How to Copy or Move Data in Excel
Everyday Excel Skills
At some point, you’ll need to copy or move data in Excel.
An ability to quickly copy or move one (or more) cells in a spreadsheet is one of those things experienced Excel users take for granted but not everyone knows how to do it. Let’s change that right now!
Here are 3 ways to copy or move data in Excel.
1) Use Cut, Copy, and Paste on the Ribbon
Using the cut, copy, and paste buttons on the ribbon in Excel can be broken down into a few simple steps.
Select the cell (or cells) you want to copy or move.
Click the Cut or Copy button in the Home > Clipboard group.
Select the destination cell.
Click Paste in the Home > Clipboard group.
2) Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Copy or Move Data
If you want to cut, copy, and paste Excel data in less time, use keyboard shortcuts. This method involves a few basic steps but we’re going to steer clear of the buttons on Excel’s ribbon.
Here’s the process:
Select the cell (or cells) you want to copy or move.
Press CTRL + x to cut or CTRL + c to copy.
Select the destination cell.
Press CTRL + v to paste.
3) Use Drag and Drop for Speed and Convenience
If you’re proficient with a mouse, using drag and drop might be the fastest and most convenient way to copy or move Excel data.
Here’s how you drag and drop:
Select the cell (or cells) you want to copy or move.
Position your pointer above the border of the selected range.
Press your left mouse button and drag the range to move it or hold CTRL and drag to copy.