Shortcuts exist to help us work faster because they reduce the overall time taken to carry out a function. In this case, the insert row shortcut makes the process more accessible compared to doing it the long way. But how do you make use of this feature?
Continue reading to understand how to utilize the Google Sheets insert row shortcut on your Windows or Mac.
How to Insert Row Shortcut in Google Sheets
You usually know how to perform a function in Google Sheets but need to do it faster. That is the main reason why these processes have shortcuts. They help you perform various tasks that would otherwise take long.
Shortcuts are your best friends because they make your work seamless and easier. In this section, we’ll look at how you can insert rows in Google Sheets using the shortcut for Mac and Windows.
On Mac:
Step 1: Open Google Sheets on your desktop browser.
That will serve as the sheet where you will insert the rows. If you’re already working on an existing sheet, you don’t have to open a fresh one. The reason is that the shortcut works well with either option.
Step 2: Highlight the row(s) around the area you would like to insert more rows.
Selecting one row limits any change you make to that row. If you want to change multiple rows simultaneously, select them together. That will make your work faster by preventing repetitions.
Note: The number of inserted rows will be the exact number of rows you selected.
Step 3: Use your keyboard's shortcut ‘⌘ + option + =’.
In the exemplary scenario, you won’t have to click or move your mouse before inserting the rows.
Step 4: Select your preferred choice from the options provided.
A couple of options will pop up after using the shortcut mentioned in Step 3. Choose the option that best suits your work or the format you want.
On Windows:
The Google Sheet insert row shortcut on Windows follows steps similar to Mac's. However, the process differs regarding the exact keys used on your keyboard.
Step 1: Open Google Sheet on your desktop browser.
Most times, you probably have it opened already if you’re working on a project in the Google Sheet workspace.
Step 2: Select the number of rows around where you want to insert your desired rows.
Remember that the number of rows selected directly affects the number of rows that will be inserted.
Step 3: Use your keyboard's shortcut ‘CTRL + ALT + =.’
This shortcut does the same thing as the one for Mac. They both present you with options for inserting rows in Google Sheets.
Step 4: Select your preferred option for inserting one or more rows into your document.
Alternative Way to Use the Insert Row Shortcut in Google Sheet
Here’s another way to insert row(s) in Google Sheets using a slightly different set of keys. This method allows you to insert rows above or below your selected rows.
Step 1: Open Google Sheets and select the rows where you want to insert a row.
Step 2: Use ‘Alt + Shift + i + r’ for Windows. For Mac, use ‘Ctrl + Option + i + r.’ That will allow you to insert the row or rows above or below your selected ones.
Standard Shortcut Keys of Google Sheets
The following keys work as shortcuts for various standard functions in Google Sheets. Firstly, we take a look at Windows and then Mac.
For Windows:
Select column | Ctrl + Space |
|---|---|
Select row | Shift + Space |
Select all | Ctrl + a Ctrl + Shift + Space |
Undo | Ctrl + z |
Redo | Ctrl + y Ctrl + Shift + z F4 |
Find | Ctrl + f |
Find and replace | Ctrl + h |
Fill range | Ctrl + Enter |
Fill down | Ctrl + d |
Fill right | Ctrl + r |
Save (every change is saved automatically in Drive) | Ctrl + s |
Open | Ctrl + o |
Ctrl + p | |
Copy | Ctrl + c |
Cut | Ctrl + x |
Paste | Ctrl + v |
Paste values only | Ctrl + Shift + v |
Show common keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl + / |
Insert new sheet | Shift + F11 |
Compact controls | Ctrl + Shift + f |
Input tools on/off (available in spreadsheets in non-Latin languages) | Ctrl + Shift + k |
Select input tools | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + k |
Tool finder (formerly Search the Menus) | Alt + / |
For Mac:
Select column | Ctrl + Space |
|---|---|
Select row | Shift + Space |
Select all | ⌘ + a ⌘ + Shift + Space |
Undo | ⌘ + z |
Redo | ⌘ + y ⌘ + Shift + z Fn + F4 |
Find | ⌘ + f |
Find and replace | ⌘ + Shift + h |
Fill range | ⌘ + Enter |
Fill down | ⌘ + d |
Fill right | ⌘ + r |
Save (every change is saved automatically in Drive) | ⌘ + s |
Open | ⌘ + o |
⌘ + p | |
Copy | ⌘ + c |
Cut | ⌘ + x |
Paste | ⌘ + v |
Paste values only | ⌘ + Shift + v |
Show common keyboard shortcuts | ⌘ + / |
Insert new sheet | Shift + Fn + F11 |
Compact controls | Ctrl + Shift + f |
Input tools on/off (available in spreadsheets in non-Latin languages) | ⌘ + Shift + k |
Select input tools | ⌘ + Option + Shift + k |
Tool finder (formerly Search the Menus) | Option + / |
Best Free Alternative to Google Sheets - WPS Office
Sometimes, you might need another option besides working with Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. However, there aren’t many tools that offer robust features for your work or project.
In such cases, I recommend using WPS Office. It offers as many features and some more.
WPS Office is an excellent choice if you are looking for an easy-to-use alternative that gets the job done. It is a powerful office suite with several free features, making your project easier to execute.
Why You Should Use WPS Office
WPS Office has an in-built Word, Excel, and Powerful PDF Tool kit. It offers you an all-in-one workspace.
WPS Office is compatible with MS Office, Google Workspace, and LibreOffice. That establishes its versatility for whatever your project requires.
The lightweight, comprehensive office suite boasts a rich template store. You will always find something that suits your preferences.
You can choose to work with WPS Office online or offline. Yes, the office suite works excellently with both options.
WPS Office works well on both PCs and mobile phones. You can also synchronize your work across your gadgets and collaborate with others in real-time.
What’s more? WPS is free to download and use!
Speaking of downloads, follow the steps below to begin your work journey with WPS Office for free:
How to download and use WPS Office for free
Browser:
Step 1: Open your preferred browser and visit the WPS Office official site.
Step 2: Click the ‘Download’ button on the top right side of the homepage. You can then choose where you’d like the installation file to be saved.
Step 3: Double-click on the download file once the download is complete to begin the installation process for WPS Office.
Microsoft Store:
Step 1: Open your Microsoft Store on Windows.
Step 2: Search for ‘WPS Office’ in the store.
Step 3: Click on WPS Office from the search results.
Step 4: Click the ‘Install’ button to start the download.
Step 5: When the download finishes, the ‘Install’ button becomes ‘Open.’ Click on it.
Step 6: Select the ‘Agree and Continue’ option to continue after the app opens. You’ll only need to do this once.
Step 7: You can begin to enjoy everything WPS Office has to offer.
FAQs
1. How do I put lines around cells in Google Sheets?
You can add borders to cells in Google Sheets by following these processes.
Step 1: Select the cell or cells you want to add a border to.
Step 2: Select the Borders button and choose your desired border from the options in the drop-down menu. In the picture below, we chose the ‘all borders’ option.
Step 3: Google Sheets will apply the chosen border option to your selected cells.
2. Can Google Sheets handle up to 100,000 rows?
Although you start with 1,000 rows, Google Sheets can handle more than 100,000. You can go as high as 10,000,000 rows for your project.
However, you must stay within this maximum number of rows.
Summary
We’ve shown you an easy way to use the insert row shortcut in Google Sheets for Windows and Mac, and also provides several shortcuts for standard processes in Google Sheets.
Not only that, you now know an excellent alternative to Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel, which is WPS Office.
WPS Office offers a powerful office suite with several beautiful features and templates. The tool has a high compatibility and works well across platforms and gadgets. You can start with all of its features by following the steps in this article.
