Microsoft Access has been helping businesses and individuals store and manage their data more efficiently for decades. Whether you're tracking orders, assets, or employees, this nifty program lets you make the most out of your data without requiring coding skills. It comes complete with built-in features like reports, letters, and entry forms that can help you become a database expert in no time.

As with the other applications in the Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Access is packed with keyboard shortcuts designed to boost productivity. Here, you'll find the ultimate list of Microsoft Access keyboard shortcuts you'll ever need.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download the Microsoft Access Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet.

Microsoft Access Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Shortcut

Action

Workspace Navigation

Alt

Display KeyTips

Ctrl + N

Open a new database

Ctrl + O

Open a previously created database

Ctrl + S or Shift + F12

Save the database

Alt + F + A or F12

Save the database as other file types

Ctrl + P

Print the current/selected object/database

Esc

Exit Print Preview/Navigation Mode

Alt + F

Open the File tab

Alt + H

Open the Home tab

Alt + C

Open the Create tab

Alt + X

Open the External Data tab

Alt + Y + 1

Open the Database Tools tab

Alt + Y + 2

Open the Help tab

Alt + Q

Open the "Tell me what to do" search field

Alt + J + T

Open the Table tab

Alt + J + B

Open the Table Field tab

Alt + X + 2

Open the Add-ins tab (if applicable)

Alt + Space

Open the Access icon menu/control menu

F11

Hide or show the Navigation Pane

F1

Open the Help window

F6

Change the window's current focus to a different pane

F7

Open the Spelling dialog box

F9

Refresh the combo box's drop-down list

Tab

Move to the next field

Shift + Tab

Move to the previous field

Home

Move to start of the current field

End

Move to the end of the current field

Ctrl + F

Go to the Navigation Pane search box while in the Navigation Pane

Ctrl + F

Open the Find and Replace dialog in the Find tab

Ctrl + H

Open the Find and Replace dialog in the Replace tab

Ctrl + F6

Switch to the next database window

Ctrl + Shift + F6

Switch to the previous database window

Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4

Close the current database window

Enter

Open a minimized window when selected in the Navigation Pane

Alt + F11

Switch between the current Access window and Visual Basic Editor

Ctrl + G

Open the Immediate panel in the Visual Basic Editor

Alt + F4

Close Access

Shift + F2

Open the current field in a new dialog box

Shift + F10

Refresh the current table or query

Shift + F10

Open the shortcut/dropdown menu for the selected item

Ctrl + Home

Move to the top of the selected gallery list

Ctrl + End

Move to the bottom of the selected gallery list

Ctrl + Tab

Open the next tab

Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Open the previous tab

Ctrl + Enter

Open the selected item (form, macro, module, query, report, table) in Design View

Shift + Right arrow

Shift the selection by to the right

Shift + Left arrow

Shift the selection by to the left

Ctrl + Comma (,) or Ctrl + Period (.)

Switch between views in when in a form, query, report, or table

Ctrl + C

Copy the selected item to the clipboard

Ctrl + X

Cut the selected item and copy to the clipboard

Ctrl + V

Paste the clipboard contents

Ctrl + A

Select all

Ctrl + Z

Undo previous action or selection

Shift + Space

Switch between current record and the current record's first field while in Navigation Mode

F2

Switch between Navigation and Edit mode (Datasheet/Design/Layout view)

F4

Open and close the Property Sheet (Datasheet/Design view)

Shift + F4

Do the last Find action again (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Semicolon (;)

Add the current date to the current field (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Shift + Colon (:)

Add the current time to the current field (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Alt + Space

Add the default value of the field to the current field (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Apostrophe (')

Add the value of the previous field to the current field (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Plus (+)

Insert a new record (Datasheet/Form View)

Ctrl + Minus (-)

Delete the current record (Datasheet/Form View)

Alt + F8

Open and close the Field List pane (Design/Layout View)

Text Box Commands

Ctrl + Right arrow

Move one word to the right

Ctrl + Left arrow

Move one word to the left

Shift + Home

Select from the cursor to the start of the text

Shift + End

Select from the cursor to the end of the text

Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow

Shift the selection by one word to the right

Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow

Shift the selection by one word to the left

Datasheet View Commands

F8

Enable Extend mode

Shift + F8

Undo previous extension

Ctrl + Space

Select or cancel the current column

Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow

Collapse the subdatasheet

Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow

Move the datasheet to the subdatasheet

Esc

Exit Extend Mode

Shift + Enter

Save the current record

Design View Commands

F5

Switch from the active form to Form View

F7

Open the Choose Builder dialog box

Shift + F7

Switch from Visual Basic Editor to form or report

Alt + V + P

Open the Property Sheet for the selected field

Improve Your Microsoft Access Proficiency

Working with data means your hands are almost always attached to the keyboard. That's why it's a good idea to learn the most frequently used Microsoft Access keyboard shortcuts to help you work faster.

Once you've mastered the shortcuts, you can then explore more learning resources to upskill in Access and take your data management to the next level.