Power Query Keyboard Shortcuts

If you spend a lot of time in Power Query, keyboard shortcuts can seriously speed up your workflow.

Whether you’re clicking around the interface or writing M code in the Advanced Editor, there’s probably a shortcut that can save you a few clicks (or a few minutes).

In this article, I’ve put together a comprehensive list of Power Query keyboard shortcuts (both for User Interface and the Advanced Editor).

Let’s get into it.

Power Query Interface Shortcuts

These shortcuts work in the main Power Query Editor window (data grid, ribbon, navigation pane, formula bar).

Opening & Closing

Shortcut	What it Does
Alt + F12	Open Power Query Editor from Excel
Alt + F + Enter	Close and Load query
Alt + F4	Close Power Query Editor

Navigation

Shortcut	What it Does
Home	Go to the beginning of the current row
End	Go to the end of the current row
Ctrl + Page Up	Go to the first cell in the column
Ctrl + Page Down	Go to the last cell in the column
Ctrl + Home	Go to the first cell in the dataset
Ctrl + End	Go to the last cell in the dataset
Ctrl + G	Open the Go To Column dialog box

Selection

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Spacebar	Select the entire current column
Ctrl + A	Select the entire table
Ctrl + Click	Select multiple non-adjacent columns
Shift + Click	Select the range of adjacent columns
Alt + Down Arrow	Open column filter/menu dropdown

Column & Data Operations

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + E	Add Column from Examples (like Flash Fill)
Delete	Delete selected column(s), step(s), or query
F2	Rename column, query, or step

Zoom

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Shift + Plus	Zoom in / Increase font size
Ctrl + Shift + Minus	Zoom out / Decrease font size
Ctrl + 0	Restore original zoom level (100%)

Quick Access Toolbar Trick

Shortcut	What it Does
Alt + [number]	Trigger the corresponding Quick Access Toolbar icon

This isn’t a fixed shortcut but a technique: right-click any ribbon command, add it to the Quick Access Toolbar, then press Alt to see numbers assigned to each icon. Useful for things like Transpose, Blank Query, From Table/Range, or Advanced Editor.

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Power Query Advanced Editor Shortcuts

These shortcuts work inside the Advanced Editor window, where you write and edit M code.

Opening & Closing

Shortcut	What it Does
Alt + W + Q	Open Advanced Editor
Ctrl + Tab, Enter	Save and close the Advanced Editor
Alt + F4	Close Advanced Editor (without saving)

Zoom

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Shift + Plus	Zoom in / Increase font size
Ctrl + Shift + Minus	Zoom out / Decrease font size
Ctrl + 0	Restore original zoom level (100%)

Navigation

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Up Arrow	Scroll up one code line
Ctrl + Down Arrow	Scroll down one code line
Alt + Page Up	Scroll up one code window/page
Alt + Page Down	Scroll down one code window/page
Ctrl + U	Return to the previously selected line
F7	Navigate to the next highlighted word
Shift + F7	Navigate to the previous highlighted word

Selection

Shortcut	What it Does
Shift + Home	Select to start of current line
Shift + End	Select to the end of the current line
Shift + Page Up	Select from the cursor to the start of the query
Shift + Page Down	Select from the cursor to the end of the query
Ctrl + Shift + Home	Select from the start of the query to the cursor
Ctrl + Shift + End	Select from the cursor to the end of the query

Commenting

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + /	Toggle single-line comment (//)
Alt + Shift + A	Toggle multi-line block comment (/* … */)

Indentation & Moving Lines

Shortcut	What it Does
Tab	Insert 3 spaces at the cursor position
Shift + Tab	Remove 3 spaces from the start of the line (outdent entire line)
Ctrl + ]	Add indentation to the start of the entire line
Ctrl + [	Remove indentation from the start of the entire line
Ctrl + M	Toggle tab key indenting behavior ON/OFF
Alt + Up Arrow	Move the current line up
Alt + Down Arrow	Move the current line down

Duplicate & Delete

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Shift + K	Delete selected line(s) of code
Shift + Alt + Up Arrow	Duplicate current line(s)
Shift + Alt + Down Arrow	Duplicate current line(s)

Enclosing / Wrapping Text

Shortcut	What it Does
Shift + ” (with text selected)	Enclose selection in double quotes
Shift + ( (with text selected)	Enclose selection in parentheses
Shift + { (with text selected)	Enclose selection in curly brackets

Multi-Cursor Editing

Shortcut	What it Does
Alt + Click	Place additional cursors for simultaneous editing
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Up Arrow	Copy the cursor to the line above
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Down Arrow	Copy the cursor to the line below

IntelliSense & Function Info

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Spacebar	Open autocomplete/IntelliSense list
Ctrl + Tab (while list is open)	Show function description/details

Undo / Redo

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Z	Undo change
Ctrl + Y	Redo change

Formula Bar

Shortcut	What it Does
Ctrl + Enter	Confirm/apply formula bar entry
Alt + Enter	Insert a line break in the formula bar

Other Useful Resources:

• Power Query Functions
• 200+ Excel Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows & Mac)
• 10 Excel Pivot Table Keyboard Shortcuts
• Free Power Query Course