How to Return to a Column When Typing Data in Excel

Quickly enter your spreadsheet data into multiple rows and columns using the Tab and Enter keys. In Microsoft Excel, you can press the Tab key to move your selection to the next cell after entering data. After you enter all of your necessary data values for one row, use the Enter key to return to the cell in the row directly below your first column of data. If you want to return to the previous cell when you press the Enter key, then you can adjust the default enter key behavior in the Advanced category of Excel Options.

Enter your first data value into cell "A1."

Press the "Tab" key to move to the next column in the current row.

Repeat the process until you have entered all of the data for your first row.

Press the "Enter" key to return to the column containing your first data on a new row.

Click the "File" menu in Excel and then click "Options" from the left sidebar.

Click "Advanced" from the left sidebar.

Select the default behavior for the Enter key. Click the "Direction" drop-down box next to After Pressing Enter, Move Selection under Editing Options, and then select "Left."

Click the "OK" button to save changes and close the Excel Options dialog.

Select a cell in your worksheet and then press the "Enter" key to automatically move your selection to the adjacent cell in the column to the left. If you are selecting a cell in column A, then your selection will not change when you press Enter.