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How to Select 20,000 Rows or Cells in Excel at Once

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to quickly select a massive range of cells or thousands of rows (e.g., 20,000 rows) in an Excel worksheet without relying on manual mouse scrolling.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating and highlighting large datasets or multiple thousands of rows in a spreadsheet for formatting, deletion, or data manipulation.
Observed behavior: Requires a fast and efficient method to select 20,000 rows or a massive cell range instantly in a single action.

Before you start

Identify the exact starting and ending cell coordinates or row numbers you need to highlight before applying the selection shortcut.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Go To Feature to Select a Large Range

The most efficient way to highlight thousands of rows or cells instantly without using your mouse is by utilizing Excel's built-in Go To dialog box.

Manually dragging your mouse cursor to select thousands of rows can take several minutes and is prone to accidental deselection. Using the Go To command allows you to specify exact coordinates, instantly selecting massive blocks of data with absolute precision.

Open the Go To Dialog Box

Press the 'Ctrl + G' keys or the 'F5' key on your keyboard to immediately bring up the Go To dialog box on your screen.

Enter the Cell or Row Range

In the 'Reference' text box at the bottom of the window, type your desired range. For example, enter 'A1:A20000' to select a block of cells from A1 down to A20000, or enter '1:20000' to select the entirety of rows 1 through 20,000.

Confirm the Selection

Click the 'OK' button or simply press the 'Enter' key. The spreadsheet will instantly highlight the specified massive range without any scrolling required.

Alternative Method: You can also achieve the exact same result by typing your range (e.g., A1:A20000) directly into the Name Box located to the left of the formula bar and pressing Enter.

Efficient Spreadsheet Management

Easily Manage Large Datasets with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office Spreadsheet provides powerful tools and keyboard shortcuts to effortlessly navigate, highlight, and process massive amounts of data with zero lag.

1. Open your document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your large dataset file using WPS Spreadsheet.
2. Access the Go To shortcut: Press the Ctrl+G shortcut on your keyboard to bring up the Go To window.
3. Input your massive range: Type your desired rows, such as '1:20000' or 'A1:D20000', in the Reference field and press Enter to instantly select the data.

Fully compatible with all Microsoft Excel file formats, including .xlsx, .xls, and .csv.Lightweight software architecture that handles tens of thousands of rows smoothly.Supports the familiar Go To (Ctrl+G) feature for instant large-range selections.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I select large ranges using the Name Box instead of Ctrl+G?

Yes, you can click directly on the Name Box located to the left of the formula bar, type your target range (such as A1:A20000), and press Enter to achieve the exact same selection instantly.

How do I select all cells down to the last row containing data?

Select the first cell of your dataset, then press the 'Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow' keys together. This shortcut highlights everything from your active cell down to the last contiguous non-empty cell in that column.

Will selecting 20,000 rows at once cause the spreadsheet program to freeze?

Selecting massive ranges using the Go To command or Name Box is virtually instantaneous and will not freeze the application. However, applying complex formatting or heavy calculation formulas to 20,000 rows simultaneously may take a moment to process, depending on your device's memory.

How can I select multiple specific columns across 20,000 rows?

In the Go To dialog's Reference box, you can enter a range encompassing multiple columns. For instance, typing 'A1:C20000' will select all cells in columns A, B, and C down to the 20,000th row.

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