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Navigation shortcut

Scroll back to the active cell

Ctrl + Backspace on Windows, Ctrl + Delete on Mac.

OccasionalDifficulty 1050 · Capable
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Scrolls the window back to the active cell after you have scrolled away with the mouse or Page keys.

The shape of it

Windows
Ctrl + Backspace
Mac
Ctrl + Delete

Worked examples

  • Find the cursor

    Scroll far down with the wheel, press Ctrl + Backspace The view snaps back to the selected cell

    The selection never moved.

  • After sideways scrolling

    After Alt + Page Down twice, Ctrl + Backspace Back to the active cell

    Same idea horizontally.

  • Resume an edit

    Ctrl + Backspace, then Enter Confirms the edit you were in the middle of

    Nothing is lost by scrolling.

Worth knowing

  • Typing any character also jumps back, but it starts overwriting the cell.
  • The Name Box shows the active cell address while you are scrolled away.
  • Mac uses Ctrl + Delete.

Where it goes wrong

  • Does nothing when the active cell is already visible, which makes people think it is broken.
  • In edit mode it deletes the word to the left instead.

Related

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