Selection · original practice scenario
Add a separate cell or range to a selection
B2 and E5 are two input cells that need the same highlight.
Start here: Windows worksheet grid; selecting separate areas
Some commands cannot operate on multiple separate areas; confirm the command supports your selection.
Follow these instructions in your own desktop Excel workbook. This page explains the operation; it does not send commands to Excel.
Mac keys and context
Ctrl allows separate selections. This entry does not infer a Mac modifier from the Windows instruction.
This catalog has no verified Mac binding for this operation. The steps below describe Windows. Choose Windows to use the walkthrough and recall controls.
Walk through the operation
- Click B2.
- Hold Ctrl while clicking E5.
- Release Ctrl before applying the highlight.
Expected result: Both separate cells are selected.
Related walkthroughs
- Extend a rectangular selection to a clicked cell
- Select nonadjacent worksheet tabs
- Select adjacent worksheet tabs
- Select differences within one column
Catalog updated 2026-10-18. US keyboard notation: + joins held keys; commas separate successive presses. Function keys may require Fn. Desktop instructions are separate from this browser's own keyboard shortcuts.