Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Keyboard Shortcut for Comments.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 20, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016
Larry often adds comments to cells in his worksheets. He wonders if there is a keyboard shortcut for adding those comments.
Normally you would insert a comment by selecting the cell you want, displaying the Review tab of the ribbon, and then clicking on the New Comment tool, in the Comments group. If you prefer to not take your hands off the keyboard, however, Excel does provide three different ways you can insert comments.
The first two methods are actually keyboard equivalents for invoking the New Comment tool. You can use either of these:
Note that you don't need to hold down the Alt key as you hit the keys following—you simply need to press the Alt key to let Excel know you are going to access tools through the keyboard. The first approach goes directly to the New Comment tool. The second approach is provided for compatibility with older, menu-based versions of Excel.
The third method to insert a comment is to simply press Shift+F2. This shortcut produces the exact same result as the previous two—it opens a comment 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, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Keyboard Shortcut for Comments.
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2022-01-20 04:53:53
Philip
Note that recently terminology has changed. This tip is not accurate in the light of the introduction of the "collaboration comments".
A "Comment" is now similar to what a "comment" has been in Word in the past, and is used to exchange thoughts between different collaborators on the same workbook.
What used to be called a "comment" in Excel, is now called a "note".
Alt+r+c inserts a "comment" for collaboration.
Alt+i+m inserts a "note" (which is the "old style" comment)
By right-clicking on a cell, you have both options ("New Note" and "New Comment") available
2017-01-20 05:40:57
Dave Smith
@ Chris G.
In Excel 97 I tap the ESC key twice to return to the spreadsheet.
2017-01-19 13:52:16
Chris G.
Um, that's great. But now how do I get out of the comment without using the mouse?
2016-12-31 15:25:50
Lanier Dodson
Or simply right click the cell and click on "Insert Comment" in the drop-down menu.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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