The BEST way to use Alt Key Keyboard Shortcuts in Google Sheets

If you came from Excel, you already know the muscle memory. Tap Alt, release, type a few letters. Alt H H for fill color. Alt E S V for paste values. Alt H O I to autofit. In Sheets that just... doesnt work. You hit Alt and Chrome grabs the menu, or nothing happens.

Theres no built-in fix. The "compatible spreadsheet shortcuts" toggle helps with a few basics (F4, etc), but it does not add Alt sequences. Native Sheets has some different keys (Ctrl+Shift+V for paste values), and the rest is toolbar clicking.

I built XLKeys for this. Its a Chrome extension that intercepts the keys in the tab so Excel Alt sequences run the way your hands expect. Install it, refresh the sheet, tap Alt (Option on Mac), type the letters.

A few examples that work once its on:

• Alt H H -- fill color
• Alt H B A -- all borders
• Alt H O I -- autofit column width
• Alt E S V -- paste values
• Alt E S W -- paste column widths
• Alt W F F -- freeze panes

Same idea as Excel. Not a new keyboard language. Just the old one working in Sheets.

If you want Alt keys back in Google Sheets, XLKeys is the straightforward way. Install it here.