Hello Chris,

Welcome to Microsoft Community and thank you for posting your query.

Let me assist you with Excel superscripts and subscripts key board shortcuts.

You may try the following key board shortcuts and check if it helps.

• For superscript, select the text or number that you want, and then press Ctrl, Shift, and the Plus sign (+) at the same time.

• For subscript, select the text or number that you want, and then press Ctrl and the Equal sign (=) at the same time.

You may also refer to the following link which discusses about the similar issue and check if it helps.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_2007-excel/how-to-create-custom-keyboard-shortcuts/9726911c-b74b-4c07-b531-ce940582911f

I hope the above information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.

Thank you.

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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › excel › format-text-or-numbers-as-superscript-or-subscript
Format text or numbers as superscript or subscript | Microsoft Support
Use Alt+HFNE for superscript, and Alt+HFNB for subscript. If you are an Office subscriber or you have Office 2019, you can add shortcuts to the superscript and subscript commands to your Quick Access Toolbar. This keeps them at your fingertips to use any time.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/excel › shortcut for subscripts on mac
r/excel on Reddit: Shortcut for Subscripts on Mac
December 6, 2023 -

I am trying to figure out if there is a better shortcut for writing subscripts/superscripts into Excel on my Mac. As of right now the best shortcut option I have is ctrl + 1 and then selecting subscript or superscript. Surely there has to be a better way? Thanks

I have Excel for Mac version 16.79.2

ETA: I checked for questions similar to mine already in the subreddit, but they are all from years ago, and I am not sure if this is a newer issue. Also, I have already googled this issue, and all the answers seem to point to the ctrl + 1 solution. I just feel like there has to be a better way I am missing.

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Ablebits
ablebits.com › ablebits blog › excel › excel formatting › how to superscript and subscript in excel (text and numbers)
How to superscript and subscript in Excel (text and numbers)
March 17, 2023 - Like any other formatting in Excel, it changes only visual representation of the value in a cell. The formula bar will display the original value without any indication of the applied superscript or subscript format. Although there is no shortcut in its pure sense to add subscript or superscript in Excel, this can be done with a couple of key combinations.
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DataCamp
datacamp.com › tutorial › superscript-in-excel
Superscript in Excel: Format Text and Numbers Above the Line | DataCamp
May 3, 2025 - In the Font tab, check the "Superscript" box under the Effects section · Click OK to apply the formatting. Although Excel does not have a dedicated shortcut for superscripting, you can use a fast keystroke path:
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/excel › superscript in excel 365
r/excel on Reddit: Superscript in Excel 365
April 14, 2025 - Does anyone know how to change text to superscript in Microsoft Excel 365 on Mac & PC? All the forums I find seem to only refer to the older version(s) of Excel. I can not find an "Effects" tab, my "Symbols" option isn't accessible, no matter what I format the text to, and the only superscript that shows in the search bar is for equations.
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Wyzant
wyzant.com › resources › ask an expert
What is the shortcut key for subscript and superscript in Excel? | Wyzant Ask An Expert
May 16, 2018 - There isn't a shortcut, but you can add it to the quick access toolbar. Click the down arrow for the quick access toolbar, then go to "More Commands" scroll down the menu until you come to subscript and superscript then highlight them and click the "add" button.
Find elsewhere
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-us › office › format-text-as-superscript-or-subscript-e989637a-12ec-4fe5-8b04-345342408abd
Format text as superscript or subscript | Microsoft Support
You can make text superscript or subscript without changing the font size. For superscript, enter a higher percentage in the Offset box.
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Upwork
upwork.com › resources › articles › how to apply superscript and subscript formats in excel
How To Apply Superscript and Subscript Formats in Excel - Upwork
September 19, 2024 - These also won’t work on all computers. Click an empty cell to select it. Hold down Alt or Option and type in the correct superscript or subscript shortcut on your computer’s number pad.some text
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Wall Street Mojo
wallstreetmojo.com › home › excel resources › formatting in excel › superscript in excel
Superscript in Excel | Top 5 Methods to Format Text
November 26, 2018 - In the dialog box, we can tick the checkbox of “Superscript” and then click on “OK.” · The method mentioned above was long. We could also use the shortcut key, Ctrl+Shift+F, Alt+e. ... Learn Excel formulas, templates, dashboards, and AI-assisted workflows used in finance and analysis.
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Excel Easy
excel-easy.com
#1 Excel Tutorial on the Net - Excel Easy
Fully illustrated Excel tutorial + 300 examples. 100% free.
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ExcelMojo
excelmojo.com › home › excel productivity and shortcuts › superscript in excel
Superscript in Excel - How to Add? (Top 6 Method & Shortcuts)
April 28, 2026 - Step 4: Similarly, press the shortcut keys to select the Superscript option from the Effects list. Step 5: Lastly, press Enter key; the value entered in cell A2 is the Superscript value. Likewise, we can insert superscript in Excel.
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Bizinfograph
bizinfograph.com › home › superscript and subscript › how to superscript and subscript in excel?
How to Superscript and Subscript in Excel?
May 9, 2024 - Select “Superscript” or “Subscript” from “Effects” menu, then click OK. Your text ought to update itself. ... Although there are no direct shortcut keys in Excel to turn text into superscript or subscript, you can use a shortcut key to open the Format Cells dialog box.
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Spreadsheeto
spreadsheeto.com › home › blog › how to use superscript and subscript in excel (full guide)
How to Use Superscript and Subscript in Excel (Full Guide)
June 5, 2025 - This is the keyboard shortcut to make the Format Cells menu pop up. Press the Alt key and E (Alt + E). When you press this key combination, you check the Superscript option. Finally, press Enter.
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SimonsezIt
simonsezit.com › article › superscript-in-excel
How to Superscript in Excel? (9 Best Methods)
October 26, 2021 - The shortcut key for superscript in Excel is “Ctrl+1” followed by “Alt+E”. Select the part of the text you want to be changed into superscript and press “Ctrl+1” and “Alt+E” successively.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254127576
How do I format a single character as superscript ...
August 20, 2022 - Using Mac Air and Perixx keyboard with no number pad. The ROW of numbers does work on excel - Just not the external keypad. HELP 2404 6 ... I found a response that said to edit the field and put the cursor before the character you want to superscript (or subscript).
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Excel Champs
excelchamps.com › excel champs › excel keyboard shortcuts › superscript (excel shortcut)
Superscript (Excel Shortcut)
January 10, 2024 - Now, press the “Alt + E” keys to move the selection to checkmark the Superscript option. In the end, press the “Enter” key and your selected text will be moved slightly above the rest of the characters in the cell.
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Alt Codes
alt-codes.net › bullet_alt_codes.php
⦾ ‣ ⁌ ⁍ ⦿ Bullet Symbols
Bullet alt codes and symbols, learn how to write circle, reverse, triangle and hypen bullets text characters with letters and numbers.