Alt + E A A Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Clear All (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

Alt + E + A + A is a legacy pre-ribbon shortcut for Clear All. With Accelerator Keys, this shortcut works exactly like the modern Alt + H + E + A sequence.

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If you are looking for the Alt + E A A shortcut on Mac Excel, you may be familiar with this shortcut from older versions of Excel (2003 and earlier). This legacy shortcut still works with Accelerator Keys and maps to the modern ribbon equivalent.

What Does Alt + E A A Do?

Alt + E + A + A is the legacy shortcut for Edit > Clear > All. It clears everything from the selected cells: values, formulas, formatting, comments, and hyperlinks.

Legacy vs. Modern Shortcut Comparison

Shortcut Era Menu Path
Alt + E + A + A Legacy (Excel 2003) Edit > Clear > All
Alt + H + E + A Modern (Ribbon) Home > Clear > Clear All

Both shortcuts work with Accelerator Keys!

Step-by-Step: How to do Alt + E A A on Mac Excel

  1. Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
  2. Select cells: Choose the cells you want to clear.
  3. Activate the Ribbon: Press the Option key.
  4. Execute Sequence: Press E, then A, then A.
  5. Result: All content and formatting is removed from the selected cells.

Warning: Clear All removes everything including formatting. Use Clear Contents (Alt + E + A + C) if you want to preserve formatting.

Clear Options Comparison

Shortcut Action What it Clears
Alt + E + A + A Clear All Everything
Alt + E + A + F Clear Formats Only formatting
Alt + E + A + C Clear Contents Only values/formulas
Alt + E + A + M Clear Comments Only comments

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the modern equivalent of Alt + E A A?

The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + H + E + A (Home > Clear > Clear All). Both work with Accelerator Keys.

Does Alt + E A A work natively on Mac Excel?

No, the native Mac Excel “KeyTips” does not support legacy pre-ribbon shortcuts. You need Accelerator Keys to use Alt + E + A + A on Mac.

What’s the difference between Clear All and Delete?

Clear All removes contents but keeps the cells. Delete (Alt + E + D) removes the cells entirely and shifts adjacent cells.

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