Excel: Fix “File is locked for editing/in use” Errors By Mitch Bartlett 4 Comments When working the helpdesk, I get many calls from users who say they cannot edit a Microsoft Excel file because it is locked and in use by other user. Change 'edit current cell' shortcut in Excel Jul 15, '08 07:30:04AM. Contributed by: robg If you switch between Excel for the PC and Excel on the Mac (either 2004 or 2008), you probably know that there are many differences in the keyboard shortcuts between the two platforms.
I can't find the keyboard shortcut for this on the mac. It's F2 on a windows machine.
Kevin TretheweyKevin Trethewey
5 Answers
timboootimbooo
The problem is that the shortcut has been changed for earlier versions of excel.
F2
used to work on Excel versions before 2011.For the 2011 excel version use ctrl
+ U
instead.Felipe SabinoFelipe Sabino
I believe F2 still works, its just that on macs now, to get F2, you need to press fn+F2, otherwise it does the alternative function, which in my mac is to brighten the screen.
CamCam
Excel for Mac 2016: F2
The most recent version of Office for Mac (2016) changed a number of keyboard shortcuts to create greater similarity across Windows and Mac versions of the software. Ctrl + U appears to no longer work as a shortcut key for editing cells in Excel 2016 for Mac. Instead the F2 key must be used. Depending on the keyboard settings on your particular Mac, to trigger F2 (instead of increasing screen brightness), you may have to hold down the 'function' key (fn) while also hitting F2. To modify this behavior, go to System Preferences > Keyboard and check or uncheck 'Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys.'
JustinJustin
BryanBryan
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