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Workbook shortcut
Switch to the next open workbook
Ctrl + Tab on Windows, Ctrl + Tab on Mac.
CommonDifficulty 950 · Capable
When to use it
Switches to the next open workbook window, like Alt + Tab but only among Excel files.
The shape of it
- Windows
Ctrl + Tab
- Mac
Ctrl + Tab
Worked examples
Next workbook
Press Ctrl + Tab → The next open workbook comes to the front
Cycles through open files.
Previous workbook
Ctrl + Shift + Tab → The previous workbook
Reverse direction.
Cross-workbook formulas
Ctrl + Tab while building a formula → Reference a cell in another workbook
Click the cell and the external link is written.
Worth knowing
- View, Switch Windows lists every open workbook.
- View, Arrange All shows them side by side.
- Ctrl + F6 does the same thing.
Where it goes wrong
- Only cycles Excel windows; other apps need Alt + Tab.
- Workbooks opened in separate Excel instances are not seen.
Related
Learn the moves here — or let Wauvel run them on your numbers.
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