How to Quickly Create Graphs in Excel with Keyboard Shortcuts

Are you looking for a fast and easy way to create graphs in Microsoft Excel? Using keyboard shortcuts is the quickest method to insert a chart based on your data. In this article, we’ll show you the step-by-step process to make a graph in Excel using just your keyboard.

I have also included a handy cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts to create Graphs in Excel easily and quickly at the end of this article!

Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Making Graphs in Excel?

Keyboard shortcuts allow you to perform tasks much faster than using your mouse to navigate through menus and ribbon options in Excel. Benefits of using keyboard shortcuts for graphs include:

• Speed up your workflow and save time
• Reduce repetitive stress from using a mouse
• Work more efficiently with large datasets and complex spreadsheets
• Impress your colleagues with your Excel proficiency!

For those frequently needing to create charts to visualize data, learning the keyboard shortcut for graphs is a must-have skill. Mastering Excel charting shortcuts will dramatically improve your productivity.

Step-by-Step Guide: Shortcut for Graph in Excel

Follow these simple steps to quickly insert a graph in Excel using only your keyboard:

1. Select the data you want to include in your chart. Make sure to highlight the cells containing both the data values and the row/column labels. You can use Shift + Arrow keys to easily expand your data selection.
2. Press Alt + F1 on your keyboard. This is the shortcut for creating a chart in Excel.
3. Excel will automatically insert a column chart based on the selected data, placed as an object within the current worksheet.
4. If you want to change the chart type, press Ctrl + 1 to open the “Format Chart Area” pane on the right. This pane contains all the options for customizing your chart’s appearance.
5. Press Tab until the “Chart Options” menu is selected, then use the Up/Down arrows to browse through the chart types. You’ll see options like line, pie, bar, area, scatter, and more. Press Enter to apply your selected chart type and the graph will update.
6. To add or remove chart elements like a title, legend, data labels, axis labels, gridlines etc., press Ctrl + 1 to open the “Format Chart Area” pane again if needed.
7. Press Tab multiple times to move through the options in the “Format Chart Area” pane until you reach the “Chart Options” section.
8. Use the Up/Down arrows to select which chart elements to add. Press Spacebar to check/uncheck the box for each element. The chart will automatically update in real-time as you make changes.
9. To edit the style and color of the chart, navigate to the “Chart Styles” section in the Format Chart Area pane using Tab and the arrows. Use Spacebar to cycle through the preset color palettes and chart styles.
10. When you’re done editing the chart, press Ctrl + Enter to apply your changes and return to the regular Excel worksheet view.

That’s it! With the Alt + F1 shortcut and a few additional keystrokes, you can create and customize a chart without ever touching your mouse. Practice this shortcut frequently and it will quickly become muscle memory.

Examples of Excel Chart Shortcuts in Action

Here are some examples demonstrating how to make specific types of graphs in Excel using keyboard shortcuts:

Shortcut for Line Graph in Excel

• Select your data range
• Press Alt + F1 to insert a column chart
• Press Ctrl + 1 to open Format Chart Area pane
• Press Tab until “Chart Type” is selected
• Use arrow keys to choose “Line”
• Press Enter to apply line graph
• Customize line colors, markers, labels etc. using Tab, arrows, and Spacebar

Shortcut for Pie Graph in Excel

• Highlight cells with data for pie chart
• Hit Alt + F1 to create chart
• Press Ctrl + 1 for Format Chart Area
• Press Tab to reach “Chart Type”
• Use arrows to select “Pie”
• Press Enter to insert pie graph
• Add data labels, adjust colors with Ctrl + 1, Tab, and arrow keys

Shortcut for Bar Graph in Excel

• Choose data range for bar chart
• Press Alt + F1
• Press Ctrl + 1
• Navigate with Tab to “Chart Type”
• Use arrows to find “Bar”
• Hit Enter for bar graph
• Use Spacebar to toggle between horizontal and vertical bars

Keyboard Shortcuts for Editing Chart Data

In addition to formatting, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to edit the underlying data of your Excel graph:

• To edit a data point, select the chart and press Ctrl + Shift + Right/Left arrow to select a specific data series
• Then press Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down arrow to highlight an individual data point
• Press F2 to enter edit mode, make your changes, then press Enter
• To add a new data series, select the chart and press Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow until a blank data series is selected, then enter your values
• To remove a data series, select it with Ctrl + Shift + Right/Left arrow and press Delete

Remember, any changes made to the chart data will also update the linked cells in your worksheet.

Handy Excel Graph Shortcut Cheat Sheet

Here’s a quick reference guide with the essential keyboard shortcuts for graphs in Excel:

Print this cheatsheet or bookmark this page to keep these shortcuts handy!

Tips for Working with Excel Graph Shortcuts

A few tips to streamline your workflow when creating charts in Excel via keyboard:

• Pre-select your data before starting the chart shortcut to save a step. Include data values and labels.
• Excel defaults to a column chart, so you’ll almost always need to change the chart type with Ctrl + 1 after inserting.
• Use directional arrows deliberately in the Format Chart Area pane to get to your desired options quickly.
• Have a clear vision of how you want your final chart to look to avoid wasting time with trial-and-error formatting.
• Double-check your data selection if the chart looks incorrect after inserting – it’s easy to accidentally grab the wrong cells.
• Save complex or frequently used charts as templates to quickly reproduce them.
• Use Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys to rapidly edit data points right in the chart.
• Don’t forget the Delete key to quickly remove unwanted chart elements or data series.
• Experiment with different chart types and styles to find the most effective ways to visualize your data.

With practice, you’ll be able to make sophisticated graphs and charts in mere seconds using these shortcuts!

Final Thoughts

Learning the shortcuts for making graphs in Excel is one of the best ways to speed up your workflow and become a spreadsheet power user. The Alt + F1 shortcut instantly transforms selected data into a chart, while additional keys allow you to change the type, style, structure, data, labels, and other elements without ever reaching for your mouse.

Mastering Excel’s charting keyboard shortcuts will dramatically boost your efficiency in visualizing and reporting data. Try out these shortcuts and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create compelling, professional-quality charts. Over time, you’ll naturally memorize the key combinations for the graph options you use most, and significantly streamline your Excel productivity!

FAQs

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.