ShortieCuts

What it is

ShortieCuts is a Chrome extension that brings Excel, PowerPoint and Word shortcuts to Google Sheets, Slides and Docs. Press Alt in Google Sheets and an on-screen Key Tips overlay appears showing letter hints, allowing you to type the same Alt key sequences you use in Excel—for example Alt H O I to autofit a column width. The extension includes 233 Excel Alt key shortcuts for Google Sheets, 148 PowerPoint shortcuts for Google Slides, and 149 Word shortcuts for Google Docs.

Beyond shortcuts, ShortieCuts adds missing Excel tools to Google Sheets: Trace Precedents and Trace Dependents to navigate formula dependencies, Goal Seek to find optimal values, and Auto-Color to format cells by type. It also supports custom key sequences and chart format presets.

The extension runs entirely in your browser and does not read or store the content of your spreadsheets, slides or documents. It keeps only your account email for subscription and usage counts of which shortcuts you use.

Questions from the bench

Can I use Alt key shortcuts in Google Sheets like in Excel?

Yes. ShortieCuts is a Chrome extension that brings Excel's Alt key sequences to Google Sheets. It supports 233 Excel sequences in Sheets, plus 148 PowerPoint shortcuts in Google Slides and 149 Word shortcuts in Google Docs (530 in all).

Does ShortieCuts show an on-screen Key Tips overlay like Excel's ribbon?

Yes. When you press Alt (Option on Mac) in Google Sheets, ShortieCuts shows an on-screen Key Tips overlay with letter hints for the next key, like Excel's ribbon. Type the letters to drill down through the menu hierarchy.

How do I trace precedents and dependents in Google Sheets?

ShortieCuts adds Excel's tracing keys to Google Sheets: press Ctrl+[ to select the cells a formula refers to (Trace Precedents), including on other tabs, and Ctrl+] to find the formulas that refer to the active cell (Trace Dependents). Press F5 to open a Traces list and jump back to previous cells.

Is ShortieCuts safe and does it read my spreadsheet data?

Yes, it is safe. ShortieCuts never reads or stores the content of your Google Sheets, Slides or Docs because shortcuts run in your browser. It signs in with your Google email only and keeps only your account email for subscription and counts of which shortcuts you use.

How do I use Alt H O I in Google Sheets?

With ShortieCuts installed, press Alt, then H, O, I in Google Sheets to autofit the selected columns' width, exactly as in Excel (Option, then H, O, I on a Mac). Without an extension, Google Sheets ignores Alt H O I; the built-in route is double-clicking the column's right border, or right-clicking the column header and choosing Resize column, then Fit to data.