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Keyboard shortcuts for Access

Many users find that using an external keyboard with keyboard shortcuts for Access desktop databases on Windows helps them work more efficiently. For users with mobility or vision disabilities, keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are an essential alternative to using a mouse. 

Notes: 

  • The shortcuts in this topic refer to the US keyboard layout. Keys for other layouts might not correspond exactly to the keys on a US keyboard.

  • A plus sign (+) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys at the same time.

  • A comma sign (,) in a shortcut means that you need to press multiple keys in order.

  • This topic assumes that JAWS users have the Virtual Ribbon Menu feature turned off.

In this topic

Frequently used shortcuts

This table itemizes the most frequently used shortcuts in Access desktop databases.

To do this

Press

Select the active tab of the ribbon and activate KeyTips.

Alt or F10
(To move to a different ribbon tab, use KeyTips or the arrow keys.)

Go to the Home tab.

Alt+H

Go to the Tell me box on the ribbon.

Alt+Q, and then enter the search term

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key

Move the focus to a different pane of the window.

F6

Open an existing database.

Ctrl+O or Ctrl+F12

Show or hide the Navigation Pane.

F11

Show or hide a property sheet.

F4

Switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode in the Datasheet View or Design View.

F2

Switch to the Form View from the form in the Design View.

F5

Move to the next or previous field in the Datasheet View.

Tab key or Shift+Tab

Go to a specific record in the Datasheet View.

Alt+F5, then, in the record number box, type the record number and press Enter

Open the Print dialog box (for datasheets, forms, and reports).

Ctrl+P

Open the Page Setup dialog box (for forms and reports).

S

Open the Find tab in the Find and Replace dialog box in the Datasheet View or Form View.

Ctrl+F

Open the Help window.

F1

Exit Access.

Alt+F4

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Navigate the ribbon with only the keyboard

The ribbon is the banner at the top of Access, organized into tabs. When selected, each ribbon tab displays a different ribbon, which is made up of groups, and each group includes one or more commands.

You can navigate the ribbon with just the keyboard. KeyTips are special key combinations you can use to quickly get to a command on the ribbon by pressing a few keys, regardless of where you are in Access. Every command in Access can be given by using a KeyTip.

Note: Add-ins and other programs might add new tabs to the ribbon and might provide KeyTips for those tabs.

There are two ways to navigate the tabs in the ribbon:

  • To get to the ribbon, press Alt, and then, to move between the tabs, use the Right and Left arrow keys.

  • To go directly to a tab on the ribbon, press one of the following KeyTips:

To do this

Press

Go to the File menu.

Alt+F

Go to the Home tab.

Alt+H

Go to the Create tab.

Alt+C

Go to the External Data tab.

Alt+X or Alt+X, 1

Go to the Database Tools tab.

Alt+Y, 2

Go to the Table tab.

Alt+J, T

Go to the Add-ins tab, if present.

Alt+X, 2

Go to the Tell me box on the ribbon.

Alt+Q

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Use the keyboard to work with ribbon tabs

  • To move to the ribbon tabs, press Alt. To go directly to a tab, press its KeyTip.

  • To move in the group that’s currently selected, press the Down arrow key.

  • To move between groups on a ribbon, press Ctrl+Right or Left arrow key.

  • To move between commands within a group, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab.

  • You activate controls in different ways, depending on the type of the control:

    • If the selected control is a button, to activate it, press Spacebar or Enter.

    • If the selected control is a split button (that is, a button that opens a menu of additional options), to activate it, press Alt+Down arrow key. Press the Tab key to browse the options. To select the current option, press Spacebar or Enter.

    • If the selected control is a list (such as the Font list), to open the list, press the Down arrow key. Then, to move between items, press the Up or Down arrow key.

    • If the selected control is a gallery, to select the control, press Spacebar or Enter. Then, press the Tab key to browse the items.

Tip: In galleries with more than one row of items, the Tab key moves the focus from the beginning to the end of the current row. When you reach the end of a row, the focus moves to the beginning of the next row. Pressing the Right arrow key at the end of the current row moves the focus back to the beginning of the current row.

For more info on how to use your keyboard and KeyTips with the ribbon, refer to Use the keyboard to work with the ribbon

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Work with database files

Learn how to use your keyboard to open and save databases and print database information.

Open and save databases

To do this

Press

Open a new database.

Ctrl+N

Open an existing database.

Ctrl+O or Ctrl+F12

Open the selected folder or file.

Enter

Open the folder one level above the selected folder.

Backspace

Delete the selected folder or file.

Delete

Display a shortcut menu for a selected item such as a folder or file.

Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key

Move forward through options.

Tab key

Move backward through options.

Shift+Tab

Open the Look in list.

F4 or Alt+I

Save a database object.

Ctrl+S or Shift+F12

Open the Save As dialog box.

F12 or Alt+F, S

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Print database information

To do this

Press

Print the current or selected object.

Ctrl+P

From Print Preview, open the Print dialog box.

P or Ctrl+P

From Print Preview, open the Page Setup dialog box.

S

Cancel Print Preview or Layout Preview.

C or Esc

From the File menu, return to your database.

Esc

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Navigate in the Access workspace

Learn how to use keyboard shortcuts to move in the Access workspace. You'll also learn how to change how databases are shown in Access.

Switch from tabbed documents to windowed documents

By default, Access databases are shown as tabbed documents. If you want to work with documents in overlapping windows instead, you can change the document window options in the app options.

  1. To go to the File menu, select File or press Alt+F.

  2. Select Options. The Access Options dialog box opens.

  3. Select Current Database.

  4. Under Document Window Options, select Overlapping Windows, and then select OK.

  5. Close and reopen the current database for the option to take effect.

Move in the Access workspace

To do this

Press

Show or hide the Navigation Pane.

F11

Go to the Search box in the Navigation Pane when the focus is already on the Navigation Pane.

Ctrl+F

Switch to the next or previous pane in the workspace.

F6 or Shift+F6

You might need to press F6 more than once. If pressing F6 doesn't display the task pane you want, press Alt to move the focus to the ribbon, and then press Ctrl+Tab to move to the task pane.

Switch to the next or previous database window.

Ctrl+F6 or Ctrl+Shift+F6

Restore the selected minimized window when all windows are minimized.

Enter

Close the active database window.

Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4

Switch between the Visual Basic Editor and the previous active window.

Alt+F11

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Work with menus, dialog boxes, wizards, and property sheets

Learn how to use the keyboard shortcuts to navigate and use menus, dialog boxes, wizards, and property sheets. 

Use menus

To do this

Press

Show KeyTips.

Alt or F10

Show the program icon menu (on the program title bar), also known as the control menu.

Alt+Spacebar

With the menu or submenu visible, select the next or previous command.

Down or Up arrow key

Select the menu to the left or right or, when a submenu is visible, switch between the main menu and the submenu.

Left or Right arrow key

Select the first or last command on the menu or submenu.

Home or End

Open the selected menu, or perform the action assigned to the selected button.

Spacebar or Enter

Open a shortcut menu or open a dropdown menu for the selected gallery item.

Shift+F10 or the Windows Menu key

Scroll up or down in the selected gallery list.

Page up or Page down

Move to the top or bottom of the selected gallery list.

Ctrl+Home or Ctrl+End

Close the visible menu and submenu at the same time.

Alt

Close the visible menu or, with a submenu visible, close only the submenu.

Esc

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Use dialog boxes

To do this

Press

Switch to the next tab in a dialog box.

Ctrl+Tab

Switch to the previous tab in a dialog box.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

Move to the next or previous option or option group.

Tab key or Shift+Tab

Move between options in the selected dropdown list box or move between options in a group of options.

Arrow keys

Perform the action assigned to the selected button or select or clear the checkbox.

Spacebar

Open the list if it is closed and move to an option in the list.

First letter of an option in a dropdown list

Select the option, or select or clear the checkbox by the letter underlined in the option name.

Alt+letter key

Open the selected dropdown list box.

Alt+Down arrow key

Close the selected dropdown list box.

Esc

Perform the action assigned to the default button in the dialog box.

Enter

Cancel the command and close the dialog box.

Esc

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Use wizards

To do this

Press

Toggle the focus forward between controls in the wizard.

Tab key

Toggle the focus between sections (header, body, and footer) of the wizard.

F6

Complete the wizard.

Alt+F

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Use property sheets

These keyboard shortcuts apply to property sheets for tables, queries, forms, and reports in the Design View and forms and reports in the Layout View.

To do this

Press

Show or hide the property sheet.

F4

Move among choices in the control selection dropdown list one item at a time.

Down or Up arrow key

Move among choices in the control selection dropdown list one page at a time.

Page down or Page up

Move to the property sheet tabs from the control selection dropdown list.

Tab key

Move among the property sheet tabs with a tab selected, but no property selected.

Left or Right arrow key

With a property already selected, move down one property on a tab.

Tab key

With a property selected, move up one property on a tab, or if already at the top, move to the tab.

Shift+Tab

Toggle forward between tabs when a property is selected.

Ctrl+Tab

Toggle backward between tabs when a property is selected.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

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Work with text boxes, combo boxes, and list boxes

Use your keyboard to navigate and edit content in a text box, combo box, or list box.

Edit a text box

An edit box is a blank text box in which you type or paste an entry, such as your username or the path of a folder.

To do this

Press

Move to the beginning of the entry.

Home

Move to the end of the entry.

End

Move one character to the left or right.

Left or Right arrow key

Move one word to the left or right.

Ctrl+Left or Right arrow key

Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the text entry.

Shift+Home

Select from the insertion point to the end of the text entry.

Shift+End

Change the selection by one character to the left.

Shift+Left arrow key

Change the selection by one character to the right.

Shift+Right arrow key

Change the selection by one word to the left.

Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow key

Change the selection by one word to the right.

Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow key

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Use a combo or list box

A list box displays a range of unchangeable values or choices, which are automatically listed. A combo box also displays values or choices, but it does not display them until you select a dropdown arrow. With a combo box, you can sometimes enter a value that’s not on the list, as you can with a text box.

To do this

Press

Open a combo box.

F4 or Alt+Down arrow key

Refresh the contents of the Lookup field list box or a combo box.

F9

Move down one line.

Down arrow key

Move down one page.

Page down

Move up one line.

Up arrow key

Move up one page.

Page up

Exit the combo box or list box.

Tab key

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Work with objects

Use keyboard shortcuts to edit and move within the Objects list and to navigate and open objects.

Edit and navigate the Objects list

To do this

Press

Rename a selected object.

Note: You can only rename an object when it is closed.

F2

Move down one line.

Down arrow key

Move down one window.

Page down

Move to the last object.

End

Move up one line.

Up arrow key

Move up one window.

Page up

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Navigate and open objects

To do this

Press

Open the selected table or query in the Datasheet View.

Enter

Open the selected form or report.

Enter

Run the selected macro.

Enter

Open the selected table, query, form, report, macro, or module in the Design View.

Ctrl+Enter

Display the Immediate window in the Visual Basic Editor.

Ctrl+G

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Common shortcuts for the Design, Layout, and Datasheet views 

To do this

Press

Switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode in a datasheet.

F2

Exit Navigation mode and return to Edit mode in a form or report.

Esc

Switch to the property sheet (in the Design View and Layout View for forms and reports).

F4 or Alt+Enter

Switch to the Form View from the form in the Design view.

F5

Switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (in the Design View of queries, macros, and the Advanced Filter/Sort window).

F6

Cycle between the field grid, property sheet, field properties, the Navigation Pane, Quick Access Toolbar, and KeyTips on the ribbon (in the Design View for tables).

F6

Switch from the Visual Basic Editor back to the form or report in the Design View.

Alt+F11

Toggle forward between views when in a table, query, form, or report.

Note: If additional views are available, successive keystrokes move the focus to the next available view.

Ctrl+Right arrow key or Ctrl+Comma (,)

Toggle backward between views when in a table, query, form, or report.

Note: If additional views are available, successive keystrokes move the focus to the previous view.

Ctrl+Left arrow key or Ctrl+Period (.)

Note: This shortcut does not work under all conditions with all objects.

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Work in the Datasheet View

Use the Datasheet View when you work with tables and queries.

Navigate between fields and records

These keyboard shortcuts work in Navigation mode in the Datasheet View.

To do this

Press

Move to the next field.

Tab key or Right arrow key

Move to the last field in the current record.

End

Move to the previous field.

Shift+Tab or Left arrow key

Move to the first field in the current record.

Home

Move to the current field in the next record.

Down arrow key

Move to the current field in the last record.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Move to the last field in the last record.

Ctrl+End

Move to the current field in the previous record.

Up arrow key

Move to the current field in the first record.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move to the first field in the first record.

Ctrl+Home

Go to a specific record.

Alt+F5, then, in the record number box, type the record number and press Enter

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Navigate to another screen of data

To do this

Press

Move up one screen.

Page up

Move down one screen.

Page down

Move right one screen.

Ctrl+Page down

Move left one screen.

Ctrl+Page up

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Select and move a column

To do this

Press

Select the current column or cancel the column selection, in Navigation mode only.

Ctrl+Spacebar

Extend the selection one column to the right, if the current column is selected.

Shift+Right arrow key

Extend the selection one column to the left, if the current column is selected.

Shift+Left arrow key

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Work with subdatasheets

To do this

Press

Enter the subdatasheet from the last field of the previous record in the datasheet.

Tab key

Enter the subdatasheet from the first field of the following record in the datasheet.

Shift+Tab

Exit the subdatasheet and move to the first field of the next record in the datasheet.

Ctrl+Tab

Exit the subdatasheet and move to the last field of the previous record in the datasheet.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

From the last field in the subdatasheet, enter the next field in the datasheet.

Tab key

From the datasheet, bypass the subdatasheet and move to the next record in the datasheet.

Down arrow key

From the datasheet, bypass the subdatasheet and move to the previous record in the datasheet.

Up arrow key

Go to a specific record in a subdatasheet.

Note: This moves the focus from the subdatasheet to the record number box.

Alt+F5, then, in the record number box, type the record number and press Enter

Move from the datasheet to the record's subdatasheet.

Ctrl+Shift+Down arrow key

Collapse the subdatasheet.

Ctrl+Shift+Up arrow key

Note: To navigate between fields and records in a subdatasheet, use the same keyboard shortcuts you use in the Datasheet View.

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Work in the Design View

You work in the Design View when you design tables, queries, forms, reports, and macros.

Navigate in the Design View

To do this

Press

Switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode.

F2

Open or close the property sheet.

F4 or Alt+Enter

Switch to the Form View from a form in the Design View.

F5

Switch between the upper and lower portions of a window (in the Design View of queries, macros, and the Advanced Filter/Sort window).

Note: Use F6 if the Tab key does not take you to the section of the screen you want.

F6

Toggle forward between the design pane, properties, Navigation Pane, ribbon, and Zoom controls (in the Design View of tables, forms, and reports).

F6

Show or hide the Field List pane.

Alt+F8

When you have a code module open, switch from the Visual Basic Editor to the form or report in the Design View.

Shift+F7

Switch from a control's property sheet in a form or report in the Design View to the design surface without changing the control focus.

Shift+F7

Copy the selected control to the clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Cut the selected control and copy it to the clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Paste the contents of the clipboard in the upper-left corner of the selected section.

Ctrl+V

Move the selected control to the right by a pixel along the page's grid.

Right arrow key

Move the selected control to the left by a pixel along the page's grid.

Left arrow key

Move the selected control up by a pixel along the page's grid.

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this switches the position of the selected control with the control directly above it, unless it is already the uppermost control in the layout.

Up arrow key

Move the selected control down by a pixel along the page's grid.

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this switches the position of the selected control with the control directly below it, unless it is already the lowermost control in the layout.

Down arrow key

Move the selected control to the right by a pixel (irrespective of the page's grid).

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Move the selected control to the left by a pixel (irrespective of the page's grid).

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Move the selected control up by a pixel (irrespective of the page's grid).

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this switches the position of the selected control with the control directly above it, unless it is already the uppermost control in the layout.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move the selected control down by a pixel (irrespective of the page's grid).

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this switches the position of the selected control with the control directly below it, unless it is already the lowermost control in the layout.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Increase the width of the selected control to the right by a pixel.

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this increases the width of the whole layout.

Shift+Right arrow key

Decrease the width of the selected control to the left by a pixel.

Note: For controls in a stacked layout, this decreases the width of the whole layout.

Shift+Left arrow key

Decrease the height of the selected control from the bottom by a pixel.

Shift+Up arrow key

Increase the height of the selected control from the bottom by a pixel.

Shift+Down arrow key

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Edit using controls in the form and report in the Design View

To do this

Press

Copy the selected control to the clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Cut the selected control and copy it to the clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Paste the contents of the clipboard in the upper-left corner of the selected section.

Ctrl+V

Move the selected control to the right (except a control that is part of a layout).

Right arrow key or Ctrl+Right arrow key to move in smaller increments

Move the selected control to the left (except a control that is part of a layout).

Left arrow key or Ctrl+Left arrow key to move in smaller increments

Move the selected control up (except a control that is part of a layout).

Up arrow key or Ctrl+Up arrow key to move in smaller increments

Move the selected control down (except a control that is part of a layout).

Down arrow key or Ctrl+Down arrow key to move in smaller increments

Increase the height of the selected control.

Note: If used with a control that is in a layout, the entire row of the layout is resized.

Shift+Down arrow key

Increase the width of the selected control.

Note: If used with a control that is in a layout, the entire column of the layout is resized.

Shift+Right arrow key

Reduce the height of the selected control.

Note: If used with a control that is in a layout, the entire row of the layout is resized.

Shift+Up arrow key

Reduce the width of the selected control.

Note: If used with a control that is in a layout, the entire column of the layout is resized.

Shift+Left arrow key

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Navigate in the Form View

You work in the Form View when entering data in a form.

Navigate between fields and records

These keyboard shortcuts work in Navigation mode in the Form View.

To do this

Press

Move to the next field.

Tab key

Move to the previous field.

Shift+Tab

Move to the last control on the form and remain in the current record.

End

Move to the last control on the form and set focus in the last record.

Ctrl+End

Move to the first control on the form and remain in the current record.

Home

Move to the first control on the form and set focus in the first record.

Ctrl+Home

Move to the current field in the next record.

Ctrl+Page down

Move to the current field in the previous record.

Ctrl+Page up

Go to a specific record.

Alt+F5, then, in the record number box, type the record number and press Enter

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Navigate in forms with more than one page

To do this

Press

Move down one page, or at the end of the record, move to the equivalent page on the next record.

Page down

Move up one page, or at the end of the record, move to the equivalent page on the previous record.

Page up

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Navigate between a main form and a subform

To do this

Press

Enter the subform from the preceding field in the main form.

Tab key

Enter the subform from the following field in the main form.

Shift+Tab

Exit the subform and move to the next field in the master form or next record.

Ctrl+Tab

Exit the subform and move to the previous field in the main form or previous record.

Ctrl+Shift+Tab

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Navigate in the Print Preview and Layout Preview

To do this

Press

Open the Print dialog box (for datasheets, forms, and reports).

Ctrl+P

Open the Page Setup dialog box (for forms and reports).

S

Cancel Print Preview or Layout Preview.

C or Esc

Scroll down in small increments.

Down arrow key

Scroll down one full screen.

Page down

Move to the bottom of the page.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Scroll up in small increments.

Up arrow key

Scroll up one full screen.

Page up

Move to the top of the page.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Scroll to the right in small increments.

Right arrow key

Move to the right edge of the page.

End

Move to the lower-right corner of the page.

Ctrl+End

Scroll to the left in small increments.

Left arrow key

Move to the left edge of the page.

Home

Move to the upper-left corner of the page.

Ctrl+Home

Move to the page number box.

Alt+F5, then, type the page number and press Enter

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Work with panes

Learn how to use keyboard shortcuts with diagram, grid, SQL, or Field List panes.

Use a diagram pane

To do this

Press

Move among tables, views, and functions (and join lines, if available).

Tab key or Shift+Tab

Move between columns in a table, view, or function.

Arrow keys

Choose the selected data column for output.

Spacebar or Plus sign (+)

Remove the selected data column from the query output.

Spacebar or Minus sign (-)

Remove the selected table, view, or function, or join line from the query.

Delete

Note: If multiple items are selected, pressing Spacebar affects all selected items. Select multiple items by holding down Shift while selecting them. Toggle the selected state of a single item by holding down Ctrl while selecting it.

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Use a grid pane

To do this

Press

Move among cells.

Arrow keys, Tab key, or Shift+Tab

Move to the last row in the current column.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Move to the first row in the current column.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move to the upper-left cell in the visible portion of grid.

Ctrl+Home

Move to the lower-right cell.

Ctrl+End

Move in a dropdown list.

Up or Down arrow key

Select an entire grid column.

Ctrl+Spacebar

Toggle between Edit mode and cell selection mode.

F2

Copy the selected text in a cell to the clipboard (in Edit mode).

Ctrl+C

Cut the selected text in a cell and place it on the clipboard (in Edit mode).

Ctrl+X

Paste text from the clipboard (in Edit mode).

Ctrl+V

Toggle between insert and overtype mode while editing in a cell.

Insert

Toggle the checkbox in the Output column.

Note: If multiple items are selected, pressing this key affects all selected items.

Spacebar

Clear the selected contents of a cell.

Delete

Clear all values for a selected grid column.

Delete

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Use an SQL pane

You can use the standard Windows editing keys when working in the SQL pane. For example, you can use Ctrl+arrow keys to move between words, and the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands on the Home tab work as they normally do. You can only insert text; there is no overtype mode.

Note: In the SQL view, Ctrl+A to select all text is only supported in Microsoft 365, Access 2016 Click-to-Run, Access 2021, and Access 2019. As an alternative, press F2.

Use the Field List pane with a form or report in the Design View or Layout View

To do this

Press

Show or hide the Field List pane.

Alt+F8

Add the selected field to the form or report detail section.

Enter

Move up or down the Field List pane.

Up or Down arrow key

Move between the upper and lower panes of the Field List.

Tab key

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Select text or data

Learn how to use your keyboard to select a field, record, or text within a field. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to extend your selection or find and replace text or data.

Select a field or record

Note: To cancel a selection, use the opposite arrow key.

To do this

Press

Select the next field.

Tab key

Switch between Edit mode (with insertion point displayed) and Navigation mode in a datasheet.

F2

Exit Navigation mode in a form or report.

Esc

Switch between selecting the current record and the first field of the current record, in Navigation mode.

Shift+Spacebar

Extend the selection to the previous record, if the current record is selected.

Shift+Up arrow key

Select all records.

Ctrl+A

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Select text in a field

To do this

Press

Change the size of the selection by one character to the right.

Shift+Right arrow key

Change the size of the selection by one word to the right.

Ctrl+Shift+Right arrow key

Change the size of the selection by one character to the left.

Shift+Left arrow key

Change the size of the selection by one word to the left.

Ctrl+Shift+Left arrow key

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Extend a selection

To do this

Press

Turn on Extend mode.

Note: In the Datasheet View, Extended Selection appears in the lower-right corner of the window.

F8, then repeatedly F8 to extend the selection to the word, the field, the record, and all records

Extend a selection to adjacent fields in the same row in the Datasheet View.

Left or Right arrow key

Extend a selection to adjacent rows in the Datasheet View.

Up or Down arrow key

Undo the previous extension.

Shift+F8

Cancel Extend mode.

Esc

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Find and replace text or data

To do this

Press

Open the Find tab in the Find and Replace dialog box.

Ctrl+F

Find the next occurrence of the text specified in the Find and Replace dialog box when the dialog box is closed (in the Datasheet View and Form View only).

Shift+F4

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Edit text or data

Use the keyboard shortcuts in the following sections to navigate to an insertion point within a field, copy, move, or delete text, and undo changes. You can also use your keyboard to enter data in the Datasheet View or Form View and refresh fields.

Move the insertion point in a field

Note: If the insertion point is not visible, press F2 to display it.

To do this

Press

Move the insertion point one character to the right.

Right arrow key

Move the insertion point one word to the right.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Move the insertion point one character to the left.

Left arrow key

Move the insertion point one word to the left.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Move the insertion point to the end of the field in single-line fields, or move it to the end of the line in multiline fields.

End

Move the insertion point to the end of the field, in multiline fields.

Ctrl+End

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the field in single-line fields, or move it to the beginning of the line in multiline fields.

Home

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the field, in multiline fields.

Ctrl+Home

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Copy, move, or delete text

To do this

Press

Copy the selection to the clipboard.

Ctrl+C

Cut the selection and copy it to the clipboard.

Ctrl+X

Paste the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point.

Ctrl+V

Delete the selection or the character to the left of the insertion point.

Backspace

Delete the selection or the character to the right of the insertion point.

Delete

Delete all characters to the right of the insertion point.

Ctrl+Delete

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Undo changes

To do this

Press

Undo typing.

Ctrl+Z or Alt+Backspace

Undo changes in the current field or current record.

Esc
If both the current field and current record have been changed, press Esc twice to undo changes, first in the current field and then in the current record.

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Enter data in the Datasheet View or Form View

To do this

Press

Insert the current date.

Ctrl+Semicolon (;)

Insert the current time.

Ctrl+Shift+Colon (:)

Insert the default value for a field.

Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar

Insert the value from the same field in the previous record.

Ctrl+Apostrophe (')

Add a new record.

Ctrl+Plus sign (+)

In a datasheet, delete the current record.

Ctrl+Minus sign (-)

Save changes to the current record.

Shift+Enter

Switch between the values in a checkbox or option button.

Spacebar

Insert a new line in a Short Text or Long Text field.

Ctrl+Enter

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Refresh fields with current data

To do this

Press

Requery the underlying tables or in a subform, requery the underlying table only for the subform.

Shift+F9 or F5

Refresh the contents of a Lookup field list or combo box.

F9

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Navigate in tables and cells

Use the keyboard shortcuts in the following sections to navigate and move around in tables and cells. 

Work and move around in tables

To do this

Press

Move to the next cell.

Tab key

Move to the preceding cell.

Shift+Tab

Move to the next row.

Down arrow key

Move to the preceding row.

Up arrow key

Insert a tab in a cell.

Ctrl+Tab

Start a new paragraph.

Enter

Add a new row at the bottom of the table.

Tab key at the end of the last row

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Move around in tables or cells

To do this

Press

Move one character to the left.

Left arrow key

Move one character to the right.

Right arrow key

Move up one line.

Up arrow key

Move down one line.

Down arrow key

Move one word to the left.

Ctrl+Left arrow key

Move one word to the right.

Ctrl+Right arrow key

Move to the end of a line.

End

Move to the beginning of a line.

Home

Move up one paragraph.

Ctrl+Up arrow key

Move down one paragraph.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Move to the end of a text box.

Ctrl+End

Move to the beginning of a text box.

Ctrl+Home

Repeat the last Find action.

Shift+F4

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Get help with Access

The Help window provides all Access help content.

To do this

Press

Open the Help window.

F1

Select the next item in the Help window.

Tab key

Select the previous item in the Help window.

Shift+Tab

Perform the action for the selected item.

Enter

Select the next hidden text or hyperlink.

Tab key

Select the previous hidden text or hyperlink.

Shift+Tab

Perform the action for the selected hidden text, or hyperlink.

Enter

Move back to the previous Help topic (Back button).

Alt+Left arrow key or Backspace

Scroll small amounts up or down within the currently displayed Help topic.

Up or Down arrow key

Scroll larger amounts up or down, respectively, within the currently displayed Help topic.

Page up or Page down

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Miscellaneous keyboard shortcuts

To do this

Press

Display the complete hyperlink address (URL) for a selected hyperlink.

F2

Open the Zoom box to conveniently enter expressions and other text in small input areas.

Shift+F2

Copy a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard.

Print screen

Copy a screenshot of the current window to the clipboard.

Alt+Print screen

Display the full set of commands on the task pane menu.

Ctrl+Down arrow key

Exit Access.

Alt+F4

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See also

Screen reader support for Access

Use a screen reader to start Access

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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