Word for Mac table shortcuts let you fill in a table without reaching for the mouse: Tab moves to the next cell, ⇧ Shift + Tab goes back, and Tab in the last cell adds a new row. This free cheat sheet lists 16 table keys and 4 mouse moves on one page.
The mouse moves are for resizing columns: hold a key while you drag a column line. New to tables? Start with how to make a table in Word, then keep this sheet beside you while you work. For the full Mac list, see Microsoft’s Keyboard shortcuts in Word page.
Download the Free PDF Cheat Sheet
This free cheat sheet groups the table shortcuts into Moving Around a Table, Rows & Cell Content, Resizing Columns and Zoom. The ZIP file has a US Letter PDF and an A4 PDF.
Tab Works Differently in a Table
Inside a table, Tab moves between cells instead of typing a tab, and it selects the text in the next cell as it goes. To type an actual tab character inside a cell, press ⌥ Option + Tab.
The keys that jump to the ends of a row or column use Control: ⌃ Control + Home and ⌃ Control + End for the row. On a MacBook, press Fn with the Left or Right Arrow in place of Home or End. Without Page Up and Page Down keys, use the Up and Down Arrows to move a row at a time instead.
Shortcuts for Moving Around a Table
Tab and the arrow keys move one cell or row at a time. The Control shortcuts jump straight to the first or last cell of the row or column.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Next cell | Tab |
| Previous cell | ⇧ Shift + Tab |
| Next row | ↓ Down Arrow |
| Previous row | ↑ Up Arrow |
| First cell in row | ⌃ Control + Home |
| Last cell in row | ⌃ Control + End |
| First cell in column | ⌃ Control + Page Up |
| Last cell in column | ⌃ Control + Page Down |
Row and Cell Content Shortcuts
Adding a row with Tab only works in the last cell of the table. Return starts a new paragraph inside the same cell.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Add a row at the bottom | Tab (in the last cell) |
| Insert a row | ⌘ Cmd + ⌃ Control + I |
| Select adjacent cells | ⇧ Shift + Arrow keys |
| New paragraph in a cell | ↩ Return |
| Tab character in a cell | ⌥ Option + Tab |
Resizing Columns with the Mouse
These are mouse moves. Point at a column line until the pointer changes, hold the key shown, then drag.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move one column line | Drag the column line |
| Change the table width | ⇧ Shift + drag |
| Equal widths to the right | ⌘ Cmd + ⇧ Shift + drag |
| Proportional widths | ⌘ Cmd + drag |
Zoom Shortcuts
Zoom changes how big the page looks on screen, not the printed size. It helps when a wide table has narrow columns.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom in | ⌘ Cmd + Plus sign |
| Zoom out | ⌘ Cmd + - |
| Back to 100% | ⌘ Cmd + 0 |
Mac Table Keys Compared with Windows
Tab and Shift + Tab work the same on both. The jump keys change their modifier, and so does the tab character:
| Action | Word for Mac | Word for Windows |
|---|---|---|
| First cell in row | ⌃ Control + Home | Alt + Home |
| Last cell in row | ⌃ Control + End | Alt + End |
| First cell in column | ⌃ Control + Page Up | Alt + Page Up |
| Tab character in a cell | ⌥ Option + Tab | Ctrl + Tab |
👉 The Windows keys come from our Word table shortcuts guide, which covers Word on Windows in more depth.
Pro Tips for Word for Mac Table Shortcuts
- Press Tab in the last cell to add rows as you type, instead of using the menus.
- Hold Command while you drag a column line to resize the columns proportionally.
- Zoom in with ⌘ Cmd + Plus sign to check narrow columns, then press ⌘ Cmd + 0 to go back to 100%.
- To tidy up a table, see how to delete a row in a table in Word.
FAQs
What are Word for Mac table shortcuts?
They are keys and mouse moves for working in Word tables on a Mac: moving between cells, adding rows, typing a tab in a cell and resizing columns. This sheet is for Word for Mac only.
How do I add a row to a table in Word for Mac?
Click in the last cell and press Tab to add a row at the bottom, or press ⌘ Cmd + ⌃ Control + I to insert a row.
How do I type a tab inside a table cell on a Mac?
Press ⌥ Option + Tab. Tab on its own moves to the next cell.
How do I jump to the first cell in a row?
Press ⌃ Control + Home. On a MacBook, press Control with Fn and the Left Arrow.
How do I resize columns evenly in Word for Mac?
Hold Command and Shift while you drag a column line to make the columns to the right equal widths.
How do I select several cells with the keyboard?
Hold ⇧ Shift and press the arrow keys to extend the selection into the next cells.
More Word for Mac Cheat Sheets
The other sheets in the Word for Mac set, each with its own page and free download:
- Word for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts: 26 Essential Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Formatting Shortcuts: 23 Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Text Selection Shortcuts: 24 Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Track Changes Shortcuts: 19 Keys (Free PDF)
- Word for Mac Function Keys: 25 F1–F11 Shortcuts (Free PDF)
- Free Word for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Bundle: 6 Cheat Sheets (PDF): all six sheets in one PDF
Conclusion
Word for Mac table shortcuts turn table work into a quick routine: Tab through the cells, add rows as you go and resize with a held key. Print the sheet and keep it beside your Mac for your next table.
Ready to tidy up your tables? Learn how to merge tables in Word next.
Related Tutorials
- How to Make a Table in Word: 3 Easy Methods
- How to Delete a Row in a Table in Word: 3 Easy Methods
- How to Remove a Column from a Table in Word: 3 Easy Methods
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