Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 9, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
Larry often adds comments to cells in his worksheets. He wonders if there is a keyboard shortcut for adding those comments.
The answer to this question depends on what Larry means by "comment." The traditional comment you added to a cell is, in the latest versions of Excel, known as a note. Comments are now threaded in nature, much like they are in Word.
Normally, if you want to insert a comment (not a note) you would select the cell, display the Review tab of the ribbon, and then click the New Comment tool, in the Comments group. If you prefer to not take your hands off the keyboard, however, you can press Alt+R and then press the C key. If you use this shortcut in older versions of Excel (ones that use traditional comments), then a comment is added.
You can also use Alt+I and then press M. Doing this adds a note in newer versions of Excel and a comment in older versions of Excel.
Another method to insert a comment (now called a note) is to simply press Shift+F2. This shortcut produces the exact same result as Alt+R, M method—it opens a comment (note) box in the current cell. (If one already exists in the cell, then it is opened; if one does not exist, one is added and opened.)
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12317) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Keyboard Shortcut for Comments.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
In Excel, single comments are associated with single cells. If you want to have a comment be linked to multiple cells, ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to use a picture as a background on a cell comment. This tip looks at how you can paste pictures into a ...
Discover MoreWant your comment boxes to appear someplace other than the right side of a cell? You may be out of luck, and here's why.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-12-13 17:22:34
R. A. Williams
Also, a few words about how the threading aspect of (new) comments is used would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob Williams
2023-12-13 17:16:01
R. A. Williams
I believe there's a typo in this article (Keyboard Shortcut for Comments). In the 5th paragraph: Alt-R, M should be Alt-R, C, I think.
And thanks for your Tips service. I use it frequently.
Bob Williams
2023-12-13 10:31:12
Don Small
That last paragraph should read "same result as Alt+I, M method", not "same result as Alt+R, M method".
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments