Alt + E D Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Delete Cells (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

Alt + E + D is a legacy pre-ribbon shortcut that opens the Delete menu. With Accelerator Keys, this shortcut works exactly like the modern Alt + H + D sequence.

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If you are looking for the Alt + E D 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 D Do?

Alt + E + D is the legacy shortcut for Edit > Delete. It opens the Delete menu, allowing you to delete cells, rows, columns, or sheets.

Legacy vs. Modern Shortcut Comparison

Shortcut	Era	Menu Path
Alt + E + D	Legacy (Excel 2003)	Edit > Delete
Alt + H + D	Modern (Ribbon)	Home > Delete

Both shortcuts work with Accelerator Keys!

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

Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
Select cells: Choose the cells, rows, or columns you want to delete.
Activate the Ribbon: Press the Option key.
Execute Sequence: Press E, then D.
Result: The Delete menu opens with options for deleting cells, rows, columns, or sheets.

After pressing Alt + E + D, you can choose:

Key	Action
D	Delete Cells (shows shift options)
R	Delete Sheet Rows
C	Delete Sheet Columns
S	Delete Sheet

Delete vs. Clear

Action	What Happens
Delete (Alt + E + D)	Removes cells and shifts adjacent cells
Clear (Alt + E + A)	Removes contents but keeps cells in place

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the modern equivalent of Alt + E D?

The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + H + D (Home > Delete). Both work with Accelerator Keys.

Does Alt + E D 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 + D on Mac.

How do I delete entire rows quickly?

Select the row(s) and press Alt + E + D + R to delete sheet rows.