Alt + E I L Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Fill Left (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

To do Alt + E I L on Mac in Excel, install Accelerator Keys, then press Option, then E, then I, then L. It runs the Excel 2003 command Edit > Fill > Left. The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + H + F + I + L.

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If you are looking for the Alt + E I L shortcut on Mac Excel, you may know it from Excel 2003, where Alt + E opened the Edit menu. Windows Excel still accepts these menu keys. With Accelerator Keys, they work on your Mac too.

What Does Alt + E I L Do?

Alt + E + I + L is the legacy shortcut for Edit > Fill > Left. It copies the rightmost cell of the selection into all the cells to its left. Use it when the source value is in the last column of a block.

Legacy vs. Modern Shortcut Comparison

Shortcut	Era	Menu Path
Alt + E + I + L	Legacy (Excel 2003)	Edit > Fill > Left
Alt + H + F + I + L	Modern (Ribbon)	Home > Fill > Left

Both shortcuts work with Accelerator Keys.

How It Works on Mac

On your Mac, Alt + E selects the Home tab. Then Accelerator Keys opens the Home > Fill menu on the ribbon and runs Left. It works on any ribbon tab and at any window width.

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

Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
Select the cells: Select the source cell and the cells to its left.
Press Option: Press the Option key. It works like Alt on Windows.
Press the letters one at a time: Press E, then I, then L.
Result: Excel copies the rightmost cell to the left across the selection.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alt + E I L work natively on Mac Excel?

No. Excel for Mac’s own KeyTips do not support the legacy Alt + E, Alt + I, Alt + O, and Alt + D menu keys. Accelerator Keys adds them. Press Option, then E, then I, then L.

What is the modern equivalent of Alt + E I L?

The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + H + F + I + L (Home > Fill > Left). Both work on Mac with Accelerator Keys.