
Ctrl + P | Print the current/selected object/database |
Esc | Exit Print Preview/Navigation Mode |
Alt + F | Open the File tab |
Alt + H | Open the Home tab |
Alt + C | Open the Create tab |
Alt + X | Open the External Data tab |
Alt + Y + 1 | Open the Database Tools tab |
Alt + Y + 2 | Open the Help tab |
Alt + Q | Open the “Tell me what to do” search field |
Alt + J + T | Open the Table tab |
Alt + J + B | Open the Table Field tab |
Alt + X + 2 | Open the Add-ins tab (if applicable) |
Alt + Space | Open the Access icon menu/control menu |
F11 | Hide or show the Navigation Pane |
F1 | Open the Help window |
F6 | Change the window’s current focus to a different pane |
F7 | Open the Spelling dialog box |
F9 | Refresh the combo box’s drop-down list |
Tab | Move to the next field |
Shift + Tab | Move to the previous field |
Home | Move to start of the current field |
End | Move to the end of the current field |
Ctrl + F | Go to the Navigation Pane search box while in the Navigation Pane |
Ctrl + F | Open the Find and Replace dialog in the Find tab |
Ctrl + H | Open the Find and Replace dialog in the Replace tab |
Ctrl + F6 | Switch to the next database window |
Ctrl + Shift + F6 | Switch to the previous database window |
Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4 | Close the current database window |
Enter | Open a minimized window when selected in the Navigation Pane |
Alt + F11 | Switch between the current Access window and Visual Basic Editor |
Ctrl + G | Open the Immediate panel in the Visual Basic Editor |
Alt + F4 | Close Access |
Shift + F2 | Open the current field in a new dialog box |
Shift + F10 | Refresh the current table or query |
Shift + F10 | Open the shortcut/dropdown menu for the selected item |
Ctrl + Home | Move to the top of the selected gallery list |
Ctrl + End | Move to the bottom of the selected gallery list |
Ctrl + Tab | Open the next tab |
Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Open the previous tab |
Ctrl + Enter | Open the selected item (form, macro, module, query, report, table) in Design View |
Shift + Right arrow | Shift the selection by to the right |
Shift + Left arrow | Shift the selection by to the left |
Ctrl + Comma (,) or Ctrl + Period (.) | Switch between views in when in a form, query, report, or table |
Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item to the clipboard |
Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item and copy to the clipboard |
Ctrl + V | Paste the clipboard contents |
Ctrl + A | Select all |
Ctrl + Z | Undo previous action or selection |
Shift + Space | Switch between current record and the current record’s first field while in Navigation Mode |
F2 | Switch between Navigation and Edit mode (Datasheet/Design/Layout view) |
F4 | Open and close the Property Sheet (Datasheet/Design view) |
Shift + F4 | Do the last Find action again (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Semicolon ( | Add the current date to the current field (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Shift + Colon ( | Add the current time to the current field (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Alt + Space | Add the default value of the field to the current field (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Apostrophe (') | Add the value of the previous field to the current field (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Plus (+) | Insert a new record (Datasheet/Form View) |
Ctrl + Minus (-) | Delete the current record (Datasheet/Form View) |
Alt + F8 | Open and close the Field List pane (Design/Layout View) |
Text Box Commands | |
Ctrl + Right arrow | Move one word to the right |
Ctrl + Left arrow | Move one word to the left |
Shift + Home | Select from the cursor to the start of the text |
Shift + End | Select from the cursor to the end of the text |
Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow | Shift the selection by one word to the right |
Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow | Shift the selection by one word to the left |
Datasheet View Commands | |
F8 | Enable Extend mode |
Shift + F8 | Undo previous extension |
Ctrl + Space | Select or cancel the current column |
Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow | Collapse the subdatasheet |
Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow | Move the datasheet to the subdatasheet |
Esc | Exit Extend Mode |
Shift + Enter | Save the current record |
Design View Commands | |
F5 | Switch from the active form to Form View |
F7 | Open the Choose Builder dialog box |
Shift + F7 | Switch from Visual Basic Editor to form or report |
Alt + V + P | Open the Property Sheet for the selected field |
Improve Your Microsoft Access Proficiency
Working with data means your hands are almost always attached to the keyboard. That’s why it’s a good idea to learn the most frequently used Microsoft Access keyboard shortcuts to help you work faster.
Once you’ve mastered the shortcuts, you can then explore more learning resources to upskill in Access and take your data management to the next level.
Happy learning!