Simon Sez IT

Online software training and video tutorials for Microsoft, Adobe & more

  • Course List
    • Adobe
      • Dreamweaver
        • Dreamweaver CC
        • Dreamweaver CS6
        • Dreamweaver CS5
        • Dreamweaver CS4
      • Flash
        • Flash CS5
      • InDesign
        • InDesign CS6
        • InDesign CS5
      • Photoshop
        • Photoshop CS6
        • Photoshop CS5
        • Adobe Photoshop CS4
      • Photoshop Elements
        • Photoshop Elements 2022
        • Photoshop Elements 2019
        • Photoshop Elements 2018
        • Photoshop Elements 15
        • Photoshop Elements 14
        • Photoshop Elements 13
        • Photoshop Elements 12
        • Photoshop Elements 11
        • Photoshop Elements 10
        • Photoshop Elements 9
        • Photoshop Elements 8
    • Microsoft
      • Access
        • Access 2021 Beginners
        • Access 2019
        • Access 2019 Advanced
        • Access 2016
        • Access 2016 Advanced
        • Access 2013
        • Access 2013 Advanced
        • Access 2010
        • Access 2010 Advanced
        • Access 2007
      • Excel
        • Data Analytics in Excel
        • Excel 2021 Advanced
        • Excel 2021 Intermediate
        • Excel 2021 Beginners
        • PivotTables for Beginners
        • Excel Dashboards
        • Advanced Formulas in Excel
        • Excel for Business Analysts
        • Advanced PivotTables
        • Power Pivot, Power Query and DAX in Excel
        • Excel 2019 Beginners (Mac)
        • Excel 2019 Beginners
        • Excel 2019 Advanced
        • Excel 2016 Beginners
        • Excel 2016 Intermediate
        • Excel 2016 Advanced
        • Excel 2013
        • Excel 2013 Advanced
        • Excel 2010 Beginners
        • Excel 2010 Advanced
        • Excel 2007
      • OneNote
        • OneNote Desktop and Windows 10
        • OneNote 2016
      • Outlook
        • Outlook 2021
        • Outlook 2019
        • Outlook 2016
        • Outlook 2013
        • Outlook 2010
        • Outlook 2007
      • Power Automate
        • Introduction to Power Automate
      • Power BI
        • Power BI
        • Power BI Intermediate
      • PowerPoint
        • PowerPoint 2021
        • PowerPoint 2019
        • PowerPoint 2016
        • PowerPoint 2013
        • PowerPoint 2010
        • PowerPoint 2007
      • Project
        • Project 2021 Beginners
        • Project for the Web
        • Project 2019
        • Project 2019 Advanced
        • Project 2016
        • Project 2016 Advanced
        • Project 2013
        • Project 2013 Advanced
        • Project 2010
        • Project 2010 Advanced
      • Publisher
        • Publisher 2013
      • SharePoint
        • SharePoint Online
        • SharePoint Foundation 2013
        • SharePoint Server 2013
        • SharePoint Foundation 2010
      • Teams
        • Microsoft Teams
      • VBA
        • Macros and VBA for Beginners
        • VBA for Excel
        • VBA Intermediate Training
      • Visio
        • Microsoft Visio 2019
        • Visio 2016
        • Visio 2013
        • Microsoft Visio 2010
      • Windows
        • Windows 11
        • Windows 10 (2020 Update)
        • Windows 10
        • Windows 8
        • Windows 7
        • Windows Vista
      • Word
        • Word 2021
        • Word 2019 Advanced
        • Word 2019
        • Word 2016
        • Word 2013
        • Word 2010
        • Word 2007
    • QuickBooks
      • QuickBooks
        • QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2022
        • QuickBooks Pro 2021
        • QuickBooks Online Advanced
        • QuickBooks Online
        • QuickBooks Canada
        • QuickBooks Pro 2020
        • QuickBooks 2019
        • QuickBooks 2018
        • QuickBooks Pro 2017
        • QuickBooks Pro 2016
        • QuickBooks Pro 2015
        • QuickBooks Pro 2014
        • QuickBooks Pro 2013
        • QuickBooks Pro 2012
        • QuickBooks Pro 2011
        • QuickBooks Pro 2010
        • QuickBooks Pro 2009
    • Web Development
      • AngularJs
        • AngularJS Crash Course
      • Dreamweaver
        • Dreamweaver CC
        • Dreamweaver CS6
        • Dreamweaver CS5
        • Dreamweaver CS4
      • Bootstrap
        • Bootstrap Framework
      • Html/CSS
        • HTML/CSS Crash Course
        • HTML5 Essentials
      • Python
        • Python Object-Oriented Programming
        • Pandas for Beginners
        • Introduction to Python
      • Java
        • Java for Beginners
      • JavaScript
        • JavaScript for Beginners
        • jQuery Crash Course
      • MySql
        • MySQL for Beginners
      • PHP
        • PHP for Beginners
        • Advanced PHP Programming
      • XML
        • XML Crash Course
    • Data Analysis
      • Financial Modeling
        • Financial Risk Management
        • Financial Forecasting and Modeling
      • Alteryx
        • Alteryx Advanced
        • Introduction to Alteryx
      • Power BI
        • Power BI Intermediate
        • Power BI
      • Qlik Sense
        • Qlik Sense Advanced
        • Qlik Sense
      • R Programming
        • R Programming
      • Tableau
        • Tableau Desktop Advanced
        • Tableau Desktop
      • Python
        • Python Object-Oriented Programming
        • Pandas for Beginners
        • Introduction to Python
    • Work Productivity
      • Google Sheets
        • Google Sheets for Beginners
      • Confluence
        • Introduction to Confluence
      • Monday
        • Getting Started in Monday.com
      • Asana
        • Asana for Employees and Managers
        • Introduction to Asana
      • Jira
        • Getting Started in Jira
  • For Business
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Membership
    • About Us
  • Pricing
  • Free Resources
  • Sign In
  • Get Started
Home > Microsoft Excel > How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel? 6 Useful Methods

How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel? 6 Useful Methods

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(Note: This guide on how to switch between sheets in Excel is suitable for all Excel versions including Office 365)

Every data you create, download, or enter in Excel gets stored in an Excel file. This Excel file is called an Excel workbook. Each workbook can have numerous worksheets.

The main purpose of having multiple worksheets is to store different types of data in the same workbook. 

When you are working in Excel, there will be a need for you to switch between sheets in Excel. 

In this article, I will tell you how to switch between sheets in Excel in 6 easy ways.

You’ll Learn:

  • What Is the Purpose of Worksheets in Excel?
  • How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel?
    • By Clicking and Changing the Sheets
    • Using PageUp and PageDown Keys
    • Using the Go To Option
    • Using the Activate Sheet Option
    • Using NameBox
    • Using Hyperlink Option
Sample Worksheet for How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel
Sample Worksheet for How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel

Click below to watch the Video on “How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel?”

Related Reads:

How to VLOOKUP From Another Sheet?

The 7 Golden Rules of Excel Spreadsheet Design

How to Group Worksheets in Excel? (In 3 Simple Steps)

What Is the Purpose of Worksheets in Excel?

The main purpose of worksheets is to store data that are not too similar to be in the same sheet, but also not too different to be in a different workbook. 

Maintaining your data using worksheets has some advantages of its own. 

  • When you have to share the data within or outside your organization, you don’t have to share them in multiple workbooks. Instead, you can just share a single workbook that consists of all the data.
  • Having multiple worksheets makes it easier to search, locate, and retrieve data. It also facilitates easy and simple data handling. 
  • It is easier to link data between worksheets. For example, one sheet can have the data derived from another worksheet. They can also be linked in a way that when one value changes, the other automatically changes.

How to Switch Between Sheets in Excel?

By Clicking and Changing the Sheets

This is one of the most well-known and widely used methods to change worksheets in Excel.

When you open an Excel workbook, by default, the first sheet pops up. If you have multiple worksheets and want to switch between them, you can then click on the worksheet of your choice to change them.  

  • To change the worksheet, place your mouse pointer in the worksheet tab which lies above the status bar.
  • Once you place your pointer, the particular sheet will appear bold. 
  • Once you click on it, the current worksheet will be opened. This is known as the Active sheet. 
  • If you have more sheets, some sheets might be hidden. To show the hidden sheets, click on the arrow next to the first displayed sheet and then select the required sheet. 
How to switch between sheets in Excel by clicking
How to switch between sheets in Excel by clicking

Although this is a relatively easy method to change the worksheet, it can be a little confusing when there are a lot of worksheets and when some of them are hidden. And also, clicking back and forth between sheets can be a little exasperating.

In such cases, there are a variety of other methods to switch between worksheets in Excel.

Using PageUp and PageDown Keys

If you are a person who uses a keyboard for efficient functioning, then there is a keyboard shortcut to switch between sheets in Excel easily.

  • If you want to move to the next worksheet (i.e. to your right) in the Excel workbook, hold the Ctrl key and press the PageDown key. To keep moving right, press the PageDown key until you reach your desired sheet.
  • To move to the previous worksheet (i.e. to your left), hold the Ctrl key and press the PageUp key on the keyboard.

Once you reach the first sheet, you cannot move left any further. And, when you reach the last sheet, you cannot move right. Excel does not allow options to circle between worksheets. 

Note: Suppose you are using the latest versions of keyboards, you might not have the PageUp and PageDown as single keys. Instead, you’ll have to hold the Function key and Ctrl key, and then press the PageUp or PageDown key to switch between sheets.

Using the Go To Option

This is another way to switch between sheets in Excel. Using the Go To option, you can move to any particular cell in any sheet.

  • To switch between sheets using the Go To option, first, navigate to Home. Under the Editing section, click on the dropdown from Find&Select and select Go To.
  • You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G to open the Go To dialog box.
Select Go To
Select Go To
  • This opens the Go To dialog box. 
  • In the Reference text box, enter the sheet name, followed by a separator (!) and the cell number. In this case, we want to move to cell B4 in sheet 6, so enter Sheet!B4 in the Reference text box. In the Go To dialog box, you can also see the recently viewed sheets you have moved to.

Note: The sheet name, separator, and cell number are all mandatory fields and cannot be skipped.

Enter the sheet name and click OK
Enter the sheet name and click OK
  • Once you press OK, Excel takes you to the corresponding sheet and highlights that particular cell.
How to Switch Between sheets in Excel using Go To
How to Switch Between sheets in Excel using Go To

Suggested Reads:

Bar Graph in Excel — All 4 Types Explained Easily (Excel Sheet Included)

How to Insert PDF in Excel? 5 Easy Ways

How to Convert Excel to CSV File? 2 Different Approaches

Using the Activate Sheet Option

Another easy way to move between sheets in Excel or move to a specific sheet is by using the Activate Sheet option. 

  • To switch between sheets using the Activate Sheet option, hover your mouse pointer over the arrows used to navigate between visible sheets. This can be found in the bottom left corner of the Excel window above the status bar.
  • You can see a pop-up notification.
Click on the pointed space
Click on the pointed space
  • Right-click in between the arrows. This opens the Activate Sheets dialog box.
  • Select the sheet you want to move and click OK or double-click on the sheet you want to move. You can also use the arrow keys to navigate between sheets and press Enter to move to the particular sheet.
Select the sheet
Select the sheet

Using NameBox

Another pretty simple way to move between sheets is by using the name box in the Excel window. Switching sheets using the name box works on the same principle as the Go To method. 

The Name Box is a small textbox-like pane that displays the cell name when you click on it. This is located to the left of the formula bar. 

  • To switch between sheets using the name box, first, click on the name box.
  • Enter the sheet name, separator, and cell number in the Name Box. In this case, we want to move to cell A7 in sheet 6. So, enter sheet6!a7 in the name box and press Enter.
Click on the Name Box
Click on the Name Box
  • This immediately switches the sheet and highlights the specified cell.
How to switch sheets in Excel using Activate sheets
How to switch sheets in Excel using Activate sheets

One advantage of this method is that when you use the name box to switch sheets, it shows you a history of sheets you shifted to, thereby making it easy to track data.

Using Hyperlink Option

Hyperlinking is another way to switch to a different worksheet with just the click of a button. This is helpful when you have a main reference sheet to switch to.

  • To add a hyperlink to a particular worksheet, first, select a cell.
  • Navigate to Insert. Under the Link section, click on the Link button. You can also right-click on the cell and click on Link.
Click on Link
Click on Link
  • This opens the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.
  • Click on the Place in this Document section and select the sheet you want to move to. In this example, we want to move from sheet 6 to sheet 8. So, click on the sheet you want to move to and click OK.
  • If you want to have a different anchor rather than the default one, change the text in the Text to display text box.
Select the sheet and click OK
Select the sheet and click OK
  • This inserts the anchor text containing the hyperlink in the specified cell. 
Click on the hyperlink
Click on the hyperlink

Now, when you click on the anchor text, Excel takes you to the specified worksheet.

Also Read:

How to Change Row Height in Excel? 5 Easy Ways

How to Enable Full Screen in Excel? 3 Simple Ways

How to Convert Word to Excel? 3 Easy Ways

Frequently Asked Questions

How to switch between sheets in Excel using a keyboard shortcut?

Using the PageUp and PageDown keys is one of the most effective and easy ways to move between sheets in Excel. Hold the Ctrl key and press the PageUp button to move the sheet to the right, or the PageDown button to move the sheet to the left.

How to move to a specific worksheet in Excel?

Using the Go To method, Activate sheet method, and the Name Box method are simple and effective ways to jump to specific worksheets in Excel. Using these methods, you can select any specific sheet name and move to them.

Why can’t I see the hidden sheets in Excel?

When the number of worksheets increases, the first or last worksheets get hidden. Using the arrow keys next to the sheet, you can move between the visible worksheets in Excel. 

Closing Thoughts

In this article, we saw how to switch between sheets in Excel using 6 easy ways. When there are multiple worksheets in Excel, moving between them using the method that suits you the best helps increase the efficiency of your work.

Want more high-quality guides for Excel? Check out our free Excel resources centre. 

Click here to access in-depth Excel training courses and master in-demand advanced Excel skills. 

Simon Sez IT has been teaching critical IT software for over ten years. For a low, monthly fee you can get access to 130+ IT training courses by seasoned professionals.

Simon Calder

Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA. He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!

Most Popular Posts

  • Kanban vs Scrum: Project Management Methodologies and Their Differences [2022]
  • How to Insert a Checkbox in Excel? 3 EASY Examples
  • How to Autofit Excel Cells? 3 Best Methods
  • XLOOKUP Google Sheets – 4 Best Alternatives!
  • Dashboards in Excel Using Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts and Slicers
  • Free Microsoft Project Training Course
  • Free Microsoft Access Tutorial for Beginners (3.5 Hours Video)
  • How to Use Blending Mode With Layers in Adobe Photoshop Elements 15

Similar Posts

How to Filter in Excel? A Step-by-Step Guide

The Publisher 2013 Interface: Navigating the Ribbon

How to Create Pivot Charts in Excel 2013

How to Mail Merge in Word

Using the Layout Tab for Excel 2010 Charts and Graphs – Part 1

Automate Incoming Email in Outlook 2013

Course Categories

  • Adobe
  • Data Analysis
  • QuickBooks
  • Microsoft
  • Web Development
  • Work Productivity

About Us

  • About Us
  • Free Resources
  • Affiliates
  • Become an Instructor

Products

  • Pricing and Plans
  • Business Pricing
  • Government Discounts
  • Non-Profit Discounts

Support

  • FAQ’s
  • Contact Us
  • DVD support

Connect

YoutubeFacebookLinkedIn
© 2023 Simon Sez IT, Inc.
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
888.817.6665 Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ET)