11 Right-Click Tips in Excel That Save Time

Bottom Line: Discover 11 time-saving tips hidden in Excel’s right-click menus that can simplify your workflow and impress your coworkers.

Skill Level: Beginner

Watch the Tutorial

Download the Excel File

Follow along with the same workbook used in this post.

Learn Excel’s Right-Click Menu

The right-click menu in Excel is a treasure trove of time-saving features that often go unnoticed. In this post, we’ll explore 11 tips that can simplify your workflow, reduce errors, and even wow your coworkers.

1. Copy and Paste Values Only

Instead of the usual copy-paste routine, try this faster method:

• Hover over the cell border until the cursor changes to crosshairs.
• Then, right-click and drag to your destination.
• Finally, release the mouse and select Copy Here as Values Only.

This quick trick eliminates the need for separate copy-paste actions.

2. Filter by Selected Cell Value

Apply filters faster with this method:

• Right-click on a cell containing the value you want to filter.
• Select Filter > Filter by Selected Cell’s Value.

Bonus: Use the Menu key (if available) to accomplish the same thing. The shortcut to apply a filter is Menu + E + V. To remove it, use Menu + E + E.

3. Pick from a Dropdown List

For data entry, use this feature to save time and avoid errors:

• Right-click a cell.
• Then choose Pick from Dropdown List to see all unique values in the column.

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Alt + ↓ to access the list and make a selection.

4. Insert Custom Templates

Speed up repetitive tasks by using custom templates. For example, let’s say you often use the same tables or layouts, like a chart of accounts or a product mapping table. Instead of opening an existing workbook and copying the data manually, you can create a custom Excel template and insert it directly into any workbook.

How to Set It Up

1. Open a workbook with the sheets or tables you want to use as your template.
2. Then, save the file as an Excel Template (.xltx) by going to File > Save As and selecting the Excel Template file type.
3. Locate the Excel Start folder:
   • Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations and find the User Startup folder path.
   • Copy the folder path and save your template file into this folder.
4. Now, in any workbook:
   • Right-click on a sheet tab and select Insert.
   • You’ll see your custom template listed. Select it, and then Excel will insert your predefined sheets instantly.

This setup ensures that your templates are always accessible and saves you time from manually recreating or importing frequently used sheets.

5. Search for Commands

If you’re unsure where to find a command:

• Right-click anywhere in Excel and use the Search bar to locate features like Remove Duplicates or Conditional Formatting.

Shortcut: Alt + Q opens the search bar directly.

6. Clear Contents Without a Delete Key

For laptops without a Delete key, clear contents by:

• Selecting cells, right-clicking, and choosing Clear Contents.

7. Edit and Customize Shapes

Create professional visuals with these right-click tricks:

• Insert a shape such as a curved line and right-click > Edit Points to adjust its shape.
• Also, you can add or remove points for a completely custom design.

8. Save Shapes and Text as an Image

Turn Excel designs into standalone images:

• Select any portion of your image and then select all by clicking on Ctrl + A.
• Then, with these shapes and/or text selected, right-click, and choose Save as Picture.
• Save as a PNG to retain a transparent background.

9. Duplicate Shapes

Quickly copy shapes in your workbook:

• Right-click and drag a shape, release the mouse, and select Copy Here.

Hold Shift during this process to keep the shape aligned horizontally or vertically.

10. Show or Hide the Pivot Table Field List

Toggle the field list for Pivot Tables:

• Right-click anywhere on the table and select Show Field List (or Hide Field List).

11. Navigate Workbooks Easily

For workbooks with many sheets:

• Right-click the navigation arrows in the bottom-left corner to view a list of all sheets.
• Then select or double-click the sheet you want to jump to.

Bonus Tip: Grid Hopping

When working with large sheets, scrolling can be slow and inefficient. The right-click menu offers quick navigation options to move around your workbook effortlessly:

• Right-click in the vertical scroll area to jump directly to the top or bottom of the sheet.
• Right-click in the horizontal scroll area to move to the left or right edge.
• Additional options like Page Up and Page Down are available for quick navigation.

This feature is particularly useful if your keyboard doesn’t have dedicated navigation keys like Page Up or Page Down.

If you'd like to explore more navigation tips using keyboard shortcuts, here's a post that will help: Navigating Cells and Ranges.

Conclusion

Excel’s right-click menu is packed with powerful tools that can make your workflows faster and easier. By incorporating these tips, you can impress your coworkers and save valuable time.

So, which tip will you start using today? Leave a comment below—we’d love to hear from you!

Ready to Learn More?

These tips are just the beginning.

For a deeper dive into modern Excel features like dynamic arrays and spill ranges, check out our Modern Formulas Course.

This course will be available for our lowest price ever this Black Friday. You'll get lifetime access to exclusive Excel training on Modern Formulas PLUS tons of resources to help you level up your Excel game.

Join the waitlist here to be notified when the sale goes live next week.