To select multiple cells in Excel that are not next to each other (non- adjacent cells), you can use several effective methods:

Methods to Select Non-Adjacent Cells in Excel

1. Using the Ctrl Key (Most Common Method)

• Click on the first cell you want to select.
• Hold down the Ctrl key.
• While holding Ctrl, click on each additional cell or drag to select ranges of cells that are not adjacent.
• Release the Ctrl key once all desired cells are selected.

This method allows you to manually pick any cells or ranges anywhere in the worksheet

. 2. Using Shift + F8 Keyboard Shortcut

• Select the first cell or range.
• Press Shift + F8 to enter "Add or Remove Selection" mode, which lets you add more cells or ranges to your selection without using the mouse.
• Use the mouse or arrow keys to select additional non-adjacent cells or ranges.
• Press Shift + F8 again to exit the mode when done.

This method is useful when you want to build a selection of multiple non- contiguous cells purely with the keyboard or combined keyboard and mouse

. 3. Using the Name Box

• Click on the Name Box (located to the left of the formula bar).
• Type the addresses of the cells or ranges you want to select, separated by commas. For example: A2, D12, F4, G11
• Press Enter and Excel will select all those non-adjacent cells/ranges at once.

This is a quick way to select multiple specific cells or ranges if you know their addresses

. 4. Using the Go To Command

• Go to the Home tab.
• Click Find & Select > Go To (or press Ctrl + G).
• In the "Reference" box, enter the cells or ranges separated by commas, e.g., A1:A5, C1:C5, E1.
• Click OK to select all specified non-adjacent cells/ranges.

This method is similar to the Name Box approach and useful for selecting multiple cells quickly

Summary Table

Method| How to Use| Best For
---|---|---
Ctrl Key| Hold Ctrl and click/drag to select multiple cells| Quick manual selection with mouse
Shift + F8| Select first cell, press Shift+F8, add more cells/ranges| Keyboard-based selection
Name Box| Type cell addresses separated by commas, press Enter| Selecting known cell addresses
Go To Command| Use Home > Find & Select > Go To, enter addresses, OK| Selecting multiple specific cells

These methods work in all modern Excel versions including Office 365

. By using these techniques, you can efficiently select multiple non-adjacent cells or ranges in Excel for formatting, data entry, or other operations.