# Microsoft Excel - Alt-Tab equivalent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988 "2000-10-06T18:01:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/1 "2000-10-06T18:01:33Z")
Quick Question. Manny, if this belongs in another forum, please do move it. In Excel, is there a way to switch between documents with a quick keystroke? I’m looking for something like how Alt-Tab moves you between applications. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/2 "2000-10-06T18:39:05Z")
You want to move between different workbooks in Excel - not go to an entirely different app, right? Try Ctrl-Tab. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/3 "2000-10-06T18:41:18Z")
Well, I didn’t find one keystroke that would do it for you. However, you can do an “alt + W” and then hit whatever number you want to switch to. While it’s a little cumbersome at first, after a few seconds, it felt more comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/4 "2000-10-06T18:42:35Z")
_sigh_…Or you could just follow MissBunny’s advice, which was much more helpful than mine. What’s really sad it right after I read it, I remember that trick being one of the one’s that a friend of mine used when teaching Excel. ---
**Author:** ![TinCanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@TinCanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TinCanMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/5 "2000-10-06T18:51:06Z")
Ctrl-PageUp, Ctrl-PageDown = different worksheets in the same workbook Ctrl-Tab = different workbooks you have open ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/6 "2000-10-06T19:20:40Z")
Any keystroke to move between Word or PowerPoint docs? I tried the ones mentioned above for Excel, and they don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/7 "2000-10-06T20:07:51Z")
I think only the Alt-W-(document #) works in PPT and Word. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/8 "2000-10-06T20:15:03Z")
Thank you, missbunny!!! Well, thanks to you all, but special thanks to missbunny! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/9 "2000-10-06T20:19:15Z")
For Word, try \+\. I can’t speak to PowerPoint. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-excel-alt-tab-equivalent/35988/10 "2000-10-06T20:32:45Z")
You’re welcome, Mr. Cynical 🙂 Hey, that Ctrl-F6 works in PPT too! I had to use two hands (not very convenient) until I discovered that if you use your thumb on the Ctrl key and your pinkie on the F6, you can do it with one hand. (Use your right hand for the Ctrl key on the left side of keyboard and your left hand for the right-hand key.)