All shortcuts

Add / Remove Filter in Google Sheets

Windows

Ctrl+Shift+L

Mac

+Shift+L

Ctrl + Shift + L is the Excel reflex for slapping filters onto a data table. Type it in Google Sheets and nothing happens — Sheets wants you to find Data > Create a filter in the menu.

XLKeys wires the same keystroke into Sheets: press Ctrl + Shift + L once to add filter dropdowns to your data range, press it again to remove them.

Excel vs. Google Sheets vs. XLKeys

WhereShortcut
ExcelCtrl+Shift+L
Google Sheets (native)No keyboard shortcut
Google Sheets + XLKeysCtrl+Shift+L

Google Sheets requires Data > Create a filter from the menu or the toolbar funnel icon — Ctrl + Shift + L does nothing natively.

How to use it

  1. Click anywhere inside your data range.
  2. Press Ctrl + Shift + L (⌘ + Shift + L on Mac).
  3. Filter dropdowns appear on the header row.
  4. Press it again to remove the filter.

Frequently asked questions

Related shortcuts

Make Google Sheets feel like Excel

Install XLKeys to use add / remove filter and 150+ other Excel-style shortcuts, Alt-key sequences, formula auditing, Goal Seek, and Sensitivity Tables in Google Sheets.