Bottom line: Learn a few shortcuts to quickly open the Power Query Editor in Excel.
Skill level: Intermediate
The Window to a Whole New World in Excel
Power Query (PQ) is an amazing tool that allows us to automate data transformations in Excel. Once you start using it, you'll want to get to the PQ Editor window quickly.
Power Query is currently a separate window that opens on top of Excel. There are quite a few ways to open this window. Some require more clicks than others. In this post we'll look at a few shortcuts, including keyboard shortcuts, to make this process faster.
Check out my posts on an Overview of Power Query and How to Install Power Query if you are on an older version of Excel.
New Shortcut: Alt+F12
Microsoft recently added the shortcut Alt+F12 to open the Power Query editor window in Excel.
This is the fastest way to open the query editor window. It's similar to the Alt+F11 shortcut to open the VB Editor.
If your version of Excel doesn't have this shortcut yet, or you are on an older version of Excel, then you can use any of the following shortcuts.
The Get Data Menu
One quick way to open the PQ Editor is by clicking the “Launch Power Query Editor” button in the Get Data drop-down menu on the Data tab of the ribbon.
Getting to this button is going to require multiple clicks, especially if you're not on the Data tab. However, there a few ways to get there faster.
The Quick Access Toolbar
The “Launch Power Query Editor” button can be added to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). You can right-click the item in the Get Data menu, then select Add to Quick Access Toolbar.
This adds the button to the QAT and allows you to open the PQ Editor with one click.
Keyboard Shortcuts
There are at least two options for keyboard shortcuts to open the Power Query Editor.
Quick Access Toolbar Shortcut
First, if you add the “Launch Power Query Editor” button to the QAT, you can use the Alt+Number shortcut to press the button. The number you press after Alt is determined by the position of the button in the QAT. And the button can be moved left to a lower number.
In the screenshot above I've moved the Launch Power Query button to the third position in the QAT. So, Alt+3 is the customized keyboard shortcut for me to open Power Query.
Checkout this post on Keyboard Shortcuts for the Quick Access Toolbar to learn more.
Alt Sequence Shortcut
The keyboard shortcut to open the Power Query Editor is: Alt, A, P, N, L
Those are the accelerator keys for the Data tab (A), Get Data menu (PN), and Launch Power Query Editor button (L). It's a long one to commit to remember. Leave a comment below if you think of a good acronym to help remember this one. 🙂
Note: This Alt sequence shortcut will only work if you are on Excel 2016 or later for Windows. Power Query was an add-in with it's own ribbon tab before that. The Alt sequence will be a bit different.
Free Training Webinar on Power Query
If you're still new to Power Query and/or not exactly sure what it does and how it can help save you a TON of time with your work, then right now I'm running a free training webinar on all of the Power Tools in Excel. This includes Power Query, Power Pivot, Power BI, pivot tables, macros & VBA, and more.
It's called The Modern Excel Blueprint. During the webinar I explain what these tools are and how they can fit into your workflow.
You will also learn how to become the Excel Hero of your organization, that go-to gal or guy that everyone relies on for Excel help and fun projects.
The webinar is running at multiple days and times. Please click the link below to get registered and save your seat.
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Conclusion
Do you know of any other shortcuts for opening the Power Query Editor? If so, please share and leave a comment below. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for the great suggestion. I just added Power Query to my QAT.
Awesome! I’m happy to hear it. Thanks, Joan!
I added PQ to my QAT. Great information.
Thanks Jon!
Nice! Thanks, Mike! 🙂
Are Peas Not Legumes? 🙂
Another shortcut is available, once you have some queries in a workbook. It’s probably as long as APNL but, if you add the Queries and Connections to you QAT, then it’s only 3 clicks:
1. Click the Queries and Connections icon
2. in the right panel that opens up, right-click a query
3. Select Edit
Cheers,
Mitch
Jon, Edit this to clean it up where it needs it.
My contribution to the class:
At the Customize Quick Action Toolbar, Click on the Down Arrow
Near the bottom of the list, Click on More Commands…
On the next screen, Delete Popular Commands and Select All Commands
Ding down on the list and Select Auto Correct Options. It will have a tiny yellow tail and Click on Add to add it to your Quick Action Toolbar. OK
Jon, I first started using this Auto Correct shortcut when I was taking a bible class. It was getting tough spelling out Nebuchadnezzar and others, so I added it to my Autocorrect List. Now, if I type just the lower case letters “neb” and hit the space bar, Nebuchadnezzar prints out. I already use it for Power Query Editor, Pivot Table, Click on, Click Inside and a couple of dozen other words or groups of words such as “pqe”. You can also use it where you type a name and address regularly. Just highlight the 3-4 lines, Click on the Autocorrect button give it a “code” name and it’s all set.
Thank you for your marvelous instructions – love your teachings,
Have a Blessed Day,
Chuck
Adds Power, No Liability
Great tip, thanks!