All shortcuts
Goal Seek in Google Sheets
ProWindows
Alt→A→W→G
Mac
Option→A→W→G
Goal Seek answers “what input gives me this output?” — what growth rate hits $10M revenue, what price gets to breakeven. In Excel it’s Alt A W G. In Google Sheets it’s a clunky add-on buried in the Extensions menu.
XLKeys builds Goal Seek into Sheets behind the exact Excel keystroke. Press Alt A W G, point at the formula cell, the target value, and the input to vary, and XLKeys iterates to the answer.
Excel vs. Google Sheets vs. XLKeys
| Where | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Excel | Alt→A→W→G |
| Google Sheets (native) | No keyboard shortcut |
| Google Sheets + XLKeys | Alt→A→W→G |
Google offers Goal Seek only as a separate add-on you must install and launch from the Extensions menu — there is no shortcut.
How to use it
- Press Alt, release it, then type A, W, G.
- Set cell: choose the formula cell you want to hit a target.
- To value: enter the target number.
- By changing cell: pick the input cell to vary, then run — XLKeys solves for the input.
Frequently asked questions
Related shortcuts
Make Google Sheets feel like Excel
Install XLKeys to use goal seek and 150+ other Excel-style shortcuts, Alt-key sequences, formula auditing, Goal Seek, and Sensitivity Tables in Google Sheets.