Alt + I N C Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Create Names from Selection (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

To do Alt + I N C on Mac in Excel, install Accelerator Keys, then press Option, then I, then N, then C. It runs the Excel 2003 command Insert > Name > Create. The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + M + C.

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

What Does Alt + I N C Do?

Alt + I + N + C is the legacy shortcut for Insert > Name > Create. It creates names from the labels in your data. You choose where the labels are: top row, left column, bottom row, or right column. Excel names each row or column after its label.

Legacy vs. Modern Shortcut Comparison

Shortcut	Era	Menu Path
Alt + I + N + C	Legacy (Excel 2003)	Insert > Name > Create
Alt + M + C	Modern (Ribbon)	Formulas > Create from Selection

Both shortcuts work with Accelerator Keys.

How It Works on Mac

On your Mac, Accelerator Keys runs Insert > Name > Create in the Excel menu bar. It works on any ribbon tab and at any window width.

Step-by-Step: How to do Alt + I N C on Mac Excel

Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
Select the data: Select the data and its labels.
Press Option: Press the Option key. It works like Alt on Windows.
Press the letters one at a time: Press I, then N, then C.
Result: The Create Names dialog opens. Choose where the labels are and click OK.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alt + I N C 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 I, then N, then C.

What is the modern equivalent of Alt + I N C?

The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + M + C (Formulas > Create from Selection). Both work on Mac with Accelerator Keys.