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Fill Colour Shortcut in Excel

ExcelExcelHighlight cellsChecked 2 Nov 2026

Open the fill palette

AltHH

Press one after another, pick with arrows, Enter

Repeat the last colour

F4

Format Cells, Fill tab

Ctrl1

The fill colour shortcut in Excel is a ribbon sequence: select the cells, press Alt, H, H, and the Fill Color palette opens. Arrows pick the colour and Enter applies it. Because no Ctrl combination exists for fill colour, this sequence is what keyboard users rely on.

After you colour one range, F4 applies the same fill to any other selection. That makes highlighting dozens of rows yellow quicker than clicking the paint bucket each time.

Quick facts

  • Fill palette

    Alt, then H, then H

  • Pick colour

    Arrow keys, then Enter

  • Repeat

    F4

  • No fill

    Alt, then H, then H, then N

  • More fill options

    Ctrl + 1, Fill tab

  • Font colour

    Alt, then H, then F, then C

Fill colour shortcut in Excel, step by step

  1. Select the cells to colour.
  2. Press Alt, then H, then H. The colour grid opens.
  3. Arrow over to a colour, such as yellow in the row of standard colours.
  4. Press Enter. The cells fill with that colour.

Now select other cells and press F4 to give them the same colour. F4 keeps working until you do a different action.

Fill and highlight keys in Excel

Colour keys
ActionKeys
Open fill colour paletteAlt, then H, then H
Remove fillAlt, then H, then H, then N
Repeat last fillF4
Open Format Cells fill optionsCtrl + 1, then the Fill tab
Font colour paletteAlt, then H, then F, then C
Conditional formatting menuAlt, then H, then L

Shortcut to highlight a cell yellow in Excel

Yellow is the usual highlighter colour. After you choose it once from Alt, H, H, the paint bucket button on the Home tab remembers it, so a single click applies yellow next time. For a true one key shortcut, right click the paint bucket and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar; it then gets Alt plus a number, such as Alt + 4, based on its position.

Use colour for meaning, not decoration: one colour for pending, one for done. Too many colours make a sheet harder to read and print poorly in black and white.

Colour cells automatically

For colours that follow the data, such as red for negative balances or green for paid invoices, use conditional formatting: Alt, H, L, H opens Highlight Cells Rules. The colour updates by itself when values change. The filter drop down can then filter by colour too.

When fill colour does not apply

Problems and fixes
ProblemFix
Keys type letters into a cellPress Esc to leave edit mode first
Colour does not showConditional formatting or a table style overrides it
F4 does something elseYou did another action after colouring; colour again, then F4
Colour missing on printCheck Page Setup, Sheet tab, Black and white is unticked
A sales coordinator reviews 300 orders. Each time she finds a problem order, she selects the row and presses F4 to fill it yellow, after setting the colour once with Alt, H, H.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fill colour shortcut in Excel?
Alt, H, H, then arrow keys and Enter.
How do I highlight a cell yellow in Excel quickly?

Pick yellow once from the palette, then press F4 on other cells.

Is there a Ctrl shortcut for fill colour?

No, but you can add the paint bucket to the Quick Access Toolbar for an Alt + number key.

How do I remove fill colour?
Alt, H, H, N for No Fill.
What is the font colour shortcut?
Alt, H, F, C.
How do I fill colour in Excel for Mac?

Use the paint bucket, or Command + 1 and the Fill tab.